TheUnKnownAlien

⚠️CAUTION⚠️: This chapter also contains references to the loss of Krypton, Kara’s time in the Phantom Zone, and themes of loss, grief and changing of one's identity.

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: Please be aware that my portrayal of the Danvers family is non-canon and may not match the versions you know and you may not like them. As noted in the tags, this story includes out of character Supergirl characters.

Another Authors Note: As Kara has only just arrived on Earth, Kryptonese is still her preferred language and so, all words in bold will be English.

Sidenote: All words in italics are Kara's thoughts. This chapter also introduces 'Data Logs' where Kara documents her observations of human behaviour and her progress of changing her identity. Please let me know what you think of them and if you want to see them in future chapters.

UnknownAlien3388.

CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO WORLDS:

UPON waking to darkness the next morning, the conclusion came instantly and without mercy. I am still trapped within the Phantom Zone. Kara’s breath faltered and her chest tightened as the familiar feeling of dread washed over her. My escape was nothing more than a cruel dream born from my desperate desire for freedom.

As she lay there, too afraid to move, waiting for the phantoms to appear, Kara slowly became aware of the differences from the last time she had awoken. 

The most obvious one being the fact she was lying horizontal. That alone made no sense to her as the confines of her pod would never allow such a position.

It was only then that she became aware of how uncomfortable the surface beneath her truly was. Whatever she was lying upon was thick and dipped unevenly, barely providing adequate support for her back and spine. 

The seat inside her pod had been designed specifically for her, using a material that was firm yet comfortable. 

It was clear to Kara that wherever she was within the Phantom Zone, she was no longer inside the safety of her pod. 

In an attempt to ease the stiffness in her body, Kara shifted slightly, searching for a more comfortable position. The movement brought her attention to the delicate weight of a feathery covering draped across her body. What is this and where did it come from? 

Kara lifted her hand slowly from underneath it and rubbed the material between her fingers. It feels nothing like my baby blanket. It has none of the warmth that something crafted with love inherently has. 

After a moment, she became aware of the sound of rushing air somewhere above her, accompanied by the feeling of hot air brushing against her exposed skin. Which Kara found mildly irritating. I was not aware that there was a region within the Phantom Zone that is not affected by the cold. Where am I? She wondered as she continued to observe her surroundings. 

Soon she began to hear the distant, rhythmic crash of water striking something solid. Followed shortly by a sharp, briny tang of salt and seaweed. There is no body of water in the Phantom Zone. Kara frowned as she turned her head toward the sound. Nor is there any form of light. She added, gazing at the thin strips of pale light.

As soon as it registered in her mind that what she was looking at were windows, she knew instantly that she was on Earth, for the windows were clearly not of Kryptonian design, nor were they part of any of her Phantom Zone induced dreams. 

Holy Rao, I did escape! Kara could feel a smile beginning to form on her face, then the truth of what being on Earth truly meant hit her, and she felt like she could hardly breathe. I cannot fully comprehend the cost of my escape for it is unbearable to think about. I let Aunt Astra free me from the Phantom Zone, without putting up more of a fight, leaving her unprotected. I have no doubt she is now being punished for my escape. Aunt Astra risked her life to get me out, only for me to arrive on Earth too late to fulfill my mother's dying promise. By doing so, I left Kal-El to grow up without my guidance, resulting in him becoming more human than Kryptonian. I was meant to be his anchor, his connection to everything we lost. Instead, I arrived to find he has drifted so far into humanity that he looks at me and sees a stranger, a ghost from a life he does not remember. 

Then the thought that hurt most of all, worse than any pain the Phantoms had ever inflicted upon her, pierced through Kara’s heart and settled deep within her bones. Kal-El truly abandoned me to live with humans. 

She did not know which truth devastated her more, Kal-El abandoning his only living relative, or knowing she was the reason she had been trapped in the Phantom Zone.

Time passed without Kara noticing as her thoughts drifted through faces and places that no longer existed outside her memory. Each image surfaced briefly before giving way to another, carrying with it the same ache Kara felt when she first relived them after Krypton's destruction. 

The pain was familiar and had not dulled with time. Though it still hurt to think about, Kara refused to let them fade. Her memories were one of the last fragile threads connecting her to everything she had lost.  

Eventually, Kara realised that she could not remain in bed, letting her sorrow and grief drown her, as to do so would be a dishonour to those who she had lost that no longer had the privilege of living. 

Kara refused to let her life go to waste when so many others who deserved to live far more than she did had to lose theirs for her to live.

Kara allowed herself one final moment of stillness then she pushed herself upright, swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. The bay window was close enough that she needed only to take a few steps to reach the cord that opened the blind closest to her. 

The built-in bench beneath the bay windows pressed cool and solid against her knees as she reached for the cord secured to the wall and pulled down on it, slowly opening the blind. 

She repeated the motion with the two other cords, until all three blinds were open and the bedroom was bathed in pale moonlight.

Kara looked out the window toward the ocean, and was instantly mesmerized by the water as it flowed steadily toward the shore before making its way back to the sea. Slowly, the ache in her chest softened, never truly fading, as her thoughts began to drift away with the tide. A sense of calmness washed over her as she became absorbed in the rhythmic movement of the ocean.

She only became aware of the passing of time when the stars began to fade from the sky, and their reflections slowly disappeared from the surface of the water. 

Kara lifted her gaze toward the horizon, where the ink-black of night was already softening into the indigo of early morning. Her first sunrise on Earth was only beginning, and it was already breathtaking. Morning is drawing near, I must consider where I will offer my prayer to Rao for the first time on this planet.

On Krypton, prayers to Rao had always been offered beneath the open sky, among nature, which was strongly regarded as Rao's most precious gift to the people of Krypton. By the time Kara was born, the only presence of nature that remained was within the sacred garden of Rao. It was beloved for the calming effect it had on the worshipers who came to pray. 

Given the ocean's calming effect on me, perhaps the best place to pray would be on the shore, close to the water. I would be at a place of calm and peace and as close to the sun god, Sol, as I physically can. Kara left the room and made her way downstairs, thinking only of what she would say in her morning prayer to Rao and Sol.

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As Kara reached the bottom landing, she spotted Alex leaving the dining room. “Oh, hello, Alex.” She smiled warmly. The other girl did not say a word as she stepped in front of her, blocking her path. Kara’s smile faltered as Alex looked her up and down as if silently judging her. “Is there something wrong?”

“Wow, you’re really not trying to blend in, are you?” She asked with a taunting smirk. 

While Kara had travelled to other planets before, she had never tried to pass as one of the native inhabitants and she did not understand the other girl’s insistence on pointing out the obvious. “No, should I be?” She frowned, glancing down at herself. “I am wearing my evening robes, which I always wear before morning prayer. I am not doing anything beyond my standard routine." 

“Also on Earth, we don’t greet people with ‘hello’ first thing in the morning. We say ‘good morning’. You should’ve known that given you supposedly studied our planet.” Alex added snidely.

“Alex.” Eliza called as she made her way towards them from the kitchen. “I think that’s enough. If you don’t stop right now, I will happily pull out the photo album of you from last summer.” She warned before turning her attention to Kara, her expression softening into a warm smile. “Good Morning, sweetie, I think your robes are beautiful. They are just a little…different to the Earth clothing we’re used to.”

“Yeah. We dress a lot less like a space monk and a little more like… anything else.” Alex sneered as she looked Kara over once more, this time with disgust.

Kara looked back down at herself with a furrowed brow. She smoothed the fabric over her forearm, her fingers tracing the subtle patterns that marked her as a daughter of the House of El.  “Am I to understand that I am not permitted to wear these?” She asked.

“Not all the time, but you can still wear them in the mornings and evenings.” Eliza reassured her. 

“What am I to wear between those times?” Kara asked. “Robes are standard attire for Kryptonians, we do not wear anything but our robes and guild uniform.”

“That’s okay, I’m sure Alex has some things you could wear that are more comfortable for everyday life here, until we can take you shopping.”

“Oh, that’s just great.” Alex groaned, throwing her hands up. “Because sharing my stuff with an alien is exactly what I wanted to do today.”

“Relax, Alex.” Eliza shook her head with a fond, slightly exasperated smile. “You were planning on donating most of your clothes anyway, and giving them to Kara will save me an unnecessary trip into town.” 

“Would you mind if I performed my morning prayer on the beach before changing into my new attire?” Kara asked awkwardly, feeling guilty for causing tension between Alex and her mother.

“Of course, sweetie.” Eliza smiled softly. “Just don’t be too long, okay? I think it might rain soon.”

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As the back door clicked shut behind her, a cool, salt-laced breeze wrapped around her, softened slightly by the stretch of backyard between her and the ocean. It was not the soul-crushing coldness of the Phantom Zone, but stepping out of the house’s warmth made the cooler air feel sharper than it should have. 

Kara paused on the patio and looked out over the horizon which was no longer clearly visible through a thick layer of white mist. What is this phenomenon in terms of Earth systems? Ah, yes, it is a marine layer formation caused by ocean air cooling rapidly. Humans call it fog. Earth is such an interesting planet!

A shiver ran up her spine as she stepped onto the damp grass, the wet blades pressing against her skin in a way she was not accustomed to. Kara’s brow furrowed as she looked down at her feet, shifting her weight slightly back and forth. There must have been a drop in temperature overnight and it has caused the grass to be coated in a thin layer of water. Humans know it as dew. It is an odd feeling against my skin. It is not unpleasant. Simply unfamiliar. 

She lingered a moment longer before stepping forward onto the stone path, its surface firm and smooth beneath her feet, cool and slightly damp from the morning air. Residual moisture on the bottom of her feet made the stone slightly slick. But after a few steps Kara’s feet became dry again. 

Once she reached the shore, Kara lingered at the water’s edge, the steady rhythm of the waves rolling against the sand and the icy water washing over her feet eased some of the tension from her body. The ocean felt calmer in the early morning hours, quieter than it had the night before, yet no less comforting. Cool wind drifted through her hair and robes as she listened to the endless movement of the tide. There was something strangely peaceful about simply existing beside it.

Eventually, Kara lowered herself onto the sand, settling into the prayer posture she had been taught as a child. Her legs crossed neatly beneath her, palms resting open upon her knees. Kara closed her eyes, lifted her face toward the sky and took a slow breath, allowing her thoughts to settle. “Dear Rao, source of life and keeper of truth, I give thanks for the light of this new day. May Your wisdom guide my thoughts, Your strength guide my actions and Your light remain within me wherever my path may lead.” Kara whispered softly. 

When she finished praying, she paused for a brief moment and only the sound of the ocean broke the silence around her. Slowly, she lifted her hands and pressed them together against her sternum, mirroring the human prayer posture she had studied during her journey to Earth. “Dear Sol, I greet you for the first time, and offer my respect. I also thank you for guiding Kal-El while I could not, and I ask that your light may guide me too as I begin my Earth journey.”

As the final words left her lips, Kara allowed her hands to gradually fall away from her chest and rest upon her knees with her palms open, face up once more. She took another slow breath as her thoughts turned inward. For the first time since leaving the Phantom Zone, Kara completely removed her mask, allowing all the conflicting emotions she had been trying to suppress to finally surface. The grief she carried no longer felt like something separate from herself. It had woven itself so tightly into every thought, every memory, every breath she took that it felt a part of her.

As she sat on the beach, Kara finally allowed herself to acknowledge how exhausted she truly felt. Not only physically, but emotionally. Kara knew she should have felt relieved to finally be free from the Phantom Zone, and she did, mostly.

There was a part of her that felt ashamed of the fact she was free, not only because she had to leave her beloved aunt behind, but also because she now found herself stranded alone on an unfamiliar planet, living with strangers.

Is this what surviving looks like on Earth? Kara asked herself. I sure hope not. Because if it is, it is a pretty sad existence to have.

The whole time Kara was trapped in the Phantom Zone she had been so focused on survival that she had not allowed herself to fully process what survival had cost her. Everything she once held dear to her heart. The life she had once imagined for herself no longer existed and her old life was nothing but a distant memory.

Even Kal-El, the person she had sacrificed everything to protect, now felt distant from her. Kal-El had adapted to Earth in ways Kara still struggled to understand. She had spent decades surviving for the chance to reunite with Kal-El, only to arrive and discover that he had built a life here without her and no longer needed the life, language, or culture she had fought so hard to preserve. I will never forgive myself for letting my family down when they needed me most.

The ache in her chest deepened as she thought about the fact she had fought so hard to get to Earth only to feel even more alone than she ever did in the Phantom Zone. Though Eliza and Jeremiah had welcomed her kindly into their home, Alex’s coldness and barely concealed resentment served as a constant reminder that the other girl would never accept Kara into her family or home.

Kara knew she had every right to get angry at Alex and the way she treated her, yet even through the ache of rejection and loss, Kara could not bring herself to hate Alex for it. How could the other girl possibly understand what Kara carried within her? An entire world rested upon Kara's shoulders, unseen by everyone around her. It was up to her, it was her job alone, to make sure the memory of Krypton never died.

The loneliness of it settled painfully within her as she thought about the growing fear that she no longer had a place in the universe. She did not belong to the world she had lost, and Earth did not truly feel like home to her either.

Kara remained at the water’s edge until she felt the warmth of the sun against the back of her eyelids. Slowly, she opened her eyes and lifted her gaze toward Sol’s pale, golden light. A faint smile tugged gently at the corners of her lips.

The ache within her had not lessened, but taking time to reflect following her morning prayer helped Kara make sense of the emotions swirling inside her and allowed her to pull herself together enough to face the world waiting for her at the Danvers’ house.

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Later that morning, Kara found herself standing in the middle of her bedroom, surrounded by black garbage bags, holding a pair of blue denim jeans. "Are you sure they will fit me?" She asked, turning them over in her hands. "They look unnecessarily tight." 

“They are meant to be. They're called skinny jeans for a reason.” Alex said impatiently, sitting in the middle of Kara's once pristine bed. “Just put it on one leg at a time.”

“Okay, if you are sure.” Kara stepped into the jeans carefully, pulling the heavy fabric up her legs.  The material was stiff and rough, nothing like the soft, flowing fabrics of her robes. When she finally managed to pull them up to her waist, Kara noted how the fabric felt tight and restrictive, like it was trying to become one with her body. Why do humans willingly wear such uncomfortable clothing that restricts movement?

“So, what do you think?” Alex asked as she continued to riffle through one of the bags. 

“How do you move in these?” Her brow furrowed as she bent down and straightened, testing her limited range of motion. These pants make as much sense as Alex’s need to sit on my bed after I made it.

“We just do. You’ll get used to it.” Alex tossed a T-shirt at Kara, hitting her squarely in the face. “Put this on. It’ll go nicely with the jeans and go have a look at yourself in the mirror.”

Kara tugged the dark green shirt over her head, wincing slightly as the scratchy material rubbed against her skin. Do humans know they can make their clothing out of more comfortable material? She wondered as she turned and walked toward the bathroom, her movements stiff as the heavy denim resisted the bend of her knees. She stopped before the mirror and looked at the stranger staring back at her. If my parents saw me now, would they be able to see their proud Kryptonian daughter? Or would they just see an alien playing dress up? 

The thought made her stomach twist with a guilt so sharp it rivalled the irritation of the denim against her skin. She reached up to touch her hair, which now smelled faintly of Earth's chemicals, and felt a wave of profound loneliness wash over her as she stared at her reflection.. “Well?” Alex asked impatiently. “What do you think now?” 

"It is... different." Kara finally managed to say as she walked back into her room, resisting the urge to take off the coarse material that clung unpleasantly to her body. “I do not believe I will get used to it as you say. I can already feel it beginning to irritate my skin.” 

“It looks better than the space-monk robes did. At least now you look like you actually belong here.” Alex told her as she hopped off the bed and disappeared into the hallway without a second glance, leaving a mess of the quilt Kara had worked so hard to straighten. 

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Kara spent the day navigating the unfamiliar restrictions of human clothing. The stiff jeans and coarse shirt rubbed against her skin with every movement she made. Even sitting felt strange, the heavy denim resisting the natural bend of her body. More than once, Kara caught herself subtly tugging at the fabric whenever no one was looking, trying to find even a millimeter of slack.

By midday, the confines of the house had begun to feel strangely suffocating, and Kara found herself drifting outside toward the backyard where she found Eliza working in the vegetable garden. 

She quietly observed the careful way the older woman tended to the plants. There was something calming about watching Eliza press her hands into the soil beneath the warmth of Earth’s sun. Though Eliza's garden was far smaller and less grand, there was something about it that reminded Kara of the gardens back on Krypton that were devoted entirely to Rao, where nature had been preserved with sacred reverence. 

“You settling in okay, sweetie?” Eliza asked gently as she looked up at Kara with a warm smile, brushing the dirt from her gloves. 

“Yes. I am adjusting well.” Kara answered, choosing her words carefully. She was adjusting as well as she could given the circumstances, and in her mind that made the statement true. 

“I’m glad.” Eliza smiled softly, seemingly satisfied with the answer as she returned her attention to the garden.

By late afternoon, Kara could barely wait to remove the clothes. She watched the horizon with a quiet, desperate intensity, waiting for the sun to dip low enough to signal the end of her "performance." As soon as it was almost time for evening prayers, she excused herself and headed back inside, her movements stiff and slow. Her skin felt too raw to be moving too fast.

When she headed back inside, she found Jeremiah in the living room, his face bathed in the blue glow of the news. On Krypton, watching a screen with her grandfather had been a rare privilege that felt like a sacred shared moment. Yet on Earth, it seemed to be a normal occurrence. 

It boggled Kara’s mind to watch Jeremiah sit in front of the television with such casualness, as though instant access to information and entertainment was an ordinary thing rather than a privileged luxury. “Oh, hey Kara! Would you like to watch the news with me?” Jeremiah asked, glancing over at her 

“No, thank you. I would like to take the first shower.” Kara replied as she started up the stairs. 

“Okay, sweetie.” He smiled before turning his attention back to the television screen, leaving Kara to her quiet retreat. 

The climb up the stairs felt longer than it should have. By the time she reached her room, she was already reaching for the seams of her clothing, pulling the stiff fabric free from her skin, her mind already thinking about the softness of her evening robes.

She wasted no time stripping the clothes from her body, releasing a sigh of relief when the coarse materials were finally no longer clinging to her. How do humans wear such uncomfortable clothing? Do they simply adapt to discomfort the way they do everything else? 

Once she was undressed, she grabbed her evening robes from the end of her bed and made her way into the adjoining bathroom. Kara placed her robes neatly by the sink before reaching for the towel Eliza gave the night before. She hesitated briefly before grabbing it off the drying rack and laying it carefully along the lip of the bathtub, adjusting its position until it lay flat. 

The thought of drying her freshly cleaned skin with a towel that had already been used did not sit comfortably with her. The practice seemed unhygienic and inefficient to Kara. But Eliza had assured her that it was 'still good' for another use, and she did not want to seem ungrateful or difficult by asking for a fresh one every day. I believe this will be one of the many human habits I may struggle adjusting to.

With a small, lingering frown at the towel, Kara turned toward the enclosure and opened the door, stepping inside before turning on the tap. She took a moment to fine-tune the temperature and water pressure before finally stepping beneath the spray and letting the water wash over her irritated skin.

Kara lingered under the water a moment longer, allowing the warmth to settle into her muscles and ease the tension from her body. She was well aware her brief relief would not last and was not looking forward to using the Danvers’ family’s harsh, heavily scented soap to clean herself. 

If this is part of life on Earth, then I shall learn to tolerate it. It is merely another change I must adjust to. Kara drew in a slow breath and let it out again as she reached for the bar of soap. As she began to lather it over her body it did not take long for the harsh chemicals to seep into her irritated pores  and sting her skin. The overwhelming scent of artificial flowers filling her senses did not help matters. 

Kara made quick work of rinsing herself clean before stepping out of the shower and reaching for the towel. Once she had dried herself as thoroughly as possible, she wasted no time slipping back into her evening robes.  The soft flowing fabric was an immediate balm against her irritated skin. 

Kara felt her shoulders loosen and for the first time that day, she felt truly comfortable within her own skin. “I wish I could wear you all day.” She sighed as she gathered her discarded Earth clothes and placed them neatly along with her towel into the washing basket.

Once she was satisfied that she had left the room in proper order, Kara returned to her bedroom. The sun was hanging low in the sky, flooding the room with a deep, golden light that made the wooden floorboards glow. 

She knew that soon the sun would touch the horizon, signaling the start of her evening prayers. However there was one more thing she needed to do before heading down to the beach. 

Kara walked over to her satchel sitting on the floor by the end of her bed and carefully retrieved her baby blanket. To Kara, her baby blanket was not simply a Zoravak fleece that her father made into a blanket for her. It was a fragment of Rao’s life source, a direct connection to Rao Himself, which made the material far too sacred for simply anyone to behold. 

She thought of Kal-El and what she had observed of him and his treatment of his own blanket. It was a sacred item made especially for him and yet he had been wearing it as a mere cape, treating it like it was mere fabric. She could not understand how he could dishonour Rao in such a way. 

Kara’s jaw tightened, a sharp ache blooming in her chest. His lack of understanding of the history behind his baby blanket was a bitter reminder of her failure.

Had she arrived as intended, he would have grown up knowing better than to disrespect Rao by treating his blanket like a cape. The sight of it fluttering behind him like common cloth was a sting she felt deep in her heart. It was a sign that Kal-El had effectively severed his own connection to Rao.

While Kal-El had chosen to live as a man of Earth, Kara was determined to remain a daughter of Krypton and a true follower of Rao's teachings. 

She walked over to the side of the bed and pulled back the quilt along the thin top sheet, and placed her baby blanket directly over the fitted sheet. Kara smoothed it with a lingering, reverent touch, ensuring it lay perfectly flat. 

Then, she pulled the top sheet and the quilt back over it, hiding the sacred fabric beneath the mundane layers of American bedding.

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After finishing her evening prayers and having dinner with the Danvers family, Kara returned to the quiet of her room to get ready for bed. She moved through the bathroom, performing simple, human tasks such as brushing her teeth and washing her face, actions that still felt foreign to her. 

When she was done in the bathroom she turned off the light and walked back into the bedroom and over to her bed. She pulled back the covers and slipped in under her baby blanket.  It did not take long after her head hit the pillow for sleep to pull her under.

One moment she was submerged in the warmth of sleep, and the next, the chilling memory of the Phantom Zone clawed its way into her subconscious, waking Kara up with a sharp gasp. Her body jolted upright before she was fully aware of her surroundings. 

For a split second, instinct took over and she recoiled backward until her spine hit the headboard, her eyes wide and searching the shadows for the Phantoms she was certain were watching her.

Before panic could fully take hold of her, Kara caught sight of the moonlight filtering through the half-open blinds, dimly lighting up the room. My precaution had been effective. She exhaled slowly, laying back down. No more waking to darkness. No more Phantom Zone. 

Kara closed her eyes and began counting the rise and fall of her breath, willing herself to relax enough to fall back to sleep. However, her mind refused to settle and she soon realized sleep would not be making a return. 

If I cannot sleep, I might as well do something useful while I wait for daybreak. Kara's eyes fluttered open as she reached for the lamp cord beside her bed, switching it on. Warm white light filled the room illuminating the piles of black garbage bags stacked near the closet. Kara’s gaze lingered on them for a moment. Sorting out those bags will be useful.

Before she left the safety of her bed, she reached down and gathered her baby blanket from beneath the sheets. She wrapped it tightly around her shoulders, tucking the corners in to ensure no part of her skin remained exposed.

Kara swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, her bare feet sinking slightly into the soft rug beneath her. She shuffled toward the closet, careful to make as little noise as possible. When she reached the bags, she lowered herself to the floor and sat crossed legged, her mind already calculating the best way to organize each material into piles.

I believe it would be more optimal if the piles were in order from most to least irritating fabrics. Each pile will have sub-piles: t-shirts, long sleeves, pants, and shorts. Kara mused as she picked up a shirt from the top of the open bag closest to her. 

The moment it touched her skin, she knew it was going in the most irritating pile. Each piece of clothing was lifted carefully, felt and weighed in her hands before being sorted. Some fabrics immediately earned a spot in the ‘absolutely intolerable’ pile, while others were made from a nice enough fabric to earn a place in the ‘acceptable’ pile. 

When Kara came across an item of clothing she was not sure about, such as the pale blue knitted sweater that was neither too coarse or too comfortable, she simply added to the ‘usable if necessary’ pile. Which was bigger than the other two piles combined.

Her hands quickly became accustomed to the textures as her mind catalogued each fabric’s advantages and flaws. I am fascinated by the sheer variety of clothing here, she mused, turning a garment over in her hands. They come in such a vast array of colours, lengths, and textures. Some of Alex's old clothes are so small it must have clung to her body like a second skin, while others are so large they must have hung off her. 

She paused, lifting a particularly sheer piece of fabric. Then you have clothing like this that is so transparent that they would leave the wearer with a great deal of exposed skin. 

Kara put the shirt in the ‘absolutely intolerable’ pile before grabbing the next item of clothing in the bag. While there are others like this that are designed for modesty, ensuring that almost nothing is revealed. The inconsistency is puzzling.

By the time she reached the bottom of the last bag, Kara had established a clear order among the clothes with each piece of clothing in its rightful place. I am hopeful this will help me face each day with as little discomfort as possible. 

Kara stood up and quietly moved toward the large bay window at the back of the room. She settled into the window seat, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her baby blanket tight around her body.

She looked out at the moon-lit water that moved with a rhythm she found grounding. Yet, even in the beauty of the ocean, Kara remained hyper-aware of her surroundings, every unfamiliar sound she heard made her jump and her heart rate spike.

Kara was aware that she could simply hop back into bed and go to sleep to escape the unsettling noises of the night. But she gladly chose to stay awake until the relief of early morning over facing the terrifying nightmares she knew awaited in her dreams. 

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Following her shower the next morning, Kara dressed herself in an outfit from the ‘acceptable’ pile of clothing. Having found a tolerable solution to her wardrobe problem, life on Earth became marginally easier. However, as the days passed, it became clear that her irritated skin was only a small part of the difficulties Kara faced adjusting to her new life on Earth. 

Sleep quickly became one of her greatest struggles. Night after night, it remained elusive, and more often than not she found herself curled up in the bay window with her baby blanket long after everyone else had gone to bed.

She had come to associate the ocean with a sense of calm that nothing else on Earth seemed capable of offering her. The rippling reflection of moonlight across the water and the steady movement of the tide washing upon the shore and retreating again in an unbroken cycle were the only things capable of loosening the tightness in her chest enough for her breathing to come more easily. 

It was the only place where the weight on her shoulders did not feel quite so heavy and the noise inside her mind quieted enough for her to simply exist, if only for a little while. On the rare occasions exhaustion finally dragged her under, it brought no sense of peace. Instead, she found herself haunted by the same recurring nightmares that plagued her throughout her imprisonment within the Phantom Zone. 

This pattern quickly came to define Kara’s first week on Earth. During the day, she remained quiet and withdrawn, often drifting quietly through the Danvers household like a ghost lingering at the edges of a life that did not belong to her, watching as the family continued to live their lives with an ease Kara could no longer comprehend. The loss she carried remained a constant, suffocating presence that pressed heavily against her chest, making even something as simple as getting out of bed each morning feel exhausting. 

Even though Kara was grateful for everything the Danvers family had done for her, it hurt her to watch them interact as a family unit. Simple moments such as the way Alex laughed with her parents, or the ease with which they moved through the house together, deepened her sense of loss and grief. Every interaction stirred up memories of her own family and of the warmth and closeness she had once known.

Kara found that she could not remain near the ocean once groups of happy beach-goers arrived. The simple sight of humans laughing, enjoying time with their loved ones sent a sharp pang of longing through her heart, so intense it was impossible to bear. The moment she heard distant sounds of laughter and shrieks of joy, Kara retreated back inside the Danvers house, and as far away from the backyard as possible.

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When Kara came inside for breakfast one morning, she found two thick golden squares sitting upon her plate, their small hollow pockets filled with melted butter and dark amber syrup.

Kara paused beside the table just as Alex silently picked up her own plate and moved to the seat beside Jeremiah, putting as much distance between herself and Kara as the table allowed.

Kara’s hand tightened briefly on the back of her chair, but she forced herself not to dwell on the gesture as she sat down in the chair she had unofficially claimed as her own. “What are these called?” She asked, looking down at the unfamiliar meal.

“They’re waffles.” Eliza answered warmly as she carried over another plate. “It’s a pretty standard American breakfast.”

Kara picked up her fork slowly, her brow furrowing slightly as she continued to examine the unusual, grid-like shape. “I believe I have heard of them during my studies. What is the syrup on top?”

“It’s called Maple syrup.” Alex answered flatly before taking another bite of her breakfast with a bit more force than Kara thought was truly necessary. 

“Waffles are kind of similar to pancakes.” Eliza added. 

Kara glanced back down at her plate. “I have never had pancakes before.”

“Well,” Eliza smiled, “Then we can add that to the other Earth breakfasts we need to introduce you to.” 

The comment earned the faintest hint of a smile from Kara, which vanished the moment Alex groaned from the other end of the table. “You’re seriously making a breakfast bucket list for the alien now?”  

Ignoring her daughter entirely, Eliza turned back toward Kara. “I was thinking that after breakfast I could take you into Midvale and show you around town. I thought if you were more familiar with the area it might help you feel more comfortable here.” 

Kara considered the offer for a moment, learning the layout of the town felt like a logical next step in her adaptation to this world.  “I believe that would be beneficial.” She answered with a small nod. 

“God, you sound like such an alien!” Alex muttered. 

Kara did not respond to the other girl’s jab at her, instead she simply continued eating, thinking of all the places she might see on the tour of her new home.

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As breakfast began to wind down, Kara stood and began to help Eliza gather the dishes and carry them into the kitchen. “If you leave them in the sink, I’ll rinse them later.” 

"I can do that." Kara nodded as she placed the dishes carefully into the sink, exactly where Eliza had indicated. “Is there anything else I can assist you with?” 

Eliza shook her head. “No, that will be all, thank you.”

“Then I shall excuse myself.” Kara gave a small bow of respect before exiting the kitchen and heading upstairs. When she got to her room she quickly changed into the clothing she had picked out the previous night before heading to the bathroom to do her hygiene routine. Kara made sure to knock on the door before entering, in case Alex was using the bathroom. The other girl did not like sharing a bathroom with Kara and told her to never use it at the same time as her.

Once she was ready, Kara headed back downstairs and found Eliza waiting at the foot of the stairs for her. “Are you ready to go?” She asked as she grabbed the keys off the side table.

“Indeed, I am.” Kara replied. 

Eliza slipped the keys into her jacket pocket before pulling the front door open and stepping aside to let Kara pass. “After you.”

“Thank you.” Kara stepped outside onto the porch while Eliza shut and locked the door behind them.

“So, how are you finding things so far?” The older woman asked as they started down the driveway.

“It is definitely different, but I believe I am learning to adjust,” Kara answered as the gravel of the driveway gave way to the smooth pavement beneath their feet, the two of them turning onto the quiet street in front of the Danvers residence. 

“This is the main road into town,” Eliza explained, gesturing ahead of them. “Most of the shops are along here, so it’s usually easy to find what you need.” 

The closer they got to town the busier the street got, with strange metal vehicles that Kara recognised as ‘cars’ constantly driving past them, or parked on either side of the road. Many of them looked noticeably different from the models she remembered seeing in her grandfather’s beloved television programs and her archived studies. There were also a lot more people walking around them on the sidewalk.

As they walked further along the road, Kara continued to observe her new surroundings and began noticing the houses around them were gradually changing from farmhouses to smaller houses. Buildings of every kind lined the streets, ranging from neglected structures that clearly lacked proper maintenance to newly built designs that felt excessive and impractical. I have seen worse civilizations during my travels. However, none of Earth’s architecture compares to the elegance of Krypton. Even the Danvers’ home, one of the more structurally sound buildings I have observed, lacks the sophistication of a Kryptonian home. 

"So what do you think of Midvale?”  Eliza asked after a while of walking in comfortable silence. 

“It is…” Kara hesitated. How can I answer her question honestly without being offensive? “...sufficient for its intended purpose. You seem to have found a practical way to use the space that is both efficient and sensible.” She said at last. 

“I’m glad you think so.” Eliza smiled warmly. “There’s one last place I want to show you today.” 

“May I ask, what is the significance of our final location?” 

“It’s the local middle school. While you won’t be attending there next year, I feel it’s important you know where it is.” Eliza explained as she led Kara off the main path. “If we cut through the park, it will be quicker.”

“Holy Rao!” Kara exclaimed as they broke through the dense trees that lined the edges and separated the park from the street. Her gaze swept across the greenery in front of her, trying to take it all in at once.

“Are you okay, Kara?” Eliza asked as she turned to face her, a look of concern on her face.

“Yes, I am sorry.” Kara replied quickly, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. “I have simply never been surrounded by so much beautiful nature before. Krypton did not have natural environments outside of the Garden Of Rao and even that looked nothing like this.”

Eliza's expression softened into one of understanding as she regarded Kara. “I can understand how that would make this feel overwhelming for you.” 

“I would not say I feel overwhelmed. I am simply in awe of what I am seeing.” Kara clarified as her gaze flicked from one feature to another, trying to absorb every detail of her new environment. 

"If you have any questions, feel free to ask." Eliza told her they continued walking through the park.

As soon as the invitation was given, Kara could no longer hold back her curiosity. “What is the purpose of those benches?” She asked, pointing toward the wooden benches scattered along the path ahead of them.

“People sit on the park benches to rest, or to simply enjoy the view of the park around them.”

“And those?” Kara asked, pointing toward a covered area with a stainless-steel contraption in the middle surrounded by six wooden tables. 

Eliza followed her gaze. “That’s the barbecue area. Some people like to make a day of coming to the park. They'll bring their own food from home to have here. We used to do it all the time when Alex was younger.”

“Oh, that sounds similar to something we did back on Krypton.” Kara said with a soft smile, her gaze drifting back toward the path. “Once a year, Kryptonians would travel near and far to gather together in the Garden of Rao to honour our god on his sacred day.”

Kara instinctively stopped mid-step as a small orange animal darted across the footpath in front of them. “Don’t worry about the cat.” Eliza said with a small laugh. “It’s just one of the local strays. We have quite a few around here.” 

“It was so fast.” Kara said in awe her gaze fixed on the stray as it slowed down its pace before slipping under the shade of a nearby tree. “Also, what is a stray? Is it one of your domesticated animals?”

“A cat can be a domesticated animal, but if it’s a stray it simply means it has no home.” Eliza explained as they exited the park.

Kara found herself glancing back toward the tree line and noticed the cat was now curled up on the ground, taking a nap. I do not know why humans would abandon their animals like this. It seems cruel to make them fend for themselves. I hope it does not feel as lonely as I do and that it has made a new family.

It was not long before an oddly familiar brown brick building with large windows and picnic tables scattered around the front lawn came into view. This must be the local middle school. It looks exactly like all the Earth schools I saw in my studies. Their pace gradually slowed as they drew closer to the school, eventually coming to a stop by the front entrance. Kara tilted her head as she considered the uniformity. Does Earth use a singular blueprint design for all their schools?

“May I know why I will be receiving my education outside of a proper educational setting?” Kara asked, turning her attention back to Eliza. 

“Jeremiah and I figured it would be better if you had time to settle in before we try to enroll you into school.” Eliza explained as she folded her arms against the cool breeze. 

Kara considered this for a long moment, attempting to determine what practical difference there was between learning within a school environment and learning privately at the Danvers home. While she struggled to see any significant distinction, she understood the decision came from a place of genuine care rather than restriction. “I suppose that is…reasonable.” She agreed as they turned around and began walking back to the Danvers residence.

Silence gradually settled between them as they walked, stretching on long enough that Kara found herself repeatedly opening her mouth with the intention of saying something, only to stop herself as she glanced toward Eliza for some indication that a conversation would be accepted. Is this normal for humans or am I meant to say something? She wondered, her fingers nervously twitching at her sides 

A slight furrow formed between Kara’s brows as she resisted the growing urge to fill the silence. She could not understand how the older woman could seem comfortable with only her thoughts for company. I suppose silence can be peaceful for some. Though I do not find it so. Personally I find it deeply unpleasant.

The silence pressed against Kara in a way she could not fully explain as the two continued walking side by side. She found herself waiting for Eliza to speak again, but the older woman seemed perfectly content with walking beside her without speaking.

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Kara had been on Earth for two weeks when Eliza came to her room. "Sweetie, can you come down to the lounge room for a moment?” She asked warmly, leaning against the doorframe. “Jeremiah and I want to talk to you about something." 

Kara knew that with Alex being away at a sleepover, it was likely something important which the adults did not want the other girl to overhear. When she got downstairs, they settled down on the couches. Eliza and Jeremiah shared the three seater while Kara sat by herself on the two seater. 

“Some people on Earth,” Jeremiah began, “aren’t always kind to those they don’t understand, especially when those differences are… profound.” His gaze lingered on her, soft but serious. “You being… an alien will draw attention. Some people will simply fear you and what you can do. While others will actively desire to kill or control. The government will want to subject you to painful, invasive experiments. The best way to stay safe is to prevent the wrong eyes from lingering on you too long, and asking the kinds of questions that could put not only you in danger, Kara, but everyone you care about.

“In other words, sweetie, we need you to learn how to blend in perfectly and you must not, under any circumstances, stand out.” Eliza spoke with the kind of softness one might use when speaking to their child. “We are not in any way saying that being Kryptonian is fundamentally wrong.” She assured Kara with fierce sincerity. “However, until the people of Earth are more accepting of aliens, Jeremiah and I will continue to live in fear. Fear for you. Fear for Alex. Fear for the safety of our entire family.”

It was clear to Kara that what they were asking of her was not a demand, but a plea for cooperation. They wanted her help in keeping their family safe, by learning how to expertly pass as human. She would need to learn how to look, sound, act, and behave with the unremarkable normalcy of a typical Earth girl.

Kara listened with a heart heavy with guilt, and she agreed with them immediately, even before they finished speaking. The Danvers family had performed a selfless act of kindness by taking her in when they did not have to and if changing her very self was what it took to protect them, it felt like the absolute least she could do.

“I’ll do it.” She said firmly, “I will comply with whatever you ask of me as I simply can not bear the thought of being the reason something terrible happened to the only people who have offered me kindness and shelter.” 

Eliza reached over and gently squeezed her hand. “Thank you, sweetie. That means more than you know.”

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From that day on, Kara dedicated herself to mastering the human way of being. Of all the adjustments Kara had to make, her diet proved to be the easiest as it required very little effort on her part. 

Where so many aspects of Earth felt uncomfortable or unnatural, Kara found comfort in Earth food. Each meal on Krypton had been designed with purpose, each ingredient was carefully selected to help Kryptonians achieve optimal nourishment and efficiency. 

In contrast, meals on Earth seemed to follow an entirely different philosophy. The ingredients were rich with flavours, varied textures, and scents, making every bite a mesmerizing, enjoyable experience for Kara. She never rushed her food. She would pause, eyes closing briefly, considering the different textures and the way the flavours settled on her taste buds.

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One night, Kara stood up from the dinner table, and had barely taken two steps toward the kitchen when she heard Alex snicker behind her. “Is this your best attempt at blending in, or are you naturally this… horrible at it? I mean, seriously, how do you expect anyone to confuse you for a human when you walk around like that?”

Kara froze, heat rising to her face as Alex’s hurtful words sank in, her fingers tightening around the plate as she fought to keep her composure. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. Does Alex even realize how rude she is? She believes she is clever, yet she has never had to pretend to be something she is not. If she did, she would know I cannot simply change who I am overnight.

“Alex!” Eliza scolded.

“What? I’m just trying to help. Not my fault Kara didn’t learn how to be a human during her studies of our planet.” The other girl said, her tone light and deceptively casual in its cruelty.

“Seriously!” Jeremiah snapped, slamming his fist against the table. “This is how you treat someone learning something new? Do you really think this is okay?” 

Kara instinctively flinched away from the table. Holy Rao, I was not expecting that. The shift in the room was immediate and unsettling, the tension pressed in around her, causing her chest to tighten and her heart to race. 

Without a word, she forced herself to move, continuing toward the kitchen, acutely aware of the strain her presence seemed to be putting on the Danvers Family. All I need to do is rinse my dishes, then I can head upstairs to my room and leave them alone.

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The moment Kara was laying in bed and nothing was left to occupy her mind, she felt the control on her emotions begin to slip. The tightness in her chest worsened as her vision became blurry and her breathing faltered. 

Kara curled her fingers into the fabric of her robes as she let her facade crumble, no longer trying to hold herself together. I cannot understand why Alex despises me so much. I have never done anything to her. At least nothing I am aware of and yet my mere presence seems to trigger her anger. Maybe if I work harder at acting human, I will be less of a burden on this family and things will be easier for everyone. Including Alex, and she will start to like me. While I know this is not the future my mother envisioned when she sent me from our dying world, I have no choice but to forego my Kryptonian heritage and pretend to be something I am not to keep the peace. 

“Greetings Arlo.” Kara whispered softly in Kryptonese as she sat up in bed and wiped the tears from her eyes.

ARLO's light flickered to life and slowly expanded until the Artificial Intelligence's face appeared floating above her bedside table. “Greetings, Lady Zor-El. How may I be of service to you?”

“I require your assistance, I desire to appear more human. Where do you believe is the optimal place to start? I wish to begin as soon as possible.” Kara said softly, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to steady her breathing.

“I recommend you begin by documenting your observations to establish a baseline of human behaviours. Then compare those mannerisms to your own to identify which of your patterns require adjustment.”

Kara thought about where she could begin documenting her observations. I know exactly what I can use. She slid open her bedside drawer, revealing the journal and pen her cousin had sent her a few days after leaving her with the Danvers family. Kara lent over and reached for the book, her fingers brushing against the small note still attached to the cover.

Human methods aren’t as primitive as you think. This is the Earth equivalent of a data crystal and I think you just might like it. Clark.

This book was Clark’s attempt to demonstrate the superiority of human innovation. While I was not impressed at the time, it may be useful to me. Kara mused as she rose to her feet and crossed the room before sitting at her desk. She peeled the note from the cover and placed it in the small bin next to her chair.

Kara opened the journal and picked up the pen, taking a deep breath as she considered how to capture the strange, human world she was slowly learning to navigate.

Data Log One:

I apologise if my English is not perfect. I did not have the opportunity to study it before arriving on Earth. I have found that it is one thing to learn how to speak the language and a completely different matter to actually form the correct lettery and wording. Seeing written English makes me miss Kryptonese. I miss many things about home.

Eliza and Jeremiah are taking good care of me. They are very nice people. I wish I could say the same for their daughter.  I do not understand why she treats me the way she does. Alex acts as though I am deliberately trying to ruin her life. I am not, I am simply trying to grieve what I have lost.

I envy Alex, she has everything she could ever want in life. A mom, a dad, a great house, friends, a planet that is not actively dying or dead. 

And yet, Alex does not seem to see how lucky she is. 

I am hopeful that if I can successfully pass as human, she will start to be kind to me. 

Tonight at dinner, Alex made a comment about how rigid my body posture is. It was unkind and not all that useful, yet I shall make a note of it and strive to improve. 

I have noticed that humans tend to maintain a more relaxed, slightly slouched posture that I do not believe is good for their spine. Do they not feel constant discomfort? Are their bodies not in pain from such unnatural angles?

I can barely endure my own new hygiene routine without irritation. Twice a day I must force myself to have a shower and use the Danver’s family's harsh, heavily scented soap to scrub my body clean then dry myself with the coarse towels afterward.

However, I shall not utter a single complaint of my discomfort to the Danvers’ family as I do not wish to come across as ungrateful or unappreciative. Kara Zor-El.

Kara closed the journal, set the pen neatly on top of it and quietly made her way back to her bed. Where, with Arlo’s guidance, she spent the rest of the night practising how to sit with a slightly slouched posture in a way that looked natural. 

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As soon as dawn broke across the morning sky and spilled into Kara’s room, she felt ready to put all that she had practised to the test. She rose from her bed, her spine instinctively straightening into the perfect stance it had always known. Kara caught herself and forced her shoulders to drop, and her spine to bend. 

The adjustment felt unnatural, like she was changing a fundamental part of herself, yet she resisted the instinct to correct it as she went through the motions of her morning routine. Keeping her relaxed posture required conscious effort and every time she caught her focus slipping, Kara instantly corrected herself. 

Her hands proved the most difficult to manage. More than once, she caught them drifting behind her back, instinctively folding into the formal stance she had known her entire life. Each time, she had to consciously remind herself that they need to hang loosely by her sides.

Throughout the day, she observed the Danvers family closely, silently noting their small, unconscious habits and mannerisms . Kara committed each detail to memory and later that night, when she awoke from yet another nightmare, she dedicated her time to practising them.

She began by testing the movements she had observed, first she fiddled with her fingers like she saw a kid do on the beach, then she slowly let her fingers brush against the fabric of her clothing, something she saw Eliza do, twisting it around her fingers, before moving to rub her face and run her fingers though her hair, exactly like Alex did.

Finally, she experimented with incorporating hands while speaking, something she had noticed Jeremiah did a lot, to help emphasise what he was trying to say or to better express his emotions while talking.

Data Log Four: It has taken some time, but I have made progress. My posture and physical mannerisms are improving, and I am becoming better at replicating the small, unconscious behaviours humans display. Using my hands to communicate still feels strange. So too does the constant fiddling and fidgeting, but it all serves a purpose. It would appear that I was incorrect about Alex. I had believed that if I could pass as human, she would be more inclined to treat me with kindness. I was mistaken. This evening, she informed me, with some degree of irritation, that while I may now walk like a human now, I certainly do not speak like one. She went on to describe my speech as uptight and overly formal. While her words were harsh, they offered something of value that her previous observation lacked. I have not given up hope that one day Alex will be more civil toward me. I simply have to try harder to be human, then she will accept me. Kara Zor-El.

“Greetings Arlo.” Kara whispered softly in Kryptonese as she sat up in bed and wiped the tears from her eyes.

ARLO's light flickered to life and slowly expanded until the Artificial Intelligence's face appeared floating above her bedside table. “Greetings, Lady Zor-El. How may I be of service to you?”

“I have been informed that my speech pattern is unnatural and I sound as though ‘I have swallowed a dictionary’. While I do not know why one would feel the urge to do such a thing, I wish to strip away the fluid, precise formality in which I am accustomed to. I wish to replace it with the casual, often sloppy, informal manner of speaking that humans appear to prefer.” 

“Understood, Lady Zor-El. I recommend paying close attention to how humans interact and communicate with one another. You may have already noticed that they rarely speak in complete or precise sentences. Instead they prefer to use contractions and simplified phrasing. If you incorporate these habits into your speech, it should help you appear more human.”

“Would you assist me with this task?” Kara asked.

“I would be happy to. I can also adjust my language output to better support your adaptation process, if you would like.” ARLO offered.

“If you believe that would be beneficial.” 

“Indeed, I do.” A brief pause followed as ARLO’s light slowly changed from bright white to a warmer hue. “We can start by working on contractions. They’ll make your speech less formal. I’ll give you a formal sentence, which you must rephrase. The first one is: I would appreciate your assistance.”

“I would-” She hesitated, brow furrowing slightly. No, that does not sound right. ARLO said to use contractions to remove unnecessary words, such as ‘would’. I need to combine it with ‘I’ to form the word ‘I’d’. ‘I’d appreciate your assistance? No, that still does not sound right. “I'd like your help?”

“That's correct, Lady Zor-El.” ARLO said, a subtle note of approval in his voice. “Now, try saying it in an American accent.”

“I'd like your help?” Kara said, the pronunciation of each word shifting as she attempted to add an American inflection to her voice. 

The practice continued long into the night and carried on into the following days. Every word required Kara's absolute focus, constant adjustments running through her mind as she spoke.

Her thoughts no longer came easily; before she could speak, Kara had to translate and censor everything to make sure all Kryptonian verbal expressions were replaced by human-friendly alternatives.

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The strain it put on her showed in her speech. She stumbled over words, hesitated mid-sentence, and added unnecessary speech fillers and awkward pauses.

Changing her accent proved to be the most challenging part. Kara began watching American films and television shows not for entertainment, but as a form of linguistic study. She paid excruciatingly close attention to the cadence of the actors’ voices, the subtle inflections, and the rhythm of their casual, everyday speech. 

She would then copy them, diligently practicing alone in her room on the many nights she was unable to sleep.

The accents themselves were not difficult for her to replicate, but they did not come naturally to her. Whenever her focus slipped, or she was stressed or tired, she instinctively reverted to her Kryptonian accent and speech pattern.

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Kara was sitting at the bay window, staring out at the ocean, lost in thought, when there was a knock at the door. “Come in.” She called softly. 

The door opened and Eliza stepped inside. “Hey, sweetie. Are you busy?”

“No,” Kara said. “Why?”

Eliza hesitated for a moment, then nodded toward the open journal on Kara’s lap. “Are you sure?”

Kara blinked, glancing down as if noticing it for the first time. “Oh—” She quickly closed it and set it beside her. “No. That can wait. What’s up? Is something wrong?”

“No, nothing’s wrong. I just…” Eliza stepped further into the room, the door closing softly behind her. “I wanted to talk to you about something important.”

Kara straightened slightly on the bench. “Of course. Would you like to sit?” She asked, shifting over slightly to make room for the older woman. Eliza sat down beside her and a tense silence settled between them. Kara turned her head slightly to look at her. “Are you sure everything is okay? You seem upset.”

“Jeremiah and I have been talking,” Eliza said carefully, her voice quieter than usual. “We agree that the best way to avoid suspicion from the American government is to legally adopt you.” 

In that moment, as Eliza’s words sank in, Kara realised she was being asked to give up another piece of her identity. She clenched her teeth as she fought the sudden urge to cry. To her, being asked to change her name was the ultimate form of disrespect to her parents' memory. 

She was aware that the Danvers had no ill intentions with their request, but that did not take away the pain it had caused.

Taking the Danvers name was not only disrespectful to her parents, it also meant distancing herself even further from the girl she used to be. If I agree to do this, I will be forsaking my heritage and I will be no different than Kal-El. Yet at the same time, I have no other choice.

“I understand.” Kara said softly, her composure faltering for the briefest moment allowing for the pain beneath it to show. I have already given up so much of myself to become what they need me to be. I don’t know how much more of myself I can lose before there is nothing left and I turn into someone I am not.

“I know this isn’t easy for you, but I appreciate everything you’ve done to help keep our family safe.” She reached out, resting a hand over Kara’s and giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’ll let you get some rest. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Okay,” Kara replied softly. “Goodnight, Eliza.”

“Goodnight, Kara.” 

Kara waited a moment after she left before reaching for her journal again, and opening it to her recent data log entry.

Data Log Ten: After six days of consistent practice I am now able to use contractions and informal phrasing with greater ease. My accent is naturally American and no longer shifts back to Kryptonian when I am emotional or my focus is disrupted The process still requires my attention, and I believe it always will, though it is no longer as demanding as it was. Kara Zor-El. UPDATE: Eliza just came to me and informed me that further changes to my identity are required. These changes are in relation to my name. She wishes to legally adopt me and change my name to Kara Danvers, I understand why this is necessary. They are trying to keep me safe. While I wish to do what is right, I do not know how much more I can change before I can no longer recognise myself.  Yet at the same time, I do not know how to stop this without putting everyone in danger. Kara Zor-El.

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The next morning after her shower, Kara stood in front of the mirror, dressed in her human clothing and began repeating the same unfamiliar phrase over and over again: “Hi, I’m Kara Danvers. It’s nice to meet you.”

She said it slowly at first, watching her reflection as she spoke, adjusting her posture and tone each time, as if that would help make her new identity fit better.

It did not help that she no longer recognized the girl staring back at her. The clothing and body posture alone made her look like someone else. Someone who was not Kara Zor-El. 

Kara’s eyes lingered on her reflection for a moment longer, and she could not help but wonder if she would ever be able to recognise herself again.

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In the midst of her ongoing transformation and change, Kara found herself drawn to the ocean. She would stand or sit by the shore and listen as the waves crashed against the sand. It was as if simply being near the ocean helped settle her nerves and clear her mind, helping her regulate thoughts and emotions she could not regulate alone.

Kara did not know how to swim, so she kept to the edge where the water met the sand, content to breathe in the sharp scent of salt in the air and feel the soft, cool sand beneath her feet as she took in the truly beautiful view of the ocean stretching out endlessly before her.

Most days, Kara spent hours by the ocean. It was the only place where she felt she could exist without becoming someone else, without needing to be someone else. She did not have to be human. She did not have to be Kryptonian. She did not have to be Kara Zor-El. She did not have to be Kara Danvers. 

She could simply be Kara.

Even long after she had mastered the ability to pass as human and blend in seamlessly with Earth society without drawing unnecessary attention, Kara continued to return to the shoreline behind the Danvers farm. 

It was her refuge. It was, and would likely always remain, one of the few things on this new planet capable of easing her mind into a rare state of calm.

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Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading Chapter Two, Part Two of The Years Before Kara’s New Beginning, I truly hope you enjoyed it.

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.

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: Please be aware that my portrayal of the Danvers family is non-canon and may not match the versions you know and you may not like them. As noted in the tags, this story includes out of character Supergirl characters.

This chapter also contains references to the loss of Krypton, Kara’s time in the Phantom Zone, and themes of panic attacks.

Another Authors Note: Additional images will be added to this chapter. These images will depict the areas of the Danvers House that Kara will see in this chapter. At this time, I am unsure whether future chapters will also include images. Please let me know what you think of the story having images.

Another, Another Authors Note: As Kara has only just arrived on Earth, Kryptonese is still her preferred language and so, all words in bold will be English.

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

UnknownAlien3388.

HER FIRST DAY ON EARTH:

THE cold air seeped through Kara’s clothing, and she could feel its sting as it bit at her exposed skin. However, the hollow ache inside her chest was far more painful. It was a sharp, splintering pain that came from something precious being ripped away from her. I am not meant to be here. Surely Rao had not meant for things to turn out this way. Kara exhaled a shaky breath as she lowered her gaze from the endless blue sky toward the two strangers patiently waiting for her. She tightened her grip around the straps of her satchel until her knuckles ached and hesitantly walked forward.

Dr. Eliza reached out her hand and gently placed it on Kara's cheek. The warmth in her touch that was so familiar yet so foreign, stirred up memories of her mother, and ignited a deep, ache-filled  longing inside Kara for the family she had lost. “I know I’m not your mother, sweetheart.” Dr. Eliza said softly, her voice soothing in a way that only deepened the ache. “But you are safe here.” 

Kara felt her throat tighten and tears blur the edges of her vision as she gave the smallest of nods, unable to trust her voice. What does the word safe mean anymore? Kara wondered. Safe from what? From fear and pain? Safe from death? From being left alone again? I wish to believe her when she says I am safe here, however, I cannot trust her, not after I was abandoned by the one person I thought I could trust. "I am profoundly grateful for the sanctuary you have graciously offered me.”

Kara glanced over at Dr. Jeremiah, who was watching the exchange from a few feet behind his wife. "We know you're scared, Kara." He said, his voice calm and steady, much like her father’s had been. "But Clark left you in our care because he wants you to have the same safe, human childhood he did and he trusts us to give you that." The word human felt heavy, like an expectation Kara was not sure she could meet. Though I am proud to be Kryptonian, can I really erase that part of me so I can fit into a world that does not understand me or what I have lost? Can I still be a child after everything that I have seen and experienced since I watched my world die? 

Her thoughts were interrupted by Dr Eliza, who gently touched her hand. “Why don’t we go inside and meet my daughter, Alex? I’m sure she can’t wait to see you.” 

Kara could not help but steal one last glance at the sky, hopeful that her cousin had changed his mind and was coming back for her. But the place where she had last seen Kal-El remained empty. Uncle Jor-El and Aunt Lara would have been so disappointed in Kal-El for leaving me. Kara swallowed the lump in her throat and curled her fingers around Dr. Eliza’s hand. “Certainly.” She answered.

“I apologise for the mess.” Dr. Eliza said with an embarrassed laugh as they walked into the warm house together. “We weren’t expecting any visitors today.”

Kara tilted her head, confused. What mess is she referring to? While it does not look like my home on Krypton, I certainly would not call it messy. What an odd thing for Dr. Eliza to say. Kara gazed around, paying special attention to the photographs that lined the walls, which depicted a smiling, happy family. It was clear to her that Alex had two adoring parents who loved her dearly and Kara could not help but feel envious of her. I hope she knows how lucky she is. Because I did not know what I had, until it was gone. “You have a lovely home.” Kara murmured politely.

“Alex is up in her room, would you like to meet her?” Dr. Jeremiah asked with a gentle smile. 

Kara hesitated, then offered her first real smile. It was small, fragile, but full of hope. “I would like that.” She responded, eager to meet someone closer to her age. 

“Hey, sweetie, can you come here?” Dr. Jeremiah called up the stairs, his voice filled with excitement.

Kara flinched at the unexpected loud sound and her body tensed instinctively as if bracing for another phantom attack. “Great Rao!” She exclaimed. Kara had not yet readjusted to life outside of the Phantom Zone, and the sudden rise in volume pierced her still raw nerves. Humans are so unnecessarily loud.

Dr. Jeremiah turned to Kara with a puzzled look on his face. “May I ask what you said?” He asked. “Clark was kind enough to teach us your language but I don’t recognise those words.”

Kara’s chest tightened with guilt as the familiar sting of failure came back sharper than before. While Dr. Jeremiah meant no harm with his innocent question, it still served as a painful reminder that she had not only failed her mother and her cousin, but the whole of Krypton. It was Kara's fault that Kal-El did not comprehend the importance of Rao. If he did, her cousin would have known that the name of their god should always be the first thing he shared with anyone who wished to learn about Krypton. It is only something Kryptonian’s say when they are startled.” She answered.

“Oh, sorry, dear, we did not mean to scare you.” Dr Eliza muttered, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. 

“Do you mind translating it for us?” Dr. Jeremiah asked. 

Kara hesitated, subconsciously curling her hands into fists at her sides. How could I ever explain that the name I had uttered was the most sacred name to my people? I simply cannot do it. Not right now, at least, I am not quite ready to share that piece of myself yet? She opened her mouth to answer Dr. Jeremiah, but before she could, an annoyed voice cut her off. “Yeah, sure. I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Teenagers.” Dr. Jeremiah joked over the sound of loud footsteps coming from the floor above.

“I thought we got out of the stomping feet stage when she became a teenager.” Dr. Eliza teased as a brunette girl appeared half way down the stairs, looking clearly unhappy. Kara wondered if she was always this angry.

“Yes, Dad?” Alex asked, her tone full of barely concealed irritation.

"Come down, there is someone we want you to meet." Dr. Jeremiah’s words made Kara’s stomach flutter as she looked up toward the girl at the top of the stairs.

Kara anxiously watched as Alex walked down the stairs and when she reached the bottom step, Kara stepped forward. “Hello Alex, I am Kara Zor-El of the House of El.” She introduced herself, reaching out for a handshake.

Alex crossed her arms stiffly over her chest, “Yeah, I know who you are.” She replied, unimpressed.

Great start, Kara. She already hates you. “It is nice to make your acquaintance.” She added quickly, trying to push past the sting of rejection.

Alex looked her up and down. “Your English is pretty good.” She told her.

“Thank you.” Kara replied with a tentative smile.

“…for an alien.” 

“Oh.” Kara mumbled, her smile wavering slightly. While it is not the pleasant thing someone has ever said to me, at least she is speaking to me. That has to mean something, right?

“Alexandra!” Dr. Jeremiah said sharply. “Apologise to Kara and stop being so rude to our guest. I thought we raised you to be better than this.”

Alex shot her father a look. “I’m not being rude. I just don’t understand why she has to live here with us and not with Clark. She is his responsibility after all.”

Dr. Eliza’s expression hardened. “We’ve been over this, Alexandra. We agreed to help Clark out by taking Kara in because it’s the right thing to do.”

Alex’s gaze flicked toward her mother. “Then maybe he should’ve trusted himself to do the right thing. She’s a part of his family, not ours.” “That is not for us to decide.” Dr. Jeremiah told her. “Now apologise to Kara right now, or you will be grounded for the next two months.”

“I’m sorry I was rude to you.” Alex muttered.

Kara felt awkward; she did not know how to properly accept the apology that she could tell was insincere. She was not used to such apologies. On Krypton, if you apologized, you meant it. If you did not mean it, you simply did not say it. So accepting Alex’s insincere apology felt like an act of dishonesty and the thought of performing such an act made Kara uncomfortable. However, she decided to go through with it to prevent causing any more problems for the family that was kind enough to take her in. “It is quite all right, Alex.” Kara told her, hoping she was doing the right thing. But, the sense of dread she felt from going against her own beliefs, told her otherwise. 

“Happy now?” Alex asked, clearly directing the question at her parents.

“Yes, thank you.” Dr. Jeremiah replied, his voice calm, but Kara noticed that there was a tightness to it, like he was trying to not let his frustration show. “Now, can you please show Kara around while your mother and I get dinner started?”

“Do I have to?” She groaned. “I was kinda in the middle of something.”

“You can finish whatever you were doing later.” Dr. Jeremiah said evenly. 

“Fine. If I must.” Alex grumbled as she walked past Kara, who hesitated briefly, before following her. The room they entered had two comfortable looking sofas that were sitting at a 90° angle, one pressed against the wall beneath the front window, and the other directly in front of a large, boxy device, which was sitting on a stand in front of the second window. Kara’s eyes lingered on the strange object. Is that what a television looks like in real life? Her brow furrowed. It looks bulky, and completely outdated. Though it does look sleeker than the ones in the shows Grandfather and I used to watch. A pang of longing struck Kara’s chest as she thought about how much her grandfather would have loved the chance to visit Earth.

“This is the lounge room.” Alex told her, lazily waving her hand around the space. The motion broke Kara’s focus away from the television and toward the rest of the room.

The first thing she noticed was the small, round glass table that sat in front of the two sofas. When she looked up at the couch beneath the large front window, she noticed it had a side table on either end, one holding a simple lamp, and the other supporting a vase with a cluster of flowers Kara did not recognize. The colours match that of an Earth sunset. Their vibrant pinks, oranges, and yellows petals bright against the room’s beige tones. Did the Danvers place these here purely for decoration, or do the flowers have a  symbolic purpose or meaning? “This is where we spend time together as a family. You probably don’t remember what that’s like.” Alex added with just a hint of a bite to her words as she walked over to the table and chairs in the adjoining room. 

Kara’s breath got caught in her throat and she had to physically bite her tongue to hold back all the words she wanted to say to Alex. “I do remember. I remember everything about my family.” She muttered to herself. “They are all I can think about.”

“This is the dining room, where we eat our meals.” Kara glanced around the space. It was open-plan with two large windows, like the lounge room. It had a long wooden table sat in the middle, surrounded by eight matching chairs, each with an X-shaped design across the back. There was a chair at each end of the table and three along either side. A tall potted plant with large, glossy green, split leaves stood in the corner between the windows.

She reached out to touch the leaf closest to her. The Danvers family clearly love having plants inside their home. I believe if Krypton still had decorative flora, then I would probably have had them all over my private chambers too. Kara smiled softly as she pictured her private chambers filled with decorative flora. Alex turned slightly to the right and pointed to the room across the hall. “And that’s the kitchen, where we make them. I’m sure you can handle our primitive appliances just fine. I mean you are from Krypton, a highly advanced scientific planet, aren’t you?”

“I do not understand what you meant by that and therefore do not know how best to respond.” Kara confessed as she looked toward where Alex had pointed. From where she stood, Kara could see most of the kitchen. On the left wall was a long row of white cabinets beneath a wide window. On the back wall was even more white cabinetry, which was broken up here and there by open shelves made of dark wood, stacked with jars, bottles, and other items she did not recognize. The centre of the space was dominated by a wide island that cut across her view of the white cabinetry behind it, but she could still see a square metal panel built neatly into the back wall cabinetry on the other side of the kitchen from the sink, its dark glass front reflecting the light.

“Is that what an oven looks like?”

“Yes.” Alex answered. “I'm surprised you know what that is.”

“It is so tiny. It is not even big enough for a whole Zoravak. How do you fit food in there?” Kara asked, bewildered. I remember seeing ovens in the old Earth shows I used to watch, but I always thought that they only looked small because of the size of Grandfather’s television.

“Yeah, well, we don’t have Zorkaks, or whatever you said, here on Earth and we seem to be getting by just fine with what we do have.” Alex replied, her tone cold and dismissive.

“Oh.” Kara mumbled. Odd. I wonder what meat they do have. I hope Rao will not mind that I can no longer have Zoravak in his honor. Her gaze drifted to the silver appliance against the right wall, which she recognized as a refrigerator from the shows she used to watch with Grandfather. 

The narrow door beside it caught her attention. I do not believe that I know what the narrow door next to it is. How interesting, I did not expect that humans would also include secret rooms in their homes. I wonder what is inside.

“The narrow door between us and the fridge is the pantry, where we store a lot of our dry and uncooked food.” Alex told her. 

“So, not a secret door like I first thought.” Kara muttered, surprisingly disappointed.

Alex gave her a strange look. “Anyway, the door at the end of the hallway between the kitchen and the dining room leads to the backyard. Which you can also access via the laundry room.”

“Can we go out there now?” Kara asked eagerly. Alex rolled her eyes and walked out of the dining room, back toward the front of the house. Kara was surprised, she did not expect Alex to walk off without answering her. I wonder if all humans are like Alex, unpredictable and quick to express emotion, even when it serves no purpose. 

Kara easily caught up to Alex, who had stopped in the middle of the hallway. Is she waiting for me? She wondered. When Alex saw her, she gestured toward a door beneath the staircase. “Under there is a closet for coats, shoes, and umbrellas.” Kara peered curiously at the door. The door blends in with the panelling of the staircase so well, you would not even know it was there unless you knew what you were looking for. “The door in front of the stairs leads to a hallway with three doors. The first door on your left is to the basement which my parents converted into a shared laboratory. Next to that is the door to the downstairs bathroom. At the end of the hall is the door to the laundry room which is connected to the garage.”

 “In what fields of science do your mother and father work in?” Kara asked, intrigued to learn more about Alex’s parents. “My father, Zor-El, was a biologist and an engineer.” Kara could not help but wrap her arms tightly around her middle while thinking of him, because while talking about her father gave Kara such pride, it also caused her great heartache. “He was also the head of the scientist Guild and one of our planet’s most distinguished and respected scientists.” She told Alex as she followed her down the hall.

“Like I care.” Alex grumbled as they walked up the stairs. Kara’s head dropped so that Alex could not see the tears that were starting to gather in her eyes. 

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

When Kara and Alex reached the second floor landing, they turned to face the front of the house as Alex continued her tour. “That’s my room.” She said, jerking her head toward the door closest to them. “That’s your room.” She pointed at the door down the hall from hers. “And over there’s my parents’ room.” She added, motioning to the single door across the hall. 

“How extraordinary, this place is not what I expected.” Kara said in amazement. While I knew that homes on Earth would be different from Kryptonian homes, I am surprised by how beautiful they are in their own simple, yet impressive way.

Alex turned toward her with her arms crossed over her chest and a glare on her face. “If you don’t get in my way or touch my stuff, then we won’t have any problems, understand?” She asked sharply.

Kara nodded quickly, not wanting to provoke any more hostility. “Indeed. Thank you for showing me your home.” 

“Whatever, it’s not like I had a choice.” Alex muttered as she stormed off to her room, slamming the door behind her. 

Kara flinched. “Great Rao, that was unnecessarily loud.” She mumbled to herself as she took in the upstairs hallway. It looked almost exactly like the one downstairs, the same warm beige walls lined with happy family photos. At the far end of the hall, was a large window that looked out over the backyard and allowed natural light into what would have otherwise been a dark hallway. It was clear to Kara that the Danvers family had a deep appreciation for three things: natural light, flora, and the colour beige.

Kara, who had long grown accustomed to automatic sliding doors, found it strange that she had to physically push down on the handle to open the door. “I wonder why humans have not yet installed automatic doors within their homes. I believe that once they do, they shall find their lives to be considerably easier.” Kara murmured to herself as she stepped inside the room, closing the door gently behind her. 

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

The room was small, not even one eighth of the size of Kara’s bedroom on Krypton and was sparsely furnished. The walls were the same beige colour that was in the rest of the house. The floor was covered in a soft grey material that Kara believed to be called carpet. 

There was a medium size bed with violet purple and azure blue bedding pushed against the centre of the right wall. Above it was an octagonal window, divided into four panels and framed by a smooth tawny oak wood. On the floor halfway under the bed was a parakeet green rug. 

The back wall was dominated by a bay window, made of the same wood. The side windows each had two small top panels and one large bottom panel, while the central window featured four small top panels and one large bottom panel. 

Below the window, there was a macaroon yellow chest of drawers, which served as a window seat, topped with a marigold orange cushion that ran its full length. A single blush pink pillow rested on top, completing the seating area. The two large drawers themselves were blush pink on the outside and gold orange on the inside, each featuring a silver handle in the center.

On either side of the bay window stood a built-in bookcase made of a umber brown oak wood, both empty, and beneath the leftside shelf sat a small desk with a macaroon yellow chair tucked in and a buttermilk yellow lamp perched on top. There was a matching coloured lamp on the right wall, between the bed and empty bookcase.

The only thing on the left wall was three beige doors. The first two sliding doors led to what Kara believed was a built-in wardrobe, which she understood to be common in Earth homes. The third door was a mystery. Another potential secret room? Even though Kara wanted to know what was behind it, she simply felt too exhausted to look.  

Kara sighed as she sat on the rectangular bed, placing her leather satchel on her lap. The lumpy mattress sagged beneath her, dipping unevenly under her weight. She shifted around, searching for a comfortable spot, but her effort was in vain. The mere thought of having to sleep on such an unpleasant mattress made Kara long for her own bed. 

It had been massive and round, made especially for her. Her father designed it to cradle her as though she were being held in a gentle embrace while she slept. Kara could roll around and stretch herself out as wide as she wished without ever fearing she might fall off one of its sides. However, she could not say the same for her new Earth bed.

For a long moment, Kara simply stared at the bag her mother sent with her to Earth. I wonder what she deemed important enough to pack within it, now that these items have become the last remnants of my home that I can carry with me.

The first item she pulled from inside was her red baby blanket. As soon as she saw it, Kara froze and her breath got caught in her throat as the tears she had been holding back since arriving on Earth broke free and began to stream down her face. What if the Phantom Zone had tainted it and the memories that are now tied to it are of that terrible, unspeakable place? Kara was afraid that she had lost yet another piece of her home. But as she wrapped the soft, plush blanket around her and felt its familiar comfort, Kara realised that not everything had been taken away from her.

With a slow, steadying breath, she gently reached back into the satchel, the next item her fingertips brushed against was softer than the leather of her satchel, but just as thick. Kara recognized it instantly as the pouch that held her data crystals. Her heart broke when she remembered that her cousin had forbidden her from using the only two known crystal readers on Earth. Without a data crystal reader, all of these were nothing more than glittering pieces of glass. Of what use is all this knowledge if I cannot access it? Kara could not help feeling devastated as she set the pouch of data crystals on the bed, knowing her mother had selected them especially for Kara and she would never know what was on them.

When Kara put her hand back into the satchel, her fingers closed around something solid with wings. The familiar weight brought a lump to her throat as her fingers tightened around the object, and she lifted it from the satchel. Even though Kara knew what it was, she still froze at the sight of the winged statue she had crafted for her father. I remember the day I made this.  I was frustrated beyond measure by my inability to perfect the shape of the wings. Yet when I gifted it to Father, he held it as though it were a priceless treasure. He told me it was perfect and that he shall love it as much as he loved me for I made it for him. Now, it is all that remains to remind me of him.

Kara gazed at the winged creature with longing as her hands began to tremble and the grief she had been holding back finally washed over her. Kara cried openly, not only for her father, but for everything that she had lost; her family, her people, and the very life she had once known.

Kara observed the room around her, looking for the best place for her father's statue. "That shall be perfect." She muttered to herself as she stood up and walked over to the small table in between the bed and the empty bookcase. She gently placed it in a spot on the table where she could see it from where she would lay her head at night. "I miss you, father. I wish you and Mother had not sent me away and had instead allowed me the honour of dying with you and our people. Earth is nothing like you had hoped it would be." Kara whispered softly, before returning to her place at the end of the bed.

Drawing the blanket tighter around her shoulders, Kara reached back into the satchel once more.  The moment her fingers brushed against the textured canvas, she could not help but smile. I know what this is. It is the first ever painting I created of Krypton. I was four and Grandmother was teaching me about the splatter art technique. 

Kara winced in embarrassment as the painting was pulled from her satchel and she got her first look at it since her grandmother died. 

It would be obvious to anyone who laid their eyes upon it that this was painted by a child. The white splattered paint bears no resemblance to the stars that surrounded Krypton and I painted the planet in the wrong shades of red and orange. She laughed sadly as she placed it next to the data crystal pouch. Why did Mother choose these items? None of what I have unpacked thus far, with the sole exception of the data crystals, serves any practical purpose. Each item holds only sentimental value. That cannot be a coincidence for Mother would not have packed so carelessly. Which leaves me to question Mother’s intent behind packing these particular items.

Kara reached back into the satchel and felt around inside. “It feels as though there are only four items left.” She muttered as she wrapped her hand around a smooth, thick, metal object that was rectangular in shape.

As she pulled the Nth metal chessboard from her satchel, Kara realised that it had never been about practicality, but rather about her having an item by which to remember each of her loved ones.

I have something connected to my childhood, my parents and my grandparents. The only family member left is Aunt Astra. What could Mother have packed that would serve as a reminder of her? There is merely one thing I can think of. But, mother hated the necklace Aunt Astra made for me with the Military Guild crest on it. Would she truly have packed it though she detested its very existence?

Out of pure curiosity Kara put her hand back in the bag and the first item she touched was circular in shape and heartbreakingly familiar. No, mother would not have packed the item that I fear I may have in my hand. She would not do that, not when she knows that I have refused to touch it since that awful day in my chambers. 

Kara was tempted not to pull the next item out of the satchel, because she was sure she knew what it was and she did not wish to see it again. But she sucked in a deep breath and lifted her hand from within the satchel. 

As soon as she saw her spy beacon, Kara felt her chest tighten as her breath grew shallow and rapid. Before she could attempt to calm herself, Kara suddenly became aware of her hypersensitivity to the sound of her beating heart that she could hear pounding in her ears. Kara placed her hand over her heart and started rubbing the spot, hoping it would help ease the pain that seemed to have struck her heart without warning.

When that did not work, Kara’s feeling of panic deepened and spots began to appear in her vision. She felt herself growing light-headed and she soon became fearful that she might faint. However, before she could spiral further down in her panic attack, a familiar voice emerged from within the depths of her satchel. “Greetings Lady Zor-El, it seems you are experiencing difficulty breathing. Are you in need of assistance?” Kara opened her mouth, but no words came out. “It is perfectly fine if you cannot speak at this time, Lady Zor-El. I shall guide you through a basic breathing exercise known as Box Breathing. Please breathe in for four seconds, hold for four seconds then exhale for four seconds. You shall pause for a second before repeating the process. You may stop once you are able to breathe without difficulty.”

With Arlo's soothing guidance, Kara gradually calmed her breathing by focusing on each measured inhale and exhale. In the quiet that followed, Kara found herself reflecting on her brain's ability to recall the sound of her artificial intelligence’s voice so clearly, like it was in the room with her.

Once Kara could breathe more sufficiently, she became aware of the fact that all of her sudden onset symptoms were also starting to  disappear. Realising that her panic attack was the result of seeing the spy beacon again, she carefully placed the device back inside her satchel. “I was not aware that such a small device could have such a profound impact on my well-being. I wonder what possessed Mother to pack it?”

“I am sorry, Lady Zor-El, I currently do not have the answer to your question.” ARLO answered.

Kara’s eyes widened as she realized the final item in her satchel was the home base of her artificial intelligence. “Holy Rao! ARLO, it is truly you,” she exclaimed, her voice filled with shock and delight. Overcome with relief, she quickly emptied the remaining contents of her satchel onto the bed. In her eagerness to be reunited with ARLO and her desperation to distance herself from the spy beacon, she hastily returned the beacon to its rightful place before gently picking up ARLO’s home base. In her excitement, Kara did not notice that another item had slipped silently from her satchel and disappeared into the folds of the blanket beneath her. The grey device resembled a small, polished rock, it was smooth and flat across the top, with a rounded bottom that allowed it to rest comfortably in the center of the holder’s palm. “I cannot believe you are here. I did not expect Mother to select you as one of the important items to send with me to Earth.”

“It was not your mother, Lady In-Ze, who put me in your satchel. It was your father, Master Zor-El. He sent me with a mission: I am to keep you company and help raise Kal-El as Master Zor-El does not wish for you to bear that responsibility on your own” ARLO explained as his glowing face began to materialize and float above the flat surface of the rock like base. His skin was a light translucent blue, his eyebrows a soft pale green that complemented his fern coloured irises and warm gold pupils. Unlike the basic model of ARLO that was installed inside Kara's pod, this version had Solfyre gold star like dots that connected the lines that made up the outline of his face.

As the conflicting feelings of gratitude and grief swelled within Kara, she could feel her composure start to fracture as the tears she had been holding back began to well in her eyes and flow freely down her face. Kara had never been confused by her emotions before as she had never felt two opposing feelings at once. 

She could not understand how her heart could feel so full of love and appreciation for her father, who had recognized she could not fulfill her mission alone and had sent Arlo to guide and support her, while at the same time aching with a longing for her family who she knew she would never see again. 

“While that was thoughtful of Father, I do not require your assistance as Kal-El is no longer the infant I was sent to protect. He is grown up now, and no longer requires my guidance.”

“That is odd, Lady Zor-El. My diagnostics have not indicated any software issues that would have prevented me from providing you with support. If you wish, I can run a complete system scan to confirm that nothing has been missed.” ARLO asked.

“No…no, it is fine,” Kara whispered as her throat tightened and her eyes began to glisten. "The reason you were not able to offer your assistance was no fault of your own, it was mine. I…I was trapped…inside the Phantom Zone....for twenty-four years." She revealed in a trembling voice, the weight of all she had endured crashing over her as she voiced the truth for the first time.

"Lady Zor-El, what you endured in the Phantom Zone is something no being should have ever had to endure. You have survived that which would have destroyed even the strongest of minds. You are living proof that surviving the Phantom Zone is possible.” ARLO told her, his voice full of shock and amazement. “However,” He continued, his tone softening, “remaining in an enclosed space such as the one you are currently in poses a risk of triggering another panic attack. Therefore, Lady Zor-El, I advise that the best course of action is for you to go outside and become reacquainted with the feeling of the sun upon your skin, the wind in your hair, and the knowledge that you are truly free.”

At first Kara thought that she felt claustrophobic because she found the house to be small and confining, though it had clearly been designed to be open and spacious. Interacting with the Danvers family had helped to distract Kara enough that it had not become a major problem. Then Alex’s tour ended and she was left alone with her thoughts. 

Kara’s feeling of claustrophobia returned and intensified as soon as she entered the bedroom and was hit with a restless feeling of anxiety. Which she believed was brought on by the fact that she did not know what the future looked like for her. 

However, now that ARLO had pointed out the true reason she felt the way she did, Kara felt foolish for not noticing sooner. The combination of what I was feeling along with the unexpected sight of my spy beacon must have been the cause of my panic attack. 

“I agree, I do need fresh air and a moment away from the four walls that feel so foreign to me.” She pushed herself up off the bed and made her way to the door. “How unusual of me." She mumbled to herself as she stepped into the hallway. "I am usually more attuned to my body’s needs. I have never before had to rely on ARLO to tell me.”

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Kara paused briefly at the bottom of the staircase. While I am most appreciative of the Danvers family for taking me in, I find that I presently lack the mental capacity to engage socially with them. She turned in the opposite direction of the kitchen and began walking down the front hallway until she reached the laundry room. Alex did mention that one could access the backyard through here. Kara reminded herself as she placed her hand on the handle and pushed it down to open the door. I wonder if a laundry room is at all like the garment bays we had back on Krypton. 

The moment Kara entered the room, she was immediately overwhelmed by the heat, the loud noises and the sharp, tangy smell of laundry powder. The noise came from the two square boxy machines set against the side wall. As Kara took a closer look at the machines’ round glass panels, she noticed that there were clothes tumbling around inside. 

It is obvious that these machines are meant to clean the humans’ clothing; yet their loud noises and bulky frames, which tremble and shake with every spin of their cleaning cycles, reflect a design that is both inefficient and outdated.

Kara’s gaze drifted upward toward the tall windows that were bathing the room in warm sunlight. Beneath the windows was a counter that stretched across the wall. On top of it sat a wicker basket overflowing with what appeared to be dirty washing. Next to it was a vase with a medium sized plant of some kind with thick, purple petals. There were two doors, one on either side of the laundry room. The one closest to Kara, clearly gave entry to the garage, while the one across the room provided access to the backyard.

The back wall was lined with two massive creamy wooden cupboards that blended seamlessly with the beige walls they were built into. On the opposite wall was a knee-high bench that ran the length of the room from the garage door to about a foot before the back cupboards. Beneath the bench were four open compartments fitted with identical shoe racks. The first three had shoes belonging to each of the Danvers family members while the fourth compartment was empty, seemingly reserved for future use. “Wood appears to be the preferred material for storage on this planet.” Kara muttered to herself.

Above the bench were hooks that held the Danvers family’s belongings which consisted of a bag of some kind (a woman’s handbag, a work satchel and a school bag) next to a different colour raincoat. Dr Eliza had a purple one, Dr Jeremiah had a green one and Alex had a black one. Each of the two items on the hooks aligned neatly with the compartments below. 

Once she had finished observing the room and her mind was no longer occupied with cataloguing every detail of the new space, Kara became aware of the sensations she had initially pushed to the back of her mind. The first thing she noticed was the heat from the sun streaming in through the windows. Then came the return of the sound of the machines’ hum, which began to echo loudly in her ears. Followed closely by the sharp scent of laundry powder.

Kara shifted uneasily on her feet and her chest began to feel tight, a clear sign that she was becoming distressed, as the familiar feeling of being trapped in a small, confined space washed over her. The laundry room was smaller than she had expected and with every passing second spent in the hot unpleasant smelling room, the air around Kara seemed to grow heavier and harder to breathe.

The thought of being able to inhale fresh cool air barely had time to form in her mind before she dashed across the room and burst out the back door, desperate to be free of the four walls that seemed to be closing in around her. 

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

When she emerged into the open air of the backyard, Kara was instantly greeted by the sight of her very first Earth sunset. Her eyes widened in awe at the vibrant shades of red, orange, and pink that bathed the once pure blue sky. Kara watched, captivated, as the sun slowly descended toward the horizon. I have learnt about the sunsets on Earth, but holy Rao, words cannot describe how magnificent it is. Even though it almost looks as if the ocean is swallowing the sun.

The beauty of it was undeniable, yet it did little to ease the sharp ache rising in Kara’s chest. The feeling quickly consumed her senses, forcing her to confront the emotions she had worked so hard to suppress since arriving on Earth. For the first time since leaving the Phantom Zone, Kara stopped pretending to be strong and unaffected by everything that had happened to her. 

As she stood there, gazing at the setting sun, Kara felt the weight of everything she had lost pressing down on her chest until she could hardly breathe. She was acutely aware that each loss left her with a profoundly deep wound that would never truly heal. 

Nothing scarred her more deeply than the realisation that she had done the impossible. She had escaped the Phantom Zone, only to arrive on Earth and discover that her purpose, the very reason she had fought to stay alive, did not exist and she was no longer wanted nor needed. 

Without her mission, the darkness from the Phantom Zone began to seep back into her soul, bringing with it twisted thoughts that threatened to overwhelm her. You do not belong here! It should have been Astra who escaped the Phantom zone, not you. Look at yourself, you are standing out in the cold, crying all alone, while the humans are enjoying themselves inside. You are so utterly pathetic that not even Kal-El wants you in his life. Can you believe that you came all this way to be left behind? Your mission is dead, and so with it is any reason you may have had to keep living. No one shall miss you if you decide to end your life. Your death would not even bring dishonour to the House of El. Kara tried her best to ignore the voice in her head, but it felt almost impossible to do when it seemed like the voice was speaking the truth. 

In a moment of despair, Kara found herself looking up at the sky, feeling a familiar ache in her heart as she began to pray. “Dear Rao,” She whispered, her voice trembling. “Thank you for freeing me from the Phantom Zone and bringing me to Earth. Thank you for protecting Kal-El during his time on this planet.” She closed her eyes, letting the warmth of the fading sun wash over her like a warm embrace. “Why, Rao? Why did you bring me here so many years after Kal-El? I thought I was meant to protect him, to guide him. But now he is an adult who does not need my guidance nor my protection. He does not need me and I am left to feel lost and confused. Why did you do this? Why did you let me suffer all alone in the Phantom Zone for so long? Was it all part of some greater plan that I am unaware of? Am I truly meant to be here with this family, or am I simply a misplaced burden?” Confusion mingled with Kara’s grief as she searched the sky for answers, “Please, Rao, help me to understand what caused you to make the choices that led to me ending up here. Help me to understand what my new purpose is on Earth. Do I even have one?” 

As the stars began to appear in the night sky, the gentle sound of lapping water drew her attention back toward the ocean. Kara had never seen a body of water as vast and endless as the ocean before and something about it called to her. As she stepped off the soft, wet grass onto the cool, grainy sand, Kara felt her bare feet sinking slightly with every step she took toward the water’s edge.

The rhythmical movement of the waves and the rippling reflection of the moon and stars on the water's surface eased her mind into a gentle state of calm. Is this what peace feels like? She wondered as her breathing slowed and her muscles loosened, momentarily releasing all pain and grief from within her. I have forgotten what it feels like. 

The feeling of the sand beneath her feet, the sound of the tide washing over the shore and the smell of the ocean’s salty water filling her senses, drew Kara deeper into the tranquility of purely existing.

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

Time slipped away from her and it was not until Kara heard the creak of a door behind her that she realised how hypnotised by the ocean she had become. “Kara, sweetie!” Dr. Eliza called from the house. “Come inside! it’s getting cold, and dinner’s almost ready.”

Kara looked up at the few stars now visible in the sky. I wonder if Mother and Father are up there in Rao’s light, looking down upon me. While it hurts for me to say this, I hope they are not watching me right now. I do not wish for them to ever find out that I had disappointed them by failing my mission. “I am coming.” She replied, forcing a smile as she walked back to the house. She did not want to worry the kind woman. “Excuse me, Dr. Eliza, can I ask you a question?” Kara asked politely as she followed the older woman inside.

“Sure, dear. But please, while I won't ask you to call me mom, I do ask that you at least call me Eliza.” She told her with a gentle smile as they entered the main area of the house.

If I were to call her by her given name it would break one of the most sacred rules of respect and bring even more dishonour to my family. Kara shook her head with a distressed frown. “I am sorry, Dr. Eliza. I simply cannot call you by your given name. I was taught to respect my elders, and to not use your title is a sign of disrespect.”

Eliza paused by the staircase and turned to Kara with a look of gentle understanding on her face. “Would it help if I gave you permission to call me by my first name? Would that make it more respectful?”

Kara thought about it for a moment, I am not used to being given choices about respect. How do I know which one is correct? Her frown deepened as she realised she did not have the answer. “I...I am uncertain. That has never been an option on Krypton before. At least not that I am aware of.”

“Then that means that the choice is yours.” Dr. Eliza told her. “You can either continue calling me Dr. Eliza, or you can drop the title from my name. Either way, I don’t mind as long as you’re comfortable. But you don't have to decide right this moment. For now, how about you ask me your question?”

Kara pressed her lips together, unsure on how to respond to being given a choice in something for the first time since she left Krypton. After a moment, she decided it was best to take Eliza up on her offer of not having to make a decision right away. “Is it okay if I pray to your sun?” Kara asked hesitantly, worried that asking such a question would be considered impolite..

Dr. Eliza gave her a curious look “Of course, if you want to. I see no problem with it.’ She told her kindly.

“Thank you.” Kara said with a grateful smile. Tomorrow when I do my morning prayer to Rao, I shall add Sol in it to thank Him for everything He has done since Kal-El arrived on Earth. 

“You’re welcome.” Dr. Eliza said, her smile softening.

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

The smell of something warm and savoury filled Kara’s senses the moment she stepped inside the dining room. Though the aroma was entirely unfamiliar to her, she could not deny that the scent was surprisingly delicious. Kara watched quietly as Dr. Eliza sat down at the end of the table closest to the entryway and across from her husband who looked over at Kara and smiled. “You can sit wherever you like.”

“Thank you, I appreciate being permitted to sit where I prefer.” Kara answered politely as she scanned the table, looking for the chair that felt right to her. She immediately ruled out the middle chair across from Alex, who was glaring up at her with her arms crossed tightly over her chest. 

I can either sit in the chair closest to Dr Eliza or her husband. Kara’s gaze drifted to the window where she could see the ocean without obstruction. It has been decided, I shall take the seat next to Dr. Eliza as it has the most optimal view of my favourite part of Earth so far. Kara thought as she sat down.

Her attention was immediately drawn to the plate that sat before her. On top was a golden-brown square that was cut in such a way it resembled two triangles. How peculiar. I do not believe I have seen anything like this in my studies of Earth food. I wonder what it is. She picked up one half to examine its contents closer. Whatever the food was, it consisted of a few pieces of some kind of meat and slices of a red circular vegetation with an odd yellow substance melted on top. 

The triangles were paired together with a bowl filled with a reddish liquid. Kara’s brow furrowed as she tried to make sense of the unfamiliar food in her hands. None of it looked like anything she had on Krypton or any of the other planets she had been to. The odd looking textures made her stomach roll and tighten with unease. 

Curiosity got the better of her, and she turned to Dr Eliza. “Excuse me, can you please tell me what this is?” She asked politely as she placed the golden-brown triangle back on her plate.

Before either of the adults could respond, Alex suddenly leaned forward with a sneer. “It’s called food, alien girl.” she quipped, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “We humans eat it to stay alive, is that not a thing you did on your planet?” 

Kara blinked, taken aback by the sharpness in Alex’s voice. Why must she speak to me in such a manner? Why did she try to insult me by calling me what I am? Is it to try to provoke me to react in anger? She furrowed her brow slightly as she studied Alex's face, unsure how to appropriately respond as she had never been treated with such clear disdain and disrespect before. “Yes, we had food.” She answered kindly. “However, I have not seen anything like this before and I wish to know what it is called.” 

“This is what real humans eat. But I guess you wouldn’t know much about being a real human, would you?” Alex taunted with a vindictive gleam in her eyes.

“No?” Kara frowned, puzzled by Alex’s statement. “Of course I would not know. I am not from here. I cannot be expected to know.”

 “Alex, that’s enough, cut it out. You are starting to push your luck now.” Dr. Jeremiah warned as he gave his daughter a dark look. 

Alex sighed as she leant back in her chair with a nonchalant shrug. “What? I’m not pushing anything. I’m only answering her question.” 

Kara returned her gaze to the food on her plate as her appetite began to fade and be replaced by a tight knot in her stomach. Her brow creased as she searched her memory, desperate to find what offence she might have caused Alex, but she could not think of anything she had done wrong. She was uncomfortable with the fact that she had upset the other girl, without knowing what she had done. I hope Alex can forgive me for whatever I did that has upset her. 

“The food on your plate is called a grilled ham, cheese and tomato sandwich. The liquid in the bowl next to it is called tomato soup. They are delicious when paired together.” Dr. Eliza explained.

The sound of a throat clearing gained Kara’s attention. She glanced around the table and met Alex’s glare for a moment, before turning her gaze to Dr. Jeremiah, who was staring at her with a thoughtful look on his face.“Would you like a glass of water, Dr. Jeremiah?” She asked. “If your throat is dry, it is best to drink something to moisten it. Water is the healthiest option to help relieve the dryness.”

“No, thank you, Kara.” He smiled softly. “I just wanted to ask you if there is anything you'd like to do before we eat. Some people on Earth like to say grace before every meal. If Krypton had similar customs around mealtimes, we would like for you to honor them as you normally would.”

Kara stared blankly, unfamiliar with the word grace in this context. “‘Grace’?” She repeated, glancing around at the Danvers family. She had learned a lot about Earth during her time in the Phantom Zone and even more in the few hours she had been on the planet, however she was not taught anything about Earth related meal-time customs. “Could you please clarify what you mean? Do you mean that people say the word ‘grace’ before each meal?”

Dr. Eliza smiled gently. “No, people do not say the word ‘grace’ before every meal. Grace is what we call a short prayer of thanks to god for our food and acknowledge the blessings we have received from him. Each Grace is different, some people have specific words or phrases they like to say, while others simply take a moment of silent reflection.”

"I believe I understand what you are saying. Krypton did not have any such rituals around mealtimes. Instead we gave thanks to Rao at the beginning and end of every day.” Kara explained. “However, Rao will be fine with me witnessing you give thanks to another God, if that is what you normally do.”

“Alright then.” Dr. Jeremiah bowed his head and folded his hands, shortly followed by his wife and daughter. “Dear Heavenly Father, we gather before you to receive this food you have blessed us with. We thank You for this meal, for the blessings of this day, and for the safe arrival of Kara on Earth. We thank you for our good health and well-being, and the love of family that surrounds us. We ask that you may continue to bless us with nourishing food, good health and love, and that you guide us in all that we do and watch over our family, both near and far. Amen.”

There was a moment of silence following the end of the grace which was broken by Alex picking up half of her grilled sandwich and shoving it into her mouth. Kara could not help but flinch in disgust, disturbed by the animalistic way the other girl devoured her food. She quickly glanced over at the adults and watched how they ate their grilled sandwiches carefully, even when they dipped them in the tomato soup they did not make a mess. How do such neat eaters tolerate having such a messy daughter? 

The act of eating with her fingers felt unnatural and improper to Kara, yet there were no utensils beside her plate that she could use, and she did not wish to trouble anyone by asking for them. With no other alternative, Kara hesitantly lifted one of the golden-brown triangles to her mouth and took a cautious bite. 

The grilled bread was warm and crisp, giving way to a soft melted layer of cheese that stretched pleasantly with each bite. The sliced tomato added a subtle tang, balancing the richness of the cheese, while the thin pieces of ham offered a savory, slightly salty undertone. 

She chewed thoughtfully, noting how the flavors mixed together. How extraordinary. It is a simple combination of food, yet it somehow tastes like a gourmet meal. 

Kara chose not to follow the Danvers family’s example of dipping the grilled sandwich into the soup. She was not sure how combining them would change the flavours, and she wanted to appreciate her first Earth meal as it was, one new flavour at a time. To Kara, it seemed wiser to experience each new food separately before trying to combine them like the humans did.

When she finished both halves of the sandwich, she gently pushed the empty plate to the side and drew the bowl of soup closer to herself. At first, she simply observed the orangey-red thick liquid inside the bowl. Then she slowly picked up the spoon from beside the bowl, letting it hover in the air for a moment before dipping it into the thick liquid and beginning to stir it. 

As Kara watched how the liquid moved around the bowl, she became intrigued by its movement, every ripple and swirl was something new and interesting to her. She paused for a moment, studying the liquid as it curled around the spoon, then lifted it carefully to her lips. "Did your parents never teach you not to play with your food?" Alex snapped.

Kara paused what she was doing and looked up at the other girl. “My parents were scientists, they would have known that I am not playing with my food, but studying it.” She explained as she  lifted the spoon to her lips and took a careful sip, letting the soup settle on her taste buds for a moment before swallowing.

“Whatever.” Alex muttered. 

“Kara, if you don’t mind me asking, how is it that you can speak flaunt English? Did you speak it when you lived on Krypton? If so, was it a hard language to learn?” Dr. Eliza asked, tilting her head slightly, her eyes bright with a warm curiosity. 

Kara shifted in her seat, her fingers nervously toying with the edge of the napkin that had been beneath her spoon. The thin fabric crumpled under her touch as her grip tightened, loosened, then tightened again, as though she could not decide whether to let go or hold on. Her chest felt tight and her breath grew shallow as a familiar pressure began to build right beneath her ribcage. 

I am aware that I have spoken of my home and my parents a few times since arriving on Earth. Each time, I have been able to contain the hurt it caused me. However, I do not believe I can do the same with this subject. Kara looked down at her bowl, fearful of the flood of painful memories this question would bring up for her. 

While the thought of what she was risking unsettled Kara, she believed that answering their questions and sharing what she knew, was the only way she could repay the family who had been generous enough to open their home to her when she had nowhere else to turn. 

Kara drew in a slow, steadying breath then lifted her gaze up to Dr. Eliza.“Yes, I technically studied Earth on Krypton. However, it was not in a classroom, nor was it part of the formal education curriculum. My late grandfather, Seyg-El, was fascinated by Earth and taught me everything he knew. Grandfather gained his knowledge by watching old Earth television broadcasts and films. He adored your planet and had a deep passion for studying humans and learning about your way of life. Grandfather is the primary reason I knew so much about Earth before I arrived.” She paused, her expression softening as memories of quiet evenings spent watching old sitcoms with her grandfather when he was too weary to play chess bubbled to the surface of her mind. “If it were not for Grandfather, I would not have been able to continue my Earth studies during my journey here. He was the one who insisted that the data he had collected on Earth be stored onto knowledge crystals. Two years after Grandfather entered Rao’s light, my father packed those crystals into my pod with me.” 

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but what are knowledge crystals?” Dr. Jeremiah asked. 

“Knowledge crystals are kind of like Earth books, yet different.” Kara explained. “They contain data on everything from how to fix a space pod interface malfunction to information on all the planets within the far reaches of space, including this one. However, because of the time I spent in the Phantom Zone, I fear that most of my Earth knowledge is at least twenty-four years behind the current times.” 

Kara noticed Alex roll her eyes as her scowl returned. It was clear to her that the other girl was not nearly as intrigued by Krypton’s history as her parents. "So, you think you can just waltz in here with your fancy knowledge crystals and your old Earth broadcasts and suddenly know everything about us? News flash: it doesn’t work that way." She sneered, her voice laced with disdain. "Just because you can speak English doesn’t mean you actually understand what it means to be human." 

Kara could feel the truth behind Alex’s words, though they confused her. She did not understand why Alex felt it necessary to keep reminding her that she was not human as she had never claimed to be one, nor had she claimed to understand what it truly meant to be human. She was aware that having knowledge of Earth, even if it was outdated by at least twenty-four years, did not mean she understood what it was like to live as a human on Earth. 

She would have thought that someone like Alex, smart, capable, and wise, would know the difference between knowing something and actually living through it. Perhaps she feels the need to remind me that I am not human because my cousin, Kal-El, I mean Clark, believes that he is human and she fears that I share a similar belief. Kara told herself as she gazed into the hate-filled eyes of the girl sitting across from her. “May I please be excused from the table?” She asked quietly.

Dr. Jeremiah looked at Kara with a gentle expression. “Of course you can, dear.”

“Thank you.” Kara said with a forced smile as she pushed back her chair and stood up. “Good night, everyone. I shall see you in the morning.” 

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

Kara quietly left the dining room and had barely stepped into her bedroom when there was a soft knock on her door. “Sweetie, it's Eliza, can I please come in?”

“Of course, come in.” Kara said as she stepped aside to let the older woman enter. “May I ask what brings you here? Did I do something to offend you or your family?”

“No, you've been perfect. I just wanted to check that Alex showed you how to use the shower in your shared bathroom.” Dr. Eliza explained.

Kara’s eyebrows knitted together as she thought back on the house tour Alex had given her when she first arrived. She could not recall a shared bathroom ever being mentioned by the other girl. "I am sorry, I was not aware of this shared bathroom you speak of. Alex only informed me of the one downstairs. I believe she referred to it as the spare bathroom." 

Dr. Eliza’s eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise. “Oh.” She said softly. “Thank you for telling me. The bathroom is right next to your study area. If you would like, I would be happy to show you the bathroom and how to use the shower. Clark informed us that bathing was different on Krypton. He explained that your people didn't believe in wasting resources and viewed showering as a misuse of water.”

“Yes, if you shall be so kind. I would be most grateful.” Kara smiled to hide the pain she felt. It is almost inconceivable that one of the few things my cousin knows of our people is in relation to our hygiene practices and view on water conservation.

“Do you have any clean pyjamas?” Dr. Eliza asked. 

Kara felt her eyebrows furrow in confusion. ““Please forgive me, I am unfamiliar with that term.”

“I was asking if you have any sleeping clothes?” She told her.

"Oh!” Kara exclaimed, her face lighting up with recognition. “Yes, while I have not yet examined the full contents of my bag, I believe my mother would have ensured such garments were packed. My people regard proper preparation as an essential principle in all aspects of life.” Kara paused for a moment after speaking to reflect on all the lessons her parents instilled in her and could not help but wonder if those teachings would be of much help to her as she navigated the uncertainties of her new life.

Kara walked to the end of the bed and opened her bag, which now lay empty of all its visible contents. She placed her hand inside and ran her fingers along the bottom until she found the small hidden latch. With a soft push, the false bottom slid open, revealing  two stacks of neatly folded clothing. One pile was her daywear, the other her nightwear. Kara picked up the top set from the nightwear pile and let her fingers caress over the soft, smooth familiar fabric. It did not surprise Kara that her mother remembered to pack her favorite sleeping attire. “That’s very wise.” Dr. Eliza remarked. “I wish there were more humans who thought that way.”

“I wish to have a shower now, if you do not mind.” Kara said politely, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot.

“Oh! Of course, sweetheart. Like I said, it is right through that end door. I will show you where everything is and how to use the shower. The tap can be a little tricky to use at first. Then I will let you shower in peace.” 

As Kara entered the bathroom, she found herself pausing at the threshold as she took in the bathroom with wide eyes filled with amazement. She did not know what she was expecting to find beyond the door, yet what she was seeing was unlike anything she had ever seen in her twelve years. The Danvers family certainly have discovered a unique way to utilise this space. I would very much like to find out how they were able to fit so much within a room that it is barely one tenth of my bathroom back home. Why, I wonder, is everything so small and compacted on Earth? 

The walls were beige, and the floor was a complementary creamy pattern. On the opposite side of the room stood another door, which Kara knew led to Alex’s bedroom. To her left was a basin with two sinks, each with its own mirror, a bottle of soap, and a fresh roll of paper towel. 

Beside the sink, a toilet rested against the wall. Set into the wall beside the door was a silver dispenser, which held a new roll of toilet paper. 

Across the room from the toilet was a glassed enclosed shower and a bathtub. Above the bathtub was a large frosted window, allowing light in while maintaining privacy. Along the wall beside the door leading back to Kara’s bedroom was a towel drying rack. 

“You mentioned that you studied Earth, did your studies include learning how to operate a shower?” Dr Eliza asked as she came to a stop by the glass door.

“Indeed it did. However, like I said before, my knowledge of Earth is at least twenty four-years old, if not older.” Kara answered. “A lot can change in that amount of time.”

“Well, this is the shower,” Dr. Eliza said as she opened the glass door. “Just below the shower head is the tap which controls the water pressure and temperature. If you turn it to the side with the blue dot, you will get cold water. If you turn it the other way, toward the red dot, you will get hot water. If you have it in the middle of the two, you will get warm water.” She motioned toward the two bottles sitting next to each other on the floor of the shower. “Those bottles are shampoo and conditioner. You’ll want to use the bottle on the right, the shampoo first, just squeeze a quarter-sized amount into your hand, massage it into your hair, then rinse out with water. After, use the conditioner in the same way. Using them will help keep your hair nice and healthy.” Dr. Eliza then pointed to a creamy ceramic holder built into the wall beside the tap where a  small, pale bar rested neatly inside. “This is soap,” She said, lifting it gently to show Kara what it looked like. “You wet it under the water then rub it between your hands until it lathers, before using the foam to clean your body.”

Kara stepped closer. It looks like the cleansing stones back home,  but less effective and more damaging to the environment. Why would anyone design a cleansing tool that must get itself dirty to clean? She wondered, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. “I believe I understand how the shower works. It is not as complicated as I first thought. Thank you for showing me how to operate it.”

“Of course.” Dr. Eliza smiled. “If you need anything, I will be right outside this door, okay, sweetie?”

“Thank you.” Kara acknowledged as she reached up and released the clasp at her neck, letting the heavy Royal El blue fabric of her robe slide from her shoulders and pool soundlessly at her feet. She knelt down and picked up the robes that once signified her respected place in the House of El, and folded it before placing the robe neatly on the basin behind her.

Kara moved back toward the shower and opened the glass door before stepping inside. The moment it closed behind her, she reached up and grasped the tap, turning it toward the side Dr. Eliza had said was ‘hot,’ expecting water to start flowing from the shower head. When that did not happen, Kara furrowed her brows in confusion and turned it toward the ‘cold’ side to see if that would get it to work. But still nothing happened.

What in the name of Rao is going on here? Kara’s frown deepened in concentration as she tried to recall what she had learned about Earth’s primitive plumbing systems and how the planet’s water controls were meant to work. Have I simply forgotten how to operate an Earth Tap, or have humans changed the way their taps function in the last twenty-four years? Kara wondered, unsettled by the thought that some of what she had learned about Earth was already slipping from her mind. 

While she was aware that she could ask Dr. Eliza for help, Kara was too proud to bring herself to ask for help. She felt it would only cause her embarrassment and shame and she refused to let something as simple as a tap defeat her. Kara examined the unfamiliar mechanism more closely and decided to try one more thing before giving up and asking Dr. Eliza for help. When Kara lifted the tap handle, the pipes began to groan a deep, shuddering sound that vibrated within her chest and made her heart race. A wave of panic flooded her and she slammed the handle back down, afraid she had somehow damaged something. Kara stared wide eyed at her hands as a tight knot of dread formed in the pit of her stomach. What have I done? She thought.

Before she could panic further, she heard Dr. Eliza’s calm voice from the other room. “Don’t worry about the pipes, sweetheart. It’s an old house, that always happens.”

"Thank Rao, I did not break anything." She sighed, feeling a weight lift off her chest as her heart rate slowed to its normal rhythm. "Maybe Kal-El and mother were wrong about me. Maybe I will not get great powers on this planet after all." 

With a calming breath, She eased the handle toward herself until a thin stream of water began to trickle from the showerhead. Kara observed the droplets of water as they emerged from each of the tiny holes and gathered together before being pulled down to the ground by gravity.

She was fascinated by the design of the showerhead and how humans had taken something as natural as flowing water and turned it into something functional, if not a bit complicated and unnecessary. Especially considering there were much simpler ways to achieve the same goal.

Tentatively, Kara reached out her hand and held it directly under the stream. She was surprised by the strange tingling sensation of the water hitting her skin in tiny, sharp bursts. How peculiar. She mused as she watched the water slowly gather in her palm and flow over the edges before it splashed onto the floor, wetting her feet. The closest thing Kara had experienced to an Earth shower was the day of the Great Rain, which marked the end of the mourning period following her grandparents’ passing, and the first rainfall on Krypton in over fifty years.

Not wanting to waste the water, Kara raised the handle slightly and was surprised when the water pressure changed almost immediately, sending a burst of water straight toward her face. "Holy Rao!" Kara gasped, stumbling back in shock. “I did not expect that.” She laughed as she blinked rapidly to clear the water from her eyes.  

Kara closed her eyes and stepped into the center of the flowing water once more, allowing herself time to adjust to the sensations of having an Earth shower. The warmth from the water spread evenly across her skin, and she could not help but marvel at how blessed humans were to have such a limitless supply of clean water that they can use however they please. On Krypton, water was not a luxury. It was viewed as something rare and precious that must only ever be used to help sustain life. 

A painful ache settled in her chest as she imagined how different her life would have been if Krypton had been more like Earth, healthy and full of life. I hope the people of Earth know how fortunate they are to have such luxuries as clean, flowing water.

Kara cleared her throat and wiped the tears from her eyes. Now is not the time to cry, Dr Eliza is in my room, waiting for me. She scolded herself as she reached down to pick up the dark green rectangular bottle with the words Deep Sea Cleansing Shampoo printed on it in black writing. After a quick scan of the instructions on the back of the bottle, Kara squirted the right amount of the thick liquid into her hand and began to lather it through her hair. 

She thoroughly rinsed out the shampoo, which left her hair smelling like sea salt and ocean breeze. Then she placed the bottle back on the shower floor and grabbed the one that was right next to it. The conditioner looked almost identical to the shampoo at first glance, the same shape and size. The only difference that Kara could see was the label colours had been switched around so there was blue writing on a black background.

It was not until after Kara had read the instructions and squeezed the appropriate amount of conditioner into her hand that she observed the largest difference between the two hygiene products. The liquid inside the conditioner bottle felt denser and looked creamier than the shampoo. Once she had lathered the conditioner into her hair, Kara grabbed the soap from its dispenser and held it under the water. The moment the bar was wet, it became so slippery, it almost slid from within her grasp.

When Kara put the soap bar against her skin and began to rub it in, she could not help but cringe at the sensation. She did not understand how anyone could tolerate something so unpleasant on their skin. Kara made quick work of lathering her body with this soap and after she had rinsed all the suds from her body. As she turned off the tap and stepped out of the shower, Kara was already dreading the moment she would have to touch the unpleasant soap bar again.

“If you open the cupboard under the sink closest to your bedroom door, you should find a clean towel.” Dr. Eliza called out. 

Kara walked over and opened the cabinet, immediately finding the towel folded neatly inside. She knelt down and pulled it out. As she unraveled it, she noticed that it was a thick, medium-sized towel in a muted yellow-brown color with a soft, slightly scratchy texture, possibly due to lack of recent use. Kara thoroughly rubbed the towel over her body. The slight scratchiness of its fabric irritated her skin, but she ignored the feeling and continued to dry herself, knowing that once she was done, she could slip into her soft, comfortable sleepwear.

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

When Kara stepped back into the bedroom, she noticed that the air felt cooler against her skin. "Showers are strange and unlike anything I have ever experienced before." Kara admitted with a faint smile. "Your hygiene products have remarkably strong scents. I suspect it will take me a while to adjust to them."

“We could get fragrance-free hygiene products, if you would like,” Dr. Eliza offered.

Kara quickly shook her head. “No, no, it is okay. I do not wish to impose. What you have is acceptable. I was simply offering my opinion as a way of fostering conversation. Is that not what you do on Earth?”

“Yes, that’s one way we may start a conversation with someone. We may even ask them a question to get their opinion on something or to get to know them better.” Dr. Eliza paused, her face softening in concern as a realisation dawned on her. “Oh... Sweetheart, is that why you have been so open about Krypton? Because you feel like a burden, and believe that, to become less of one, you need to answer our questions?”

“That is correct,” Kara told her. “You and your family were not required to take me in, yet you did so out of the kindness of your hearts. That is why, though I am still grieving its loss, I felt it was only reasonable to answer your questions about Krypton.”

"Kara, you're not a burden and you never will be. You don't need to feel obligated to answer our questions. It's perfectly okay for you to set boundaries and not answer if the question makes you uncomfortable or you simply don’t want to answer it." Dr. Eliza reassured her. “This applies to all aspects of life, not just answering questions. Boundaries are healthy and important to have.”

Kara gazed at the older woman for a long moment, her expression thoughtful, then she nodded her head, a faint crease forming between her brows. While she was well aware that personal boundaries were sensible and reasonable to have, Kara realised she had become so absorbed in trying to thank the Danvers family for their generosity that she had unintentionally neglected her own. “I must thank you, Dr Eliza, for your reminder about personal boundaries.” She said sincerely. “It is much appreciated.” 

“You don’t have to thank me Kara, it is my job to make sure that you are safe and comfortable.” Dr. Eliza replied.

Kara noticed a micro-shift in the older woman’s expression when she called her Dr. Eliza, which reminded her about the conversation they had earlier in the hallway. Then a realization suddenly hit Kara. How could I have forgotten? I know the best person to ask whether it would still be considered disrespectful to refer to an elder by their given name if you have their permission to do so.

A soft smile spread across her face as she turned toward the bookcase in the far corner of the room. While she had yet to devise a way to repay Dr. Eliza and her family for their generosity, there might be something small she could do to show gratitude toward the older woman without crossing her own boundaries. “Good evening, ARLO.” She greeted, activating her A.I.

The holographic face of ARLO appeared above his rock-like homebase, floating silently, his light casting shadows across the corner of the room. “Good evening, Lady Kara Zor-El. How may I be of service?”

“Can you tell me whether an elder has ever permitted someone their junior to use their given name?” She asked politely. “I have never heard of it happening, and I wish to ensure that the act would not be considered disrespectful before I engage in it myself.”

ARLO’s holographic face flickered for a moment before replying. “I am sorry, Lady Kara Zor-El. There is currently no information available regarding your inquiry. Would you like me to continue searching my database?”

Kara shook her head slightly. “No, that will not be necessary, Arlo.” She told him with a soft smile. “Thank you. That shall be all.”

“As you wish.” ARLO said, disappearing back into his homebase 

She turned back to Dr. Eliza, who had been standing patiently while she spoke with her A.I. “As it is clear that there is no way for me to find out the answer, the decision rests with me. I have been contemplating since our first conversation how I might express my gratitude, and I believe the best way to do so is by calling you by your given name, as you requested, so long as you are still willing to grant me permission.”

“I’m happy for you to call me whatever makes you comfortable, Kara.” Dr. Eliza told her kindly. 

“Then I shall call you Eliza.” Kara dipped slightly in a bow, unsure if she liked the strange feeling she got from saying the older woman’s name without its formal title. As she stood back up to her full height, the weight of the day finally caught up with Kara and a feeling of bone deep exhaustion washed over her.  “I think I might call it a night. I am beginning to feel fatigued.”

“Then you should get some rest, sweetheart. You’ve had a pretty big day today.” Eliza told her with a soft smile.

“Very well, I shall.” Kara agreed, turning away from the doorway and making her way across the small room toward the rectangular bed.

“The two blue pillows at the front are just for display. You don’t need them for sleeping. You could put them on the bay window bench if you like.” The older woman explained as she reached up to close the bay window blinds.

“I do not understand the purpose of having four pillows on the bed when only two are to be used,” Kara confessed, her eyes filled with wonder and intrigue as she removed the blue pillows from the bed and placed them on the cushioned bench beneath the bay window. “Earth is truly a strange planet, unlike any I have visited.” She reached toward the quilt, her fingers brushing the cover first—smooth but slightly stiff, and silky to the touch. As she gripped it, she could feel the soft, feathery filling shifting beneath her hands, uneven and lightweight, clearly not meant to provide much warmth. 

As she tugged it back to make space for herself on the lumpy mattress Kara heard the soft clunk of a small object falling off the bed and onto the carpeted floor. The noise intrigued her and she quickly lowered herself to one knee beside the bed before reaching toward the spot where the sound had come from. Kara searched blindly for it until her fingertips brushed against something smooth and cool. Curious to find out what it was, she grasped the object and pulled it from under the bed.  

“What was it that fell?” Eliza asked.

The sight of the device sitting in the palm of her hand made her breath falter and her chest tighten.

“My Communicator.” Kara answered. “Why would Mother have felt the need to pack it when I do not need it? Earth languages are not difficult for Kryptonians to pronounce, and Father already had a plan in place for me to learn to communicate with the locals, no matter where I landed."

“I don’t know, sweetie. Maybe she thought you might need it one day.” Eliza said softly.

Kara shook her head, knowing that attempting to decipher what her mother was thinking as she packed her satchel was as useful as trying to comprehend why her cousin never bothered to learn about his heritage or why he decided to abandon her with humans instead of raising her, himself. “I am far too exhausted to try and find reasons behind decisions I had no part in.” Kara mumbled to herself.

“I'm also going to call it a night soon. If you need anything tonight, do not hesitate to come find me." Eliza said as she made her way toward the door. "Otherwise, I’ll see you in the morning. Goodnight."  

She placed the communicator carefully on the bedside table next to her father's statue, then climbed onto the lumpy mattress and pulled the quilt over herself. The thin, feathery filling of the quilt felt uneven and slightly uncomfortable against her skin, but she welcomed the little warmth it offered nonetheless.

“Goodnight, Eliza,” Kara replied, dipping her head slightly in a bow. Moments later, she heard the soft click of the light being switched off and the door being closed. 

She eased herself down onto the bed, and as her head came to rest on the pillow, she noted that it was just as lumpy as the mattress beneath her. Kara rolled around briefly, searching for the most optimal sleeping position. Eventually, she found that laying on her side, facing the bookcase, felt the least uncomfortable for her. 

Kara reached out and tugged the short cord dangling from the lamp, switching off its light. The last thing Kara saw in the fading glow of the lamp, before she drifted off to sleep, was the familiar silhouette of ARLO’s homebase. At least I will not be the only one who will remember and honour Krypton. She thought as her eyes fluttered closed.

______________________________________________

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading Chapter Two, Part Two of The Years Before Kara’s New Beginning, I truly hope you enjoyed it.

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.

CHAPTER ONE:

~ Seyg-El's Burial Pod. ~

CHAPTER TWO:

~ Kara Zor-El's Spy Beacon. ~

CHAPTER THREE:

~ Kara Zor-El's Escape Pod. ~

CHAPTER FOUR:

~ ARLO. ~

~ Kara' Zor-Els Satchel. ~

~ Kara Zor-El With Her Baby Blanket. ~

CHAPTER FIVE:

~ One Of The Phantom Zone Suicide Pills. ~

~ The Phantom Zone Suicide Pill Warning. ~

~ Virell. ~

~ Virell's House Crest. ~

~ Virell's Light. ~

CHAPTER SEVEN:

~ The Danvers Living Room. ~

~ The Danvers Dining Room. ~

~ The Danvers Kitchen. ~

~ A Brown Zoravak. ~

~ Kara Zor-El's Earth Bedroom. ~

~ Kara Zor-El's Data Crystal Pouch. ~

~ Kara Zor-El's Data Crystals. ~

~ Zor-El's Winged Statue. ~

~ Kara Zor-El's First Painting Of Krypton. ~

~ Kara Zor-El's Chess Board. ~

~ ARLO's Home Base. ~

~ ARLO 2.0 ~

~ The Danvers Laundry Room. ~

~ Kara Zor-El's Communicator. ~

CHAPTER EIGHT:

~ A Napping Cat. ~

~ Midvale Middle School. ~

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: In this chapter, Kara is reunited with her cousin, who is no longer the baby she once knew. Please be aware that my portrayal of Kal-El is non-canon and may not be the version you know or will like. As noted in the tags, this story includes out of characters Supergirl characters, which include Superman and Kara.

This chapter contains references to the loss of Krypton and Kara’s time in the Phantom Zone, as well as themes of abandonment. It also explores what it means for Kara, that Kal-El, now Clark Kent, is more human than Kryptonian.

Another Authors Note: As Kara has only just arrived on Earth, Kryptonese is still her preferred language and so, all words in bold will be English.

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

UnknownAlien3388.

HER LAST CONNECTION TO KRYPTON IS SEVERED:

KARA remembered nothing of her arrival to Earth. One moment, she was traveling through space, watching as the stars flew past her pod and the next, she was safely on the ground, staring up at a tall man in a tight blue suit with striking features and a flowing red cape, as he ripped off the door to her space pod with impossible strength. Before she could take in the man before her, a sharp cry tore across the sky. Kara’s head instinctively jerked upward and she began to search the sky for the source of the unusual sound. It did not take her long to find the winged creatures that were flying in circles high above her head, their harsh calls echoing through the desert. 

For a moment, Kara was overcome with a feeling of panic as she saw that the unfamiliar creatures were sweeping and diving through the air, like hunters searching for their prey. Am I their prey? Her heart began to race in her chest, but then she remembered what she had learnt about Earth animals: The winged creatures are called birds and while some species are skilled predators, none are dangerous to humanlike creatures. Solely because birds found them too large to be a credible food source. 

The moment Kara knew she was safe her gaze dropped back to the figure standing at the foot of her pod. Her heart skipped a beat the moment she saw the familiar symbol of her family’s crest and a rush of recognition stole her breath away. There was a brief moment, when Kara first saw the man standing before her, where she thought she was seeing her uncle Jor-El. Then she remembered that could not be him because he had perished on Krypton. Which meant the man was…

Kal-El? Kara's mind struggled to reconcile the man before her with the baby cousin she knew on Krypton. It took her a moment to fully grasp the truth that this man, with his broad shoulders and confident demeanour was indeed Kal-El, all grown up and transformed by time. Kal-El is alive. He is here and he looks strong and healthy. 

Kara’s mind began to race with questions as the realisation that far more time had passed than she had first believed washed over her like a tidal wave. Had I really been stuck in the Phantom Zone that long? How has Kal-El changed so much in what feels like such little time? Could this simply be another one of the Phantom’s cruel tricks? Kara was unable to wrap her head around the fact that the last time she had seen her cousin he was only a baby and now here he was, standing before her with a distant look in his eyes, as if she were a stranger to him rather than the cousin who had once cherished and helped raise him.

Kara could not take her eyes off of Kal-El’s face. It felt strange and almost impossible to believe that she was really seeing her younger cousin as a fully grown man. “Is that you, Kal-El? You have grown so much! I cannot believe my eyes.” She exclaimed as a smile broke out across her face. Despite her confusion, a deep warmth filled her chest at finally seeing her cousin again. “I never imagined a day would come where you would be older than me.” She added with a breathless laugh.

Kal-El's reaction to their reunion was not what Kara expected. His face did not light up the way she had imagined it would. Her cousin was not smiling or throwing his arms around her, pulling her into a hug, happy to be reunited. Instead, Kal-El extended his hand to help her out of her pod with the reserved politeness of a stranger. His expression was guarded, like he did not recognize Kara, and she was simply another alien to him. This is definitely not a Phantom induced hallucination. Kara told herself, well aware that Phantom Kal-El always knew who she was, no matter his age, and was always happy to see her.

“Hello Kara Zor-El…do you…speak…English?” Kal-EL asked. His Kryptonese was clumsy, awkward and stiff, as if he were reading aloud from a book for the very first time and was unfamiliar with the natural rhythm of the language. Kal-El did not seem embarrassed that he could not speak a language that should have come as easily to him as breathing. He simply stood there, calm and expectant as Kara struggled to process the shock of hearing their language sound so foreign coming from him.

Kara tilted her head slightly with a furrowed brow as a feeling of unease rippled down her spine. Why does he sound so human? She was thrown off by the awkward phrasing and mispronunciation of most of his words. Kara recognised his accent immediately as a Midwestern American twang, exactly like the ones in the old Earth shows her grandfather used to watch with her. 

The realisation that Kal-El sounded more Human than Kryptonian hit her harder than she expected and shattered her already broken heart. Why does Kal-El not speak the language of his people? Why does he choose to speak the language of another species that is not his own?  She knew they had been sent to live on Earth, but that did not mean they had to give up who they were to be something they were not. They were still Kryptonian and they should be proud to be one.

“I can speak the language fluently.” Kara answered, switching to English with ease. “I simply choose not to. Considering we are both Kryptonian, I presumed you would have preferred to speak in our language. Do you not speak Kryptonese?” Even though Kara already knew the answer, a small part of her clung onto the hope that she was wrong like a lifeline, desperate for one thing her and her cousin shared that linked them to their Kryptonian heritage. Even if it was only the language of their people.

“No, not really. I had tried to learn the language, but I found it too hard to speak and even harder to remember. Plus no one else spoke the language, so I saw no real point in continuing to learn it.” He replied nonchalantly.

Kara’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second as the weight of his words pressed down on her chest, and a tight knot began to form in her stomach. Kara quickly lowered her gaze to hide her pain as her cousin’s words echoed in her mind. She clenched her hands, digging her nails into her palms, as a storm of grief and frustration wreaked havoc inside her. 

She tried her best not to feel hurt, but how could she not? Kara had spent the whole time she was trapped in the Phantom Zone clinging onto the memory of her family, and the hope of seeing Kal-El again and he had not even bothered to keep their language alive. 

Instead Kal-El had reduced their entire culture and identity into something inconvenient and disposable. It is fine. She told herself. He is here and we are together. That is all that matters. I am here now. I shall guide him. I shall teach him. It is not too late for me to fulfil my purpose here on Earth.  “I can teach you,” Kara offered, her voice steady though her throat felt tight. 

“No, thank you. I find my native language, English, better, because almost everyone on Earth speaks it.” Kal-El explained, as if it were a trivial thing, unaware of how deeply his words cut his cousin.

Kara’s gaze snapped back to his face as she tried to keep her expression neutral. For a brief, raw moment, she felt like she might cry. Hearing Kal-El call English his native language hurt Kara’s heart as it reminded her what she had failed to do. She forced her breathing to stay even and clenched her jaw so tight that it ached, unwilling to let her pain show. “Kryptonese is your language, not English or any other Earth language. You must not be ashamed to speak it, simply because no one else does.” She murmured quietly, her voice barely audible, though she wanted to scream. Your native language is Kryptonese. You were born on Krypton. You are Kryptonian. You have a culture of your very own, why are you acting like that fact does not matter? 

Kara did her best to pretend that what Ka-El said did not hurt her to hear. She forced herself to mask the storm of emotion building in her chest, she reminded herself that she needed to be patient, kind and understanding, because it was not Kal-El’s fault that he had been forced to grow up on Earth without Kara to guide him. It was not his fault he did not understand what he had lost. That was all on Kara.

Kal-El frowned as if he had not quite heard what was said and was debating whether to ask Kara to repeat herself, before shaking his head. “You’ll also find that speaking English will help you fit in around here easier. Not all humans are as accepting of aliens as you might have been led to believe. We’re lucky that Kryptonian’s closely resemble the physical appearance of humans. A lot of other aliens aren’t as lucky and have been forced to spend their lives in hiding.” Kal-El explained, clearly familiar with the practicalities of adopting Earth as a second home. 

“You are Kryptonian.” She said softly, the words trembling despite her best effort to keep her composure. Her heart felt like it was twisting in on itself, dying a little more with each and every beat. It hurt to know that everything that was sacred and precious to Kara, their language, their people, their culture, their history, meant nothing to her cousin. “Our language is a part of who we are.”

Kal-El did not seem to have heard the way her voice had cracked or perhaps he did, and simply did not care. “I’m also human.” He told her in a light, calm voice. It was like Kal-El saw nothing wrong with identifying as something he was not, nor could ever be. "And now so are you."

Kara’s brow furrowed, a flicker of pain flashing across her face. “No I am not. I am Kryptonian, and I am proud to be. Why would I ever desire to change that?”

Kal-El gave her a strange look, as if her words were incomprehensible. “Why would you want to keep clinging to a dead civilization when you can join this one.” He asked, as though he were offering her something better than what she already had.

Kara flinched, not from his words but from the casual indifference behind them, as if Krypton and all that had been lost were something she could simply get over. Her eyes flicked away from Kal-El to the unfamiliar landscape. “Because I am proud of who I am, and where I come from.” She muttered. 

Kara had learnt about Earth’s deserts, but nothing had prepared her for actually standing in one. She had never seen anything like it before. Red dirt stretched out in every direction as far as her eyes could see, broken only by dry patches of yellowed grass, jagged cacti, and other strange looking plants. It was alien and beautiful in ways she did not understand. Back on Krypton, plant life had been rare, most were carefully preserved in biodomes. However, on Earth it was everywhere, even in the middle of a hot desert. Kara found something chaotic and breath-taking in it and for a moment, she allowed herself to be distracted by the wonder of it all.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she observed the strange light that was bathing the desert around her. That is odd. Kara’s brows furrowed as she looked around, trying to find the source of the light that was nothing like the familiar red glow of Rao. It was not until she looked up at the sky that she found the source. The sun. Kara froze, her breath catching in her throat. While she had known that Earth's sun was yellow, she had not expected it to be so vivid. The intensity of its colour unsettled her. “What are you looking at? Why do you keep staring at the sky?” 

Kara noticed the tilt of his head as he too gazed up at the sky. "Is there something wrong with this planet's sun?” She blurted out suddenly. “Why is it yellow and not red like our sun? Why is the sky blue? Is Earth sick? Is it dying too? Should we be doing something to cure the planet and prevent it from dying?" Kara continued in a rush, her words spilling out faster with each word, driven by the growing concern she felt for the health of her new planet. Her pulse pounded in her ears as she frantically searched Kal-El’s expression for reassurance, for any sign that the world was still safe.

Kal-El shrugged nonchalantly as he turned his gaze back to Kara. “I don't know why Earth’s sun is yellow or why Earth's sky is blue. But what I do know is that you started speaking Kryptonian again and I didn’t understand a word  you said.”

Oh! Kara blinked in surprise. She was so overwhelmed by the swirling feelings of hope and fear that were twisting together in her stomach that she had not realised she had accidentally slipped back into their native language. “I asked if Earth was sick and if so, is there anything we should be doing to prevent it from dying." 

“No, Earth isn't sick or dying and we don't have to prevent anything from happening. I've lived under the Earth’s yellow sun for twenty-four years, humans have lived here even longer, and it hasn't made any of us sick. Though humans do get this thing called sunburn, which turns their skin red and sometimes it can cause cancer. But they have things in place to prevent that.” Kal-El told her with an easy confidence that came from never having to doubt if your planet was safe.

Kara felt her stomach drop as a phantom chill ran down her spine. The realization of all the time she had lost to the Phantom Zone settled over her, heavy and unyielding, like an invisible weight she could not lift. Had I really been in the Phantom Zone that long? Had he truly spent twenty-four years alone on Earth, not knowing anything about his true home? She shook her head and tried to refocus on the conversation as she had plenty of time to ask about their time apart later. “Interesting. I wish to know more. Does Earth have knowledge crystals like we did on Krypton?” She asked.

“Kind of.” Her cousin replied awkwardly, looking uncertain. “While humans don’t have actual crystals, they have books, which are made of paper, to store their knowledge.”

“I am aware of what books are,” Kara told him, the corner of her mouth twitching up in a faint smile. How silly of him to think I would not have educated myself about Earth before I arrived. “I learnt about them and other Earth related things on my travels. However, I am unaware of how to transfer the data from my crystals into these books. Can you please explain the process to me?” Kara asked, eager to learn about Earth's methods of preserving alien knowledge.

Kal-El gave her another strange look. “You don't.” He said with a casual shrug, as if centuries of Kryptonian knowledge and history were easily replaceable. 

Kara stiffened, her brow furrowing. A tight knot of anxiety twisted in her stomach. Her gaze flicked towards her satchel that was still inside her pod. The crystals she carried were all that remained of Krypton. If she could not access them, what would she have? How would the world remember her people once she was gone? What if the wisdom of her people was lost forever? “Then how do you listen to your crystals?” she asked in a trembling voice, her soul dying a little at the thought of losing everything she cherished most.

“The only way you can listen to what’s on your crystals is on the two devices that I have. One is in the Fortress of Solitude and the other is at my home.” Kal-El explained matter of factly.

Kara’s eyes lit up, a wide smile spreading across her face as she realised there was a device on Earth that could read her crystals. “What is a Fortress of Solitude? I have never heard of it.”

“It’s my safe space. It was sent with me to Earth and it’s filled with Kryptonian history, culture, and data. I feel at home there. It is where I learnt about where I came from, who you are and how I knew you were arriving on Earth.”

Kara stared at him for a long while, uncertain if she had heard right. At first, she could not understand her cousin, his contradictions confused her. Kal-El spoke of how easy life was pretending to be human. He dismissed Krypton as nothing more than a dead civilization with a language that was too difficult to learn. Now he was speaking fondly of a place that held what was left of that dead civilization. 

However, as she continued to gaze at him, Kara realised that it was not she who was confused. It was him. Kal-El’s upbringing had unintentionally torn him into two. He was Kryptonian because of his place of birth and human because of how he was raised on Earth. These two different identities left Kal-El uncertain which half of himself was his true self.

Kara’s heart ached at the thought that her cousin had spent his entire life on Earth, caught between two worlds, never fully belonging to either. Kal-El clings to humanity to fill the silence Krypton's destination left behind, and has yet to accept the truth that he is too human to be Kryptonian and too Kryptonian to be human. 

Beneath the agonising ache, a flicker of hope sparked inside her chest. The Fortress was proof to Kara that her cousin still longed for what he had lost, even if he could not yet name the feeling yet. Kara’s spirits brightened at the thought that perhaps this Fortress could help show Kal-El what it truly meant to be Kryptonian. “That sounds like the House of El Archives.” She told him, a flicker of hope sparked inside her chest at the chance that maybe this place held a part of Krypton they could share. 

Kal-El looked uncertain. “I don’t know what it’s really called, I never bothered to learn its real name once I got the robots to speak English." He admitted with a shrug. “I just started calling it the Fortress of Solitude because it looked like a fortress and only I could access it.”

“Where is this Fortress of Solitude? Is it far from our home? When can we visit it?” She asked, her eyes bright with excitement. “I wonder if it has any crystals I haven’t studied before.”

“It is very far from where I live in Metropolis. Also, no one else is allowed in the Fortress. It is my safe space for a reason.” He told her matter-of-factly, completely unaware that his words had hit Kara like a blow to her chest.  "As a member of the House of El, you can visit the fortress whenever you want. However, I must be with you at all times."

Kara frowned. “Oh,” She said softly, puzzled by his response, the thought of having to be supervised while inside the Fortress of Solitude, the one place left in the world that was Kryptonian, left Kara feeling confused and heartbroken. She did not understand why Kal-El would want to restrict her access, when it was a piece of her heritage too and the only connection she had left to their lost home. However, Kara was too hurt to ask any questions regarding Kal-El's decision and decided to focus on a more pleasant subject. “Do you have a mate yet, Kal-El? Someone you share your life with? If you do, I would be honoured to meet them.”

Kal-El’s expression darkened suddenly. “That’s not my name, and I would appreciate it if you stopped calling me that. My name on Earth is Clark Kent and that is what you must call me from now on.” 

Even though his tone was firm and not cruel, it hurt Kara all the same. Her lips trembled and her chest tightened as a sharp pang of betrayal struck her. Kal-El had not only abandoned the language of their people, their history, their culture, but he had now abandoned his name as well. Kal-El, a name filled with dignity, honor, respect, and the weight of the House of El, was replaced with a name with no history, no meaning, no connection to Krypton. “But…you are Kal-El.” She told him.

“Not here, I’m not,” Kal-El corrected her firmly. “Also, humans don’t refer to their partners as mates. It’s too primitive. Animals have mates, not humans.” He added in a tone that suggested the answer was obvious and was something Kara should have already known. “"Humans call their romantic companions boyfriend, girlfriend, or partner. Unless they are married, then it is husband, wife or spouse ”

I know what humans call their romantic companions, I know all about their odd mating rituals. I simply figured you would have preferred Kryptonian wording for such a relationship, given you are Kryptonian. Kara opened her mouth to say what she was thinking out loud, then chose it was better not to argue with her cousin. "Do you have a mat-girlfriend?" She asked, awkwardly tripping over the unusual wording for mate.

“Yes, I do.” Kal-El smiled proudly. For a brief moment there was a look of tenderness on his face and a warmth in his eyes. Kara saw the love he carried for a human woman that he did not feel for her, and she was hit with a deep feeling of loneliness. She had fought so hard to reach Earth, to be with her cousin again, only to feel even more alone than she had in the Phantom Zone. 

However, even through the ache, she refused to let go of the hope that it was not too late for her to do what she was sent to Earth to do, raise Kal-El and keep the memory of Krypton alive. Perhaps the human woman Kal-El loved would be open to learning about Krypton too. Maybe together they could keep Kara and Kal-El's home world alive in their own small way. I could teach Kal-El and his girlfriend about Krypton, its language, its customs and about the noble houses that once stood beneath the planet's red sun. I can even share with them some of my favourite stories of Rao. “When can I meet her?” Kara asked, her heart warmed by the thought that some part of Krypton will still live on “You are aware that I am older than you, yes? Which means, with the Matrix gone, it is now my duty as head of the House of El to ensure you choose the perfect match.”

“Maybe sometime in the future as we only recently became official,” Kal-El explained. Though his tone was warm enough to seem reassuring, Kara noticed a subtle detachment in the way he said his words that she could not explain. "Also, I am now head of our House, because I'm now older than you."

“Sure, sure.” Kara laughed, not taking what her cousin said seriously. It was common knowledge that by Kryptonian law, she would always be the head of the House of El. It did not matter how old she was on Earth, as birth order dictated who the head of the House of El was, not age. Kal-El would have known that, considering he has access to the House of El's Archives, which he called the Fortress of Solitude. Which made his claim all the more amusing.

Kara was well aware that as the head of the House of El, she could have claimed the Fortress of Solitude, however she chose not to. Simply because she loved and adored her cousin, and it felt wrong for her to claim something that was so deeply tied to him. The version of the House of El Archives that Kal-El called the Fortress of Solitude had been designed by Jor-El specifically for him and contained both House of El and House of Lor-Van archives. Making it his birth right. 

Even if that was not the case, the fact that it was sent with him to Earth, would have automatically made it his birth right. Kara may have outranked him as the official head of the House of El, but the Fortress was fundamentally Kal-El’s and she chose to respect his rights.

“It's not wise to stay out in the open for too long. Follow me, I know of a safe place where we can go." Kal-El said with a smile meant to reassure, though it did not reach his eyes.

"How shall we travel?” Kara asked with a furrowed brow, her eyes flickered from Kal-El to the empty desert around them, then to her pod. Her frown deepened as she studied it before looking back at her cousin. "As you can see, my pod is simply too small to fit the both of us, and you seem to have brought no form of transport with you.”

“We’ll walk.” Kal-El answered simply. “It's not far, I promise.”

"Okay." Kara smiled as she reached inside her pod and carefully pulled out the satchel her mother had packed for her. "What shall happen to my space pod?" She asked as she walked beside her cousin down one of the narrow dirt paths.

“It can stay there for now. I'll deal with it later as I doubt anyone will stumble across it. Humans rarely wander this far off the beaten path.” Kal-El explained, his tone calm, almost dismissive. Kara got the feeling that he did not care about her pod enough to bother safeguarding it.

“The beaten path?” Kara repeated, her eyes widening in bewilderment. Earth wording for things is strange. This one in particular makes no sense to be. “I am unfamiliar with that terminology. What is a beaten bath and what makes it beaten? Are we currently walking down one right now?”

Kal-El sighed, clearly irritated as he glanced back at Kara with a look that made her stomach sink, like the answer was obvious and he thought that she was purposely being difficult and asking stupid questions purely to annoy him. "It is an Earth phrase. It simply means the road most often traveled by humans.”

Kara nodded slowly as they continued walking forward, like she understood what Kal-El was saying, when in reality she was only even more confused. I have no clue what humans choosing to walk along a commonly travelled path has to do with my pod. 

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

Kara spent the whole walk to the unknown destination trying to get to know her cousin and catch up on everything she had missed in her cousin’s life. She did not mind that Kal-El did not seem as interested in getting to know her. Because to Kara, simply being with her cousin again after everything she had been through was a gift from Rao. Every answer Kal-El gave, helped shape Kara’s picture of the life she was about to start living with her cousin now that she was finally on Earth.

It was only when something in the air shifted causing a briny scent to wash over her that Kara realised how far they had walked and how much the scenery had changed. “So that is what the ocean smells like.” She muttered as she gazed around the small oceanside town at all the bright colours and happy people. “Is this your home?” She asked as they came to a stop in the yard of an urban home right on the beach. Kara found it intriguing that her cousin had seemingly chosen to live a simple life. “If it is, it is very nice.”

“No, this isn’t my place. This is Midvale. I live in Metropolis.” Kal-El corrected her in a tone that suggested Kara should have been able to tell the difference between the two places she had never seen before. Kara could not understand why he would assume such a thing.

“If this is not your home, then why are we here?” Kara frowned, confused. She did not understand why her cousin had brought her to someone else's home.

“Because from now on, this will be your new home.” Kal-El announced, gesturing to the house, sounding oddly pleased with himself.

Kara’s chest suddenly felt as if Kal-El had reached inside and ripped out her heart, leaving it hollowed and empty. Kara stared at her cousin, his words barely registering as her mind struggled to comprehend the situation. It simply did not make sense to her. How could Kal-El, the only family she had left in the entire universe, stand in front of a stranger’s house, call it her new home and look so proud? As if handing her over to people she had never met before was something to be celebrated? It was starting to feel less like a reunion and more like Kal-EL was abandoning her to be someone else’s problem. 

Kara’s stomach twisted in tight, aching knots. “What do you mean this is my new home?” She asked, her voice rising, teetering on the edge of desperation. “Why can I not live with you in Metropolis? I promise I will not be a bother. You will not even know I am there. It will be like back on Krypton.” Her voice cracked under the weight of everything she was holding in. “Please…do not leave me.”

Kal-El gazed at her for a long moment without saying anything. While he did not look angry, there was tension in his posture, like he was struggling to find the right words to say and Kara could tell that there was something he wanted her to understand, but either could not or did not know how to say what that thing was. 

Kal-El ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “First of all, I don’t know what life was like on Krypton. I was a baby when I left, remember? Second, you can’t live with me because it would raise too many questions I can’t answer. I know that you do not understand the seriousness of the situation we are in, but soon, you’ll have powers like mine and you’ll need Dr. Eliza and Jeremiah Danvers. They’ll help you to control them, just like they helped me.” He told her. Kal-El was acting like what he was doing was all perfectly reasonable, and perhaps to him it was. But to Kara, it felt like abandonment, like she was being sent away again. Her hands curled into fists at her sides, her chest tight, a lump lodged in her throat that made it hard to breathe. Even the promise that he would see her soon felt hollow and could not pierce the deep intense ache she felt at being left behind. She could tell she was meant to feel comforted by what he told her, instead she felt small and unimportant.“I have to go now, but you behave, and I’ll see you soon. I promise.”

“Wait!” Kara exclaimed as what her cousin said finally sunk in. “What powers?!”  But her cousin had already leapt into the sky and flown away, leaving her behind. 

As Kara watched Kal-El become a small dot against the vast blue sky, she realised that she had never felt quite so alone as she did in that very moment. Not even during her time in the Phantom Zone. Her chest ached with sudden, crushing loneliness, and for the first time since leaving Krypton, the tears she had fought so hard to keep at bay spilled freely down her cheeks. 

A raw, desperate hollowness spread through her chest, making it hard to draw air. Kara's gaze lingered on the place where her cousin had vanished, struggling to comprehend how Kal-El, the last person she would ever expect to abandon her, could leave her behind, to live with people she did not know, in a world that already felt so foreign to her. This was not how my arrival on Earth was meant to go. Her hands trembled as she pressed them against her face, biting her lip to stop the wail that threatened to escape. Every heartbeat echoed with loss, and for the first time, the vastness of Earth felt impossibly isolating.

____________________________________________________

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading Chapter One: The Final Part of The Years Before Kara’s New Beginning, I truly hope you enjoyed it. What did you think of Kara's reunion with Kal-El? What do you think of my version of Kal-El? Was he too mean? Was he too nice? Let me know.

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.

!!!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.

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 heart breaking 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. They had been muddled and distorted by the countless Phantom-induced hallucinations she had been subjected to.

Once Kara realised that her memories were being replaced by illusions, her mind began to spiral. She searched desperately through the warped, twisted wreckage the Phantoms had made of her memories, trying to find something genuine. However, the harder she tried to remember, the faster her memories 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, might you come here for a moment, please?”

"I shall 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.

“Examine these readings and tell me what you observe.” 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. 

“Certainly.” Kara’s eyes scanned the data and for a moment she was speechless. She could not believe what she was observing. “Please tell me that this is not what it appears to be.” She pleaded with fear in her voice. This cannot be correct. How can it be that Krypton’s core is not stabilizing as we had hoped? How can Project Astra be failing so catastrophically at such an early stage? It seemed so promising? 

"I am afraid that what you are observing is accurate, Krypton is beyond salvation." Kara’s father told her as she adjusted the holographic projection with trembling hands, hoping and praying that her father had made a mistake and miscalculated. Kara felt her heart drop when she realised no error had been made. 

“What must 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 must warn the others and initiate evacuations immediately.” Kara's father announced as he came to a sudden stop in front of her. “We do not have much time, but we must try to save as many people as possible. Distress signals shall be sent to our sister planets, requesting assistance and refuge.”

“Let us hope 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 might they be at this very moment? I must find them as soon as possible. We must leave at once if we are to stand a chance of surviving, for Krypton grows more unstable by the second. Kara turned towards the door, determined to find her loved ones.

At that very moment the door to the laboratory slid open. “Mama! Look what I have created!” 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 commence, and it would be unwise for you-” Kara dashed across the room and pulled her wife into a tight embrace mid-sentence.

"Praise Rao! I was so worried for you and Kieran, but thankfully you are both safe.” She said, relieved.

“What is happening, darling?!" Karena asked as she wrapped her arms tightly around Kara. “You are beginning to alarm me."  Kara opened her mouth to answer as her gaze flickered over to her father, who was holding her son on his hip. She could tell by the look in his eyes as he observed the crystal prism Kieran had created that her father was deeply concerned by what they had discovered. “Everything shall be all right,” She said, her voice trembling. "We shall be somewhere safe soon. First, we must evacuate Krypton immediately. It is beyond salvation and is no longer safe for us to be here.”

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 must 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 created a rainbow!” He said as he proudly showed off his crystal.

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

“Mama and I were planning on going on a small adventure, what do you think?" Karena asked.

"When shall we begin?" Their son wondered.

"At once." Kara answered.

“Who shall accompany us on our adventure?” Kieran asked.

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

As if summoned, 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 retrieve you as our meeting is about to commence and I do not wish for you to be tardy again.” She teased. Kara watched as her mother’s smile faltered as no one laughed at her joke. Alura’s smile continued to slowly fade as she took in the tense atmosphere around her. "Krypton is beyond salvation." She stated calmly, like it was a fact and not a question.

“Indeed, we must begin evacuations as soon as possible. I have already sent distress signals to our sister planets, in the hope they might offer assistance and refuge. Though the time to respond is limited.” Kara's father said 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 here.” Kara called back as an explosion erupted 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 afraid." 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 abruptly collapsed, taking her family with it. In her final moments before Krypton exploded, Kara prayed to Rao that she might be reunited with them again under His gracious light.

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 experienced nightmares before, and you know what must be done when they become overwhelming. Aunt Astra taught you grounding techniques for moments such as these, when everything feels unbearable.” She told herself firmly as she closed her eyes and inhaled slowly through her nose, letting the stale air fill her lungs before releasing it in a controlled exhale out her mouth. 

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 have returned. A growing sense of dread began to coil inside her as she instinctively began scanning outside her pod for any sign of them. "Why am I even attempting to search for the Phantoms when I cannot see anything through the 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 visions that forced her to witness her baby cousin’s safe arrival on Earth, only for him to perish in countless gruesome ways simply because she had not been 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 by hallucinations that warped each and every one of her cherished memories and made holding on to hope feel like an impossible task.

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

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 comes a time when the warrior realises that their fight is over. Whenever you feel like giving up, you must ask yourself, is my fight truly over?’ 

I am exhausted, Aunt Astra. I have long since passed the point at which my fight may be considered truly over. My fight came to an end the moment I found myself imprisoned in this place. The only reason I continued to fight was because I had hope, hope that I might one day find a way to escape. Now, I am entirely without hope, and I am ready to be reunited with everyone in Rao’s light. I pray that Rao shall forgive me for ending my fight so soon and He will still accept me into His light. Kara reached for the small, sealed compartment beside her seat with the initials PZ engraved on it.

Kara knew exactly what was inside the compartment; a suicide pill that was created by the Science Guild and installed into every Kryptonian space pod, to be used as a last resort, when there was no other way out. 

While she had always known it was there, Kara had never imagined she would be one of the people who needed to use it. “I am uncertain as to how effective this pill may be, but whatever the outcome shall be, it must surely be a mercy compared to the torment I am living through.” She muttered to herself as she pushed on the door of the compartment, which opened with a hiss as a tiny screen appeared above 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’s heart felt heavy with guilt as she lifted her hand to make her choice. This is the only action I may undertake that shall save my family from any further shame and dishonour.

She was mere 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 encountered anything like it before and I am uncertain of what it could be. I know it cannot be Rao, for this light is not His. While I do not recognize what it is, the light does not appear dangerous, nor do I believe it poses a threat.

Out of nowhere, a small, barely noticeable spot appeared in the centre of the light. As it grew into a blurred blob, Kara 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 stared in disbelief, refusing to believe what her eyes were showing her. "Remain strong, little one. I know you are weary, but you must hold on and be brave for a little while longer. I have faith in you.” Kara's mother told her. “Do not believe the lies the Phantoms try to tell you, for they seek only to break you and you cannot allow them to succeed. I understand that you may desire to end your fight, but you are an El, and you possess far greater strength than you realise.”

Kara instinctively reached out a trembling hand toward her mother as tears began to well in her eyes. "Is it truly 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 give you my word, little one. I shall find a way to free you from this place.” Her mother promised, before she turned and walked back into the light.

“No! Please do not desert me!” Kara cried as she watched her mother withdraw into the light. “Please…I cannot endure this alone any longer.”

Kara took a moment to wipe her eyes before she glanced back toward the message. This shall be the last time I fall asleep. She told herself, completely at peace with her decision. The next time I open my eyes I shall be embraced by the gracious light of Rao. However, before Kara could put her plan into action and end her life, she lost consciousness.

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

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. “You must not give up, little one, for you shall return home soon. Rao would never forsake you to live out the rest of your life in the Phantom Zone.”

But then came a second voice, one Kara did not recognize. It was calm, soothing and unmistakably female. “Rest now, child. Soon you shall be free of this Rao forsaken place. I swear to you, I shall find a way to free you. I need only to find the right spell. It shall not be long now before you are 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. 

“I am aware you must be weary, Kara, but I implore you to hold a little while longer for I am close to finding the right spell to set you free. You are an admirable young woman, who has already proven to be braver than even the strongest of Kryptonian warriors. While I must acknowledge that the Phantom Zone is a cruel, inhospitable dimension that has no place for innocent souls such as yourself, it is evident to me that it has not, nor shall it ever break you, not while you have Rao's light still shining so brightly within you. I recognize the magnitude of what I am requesting of you, yet I must if we are to stand any chance of-” 

“Stand back from her at once!” 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. Why are you standing over an unconscious member of the House of El?”

“I mean no harm to Kara.” The stranger- Virell replied calmly. “I was merely updating her on the Progress I have made toward—” 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 shall not concern myself with what they are saying, for Virell is close to discovering a means to free me from this place, and she is now speaking with the one person capable of aiding her in finding 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.

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

For a while after that, the voices ceased 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 believe she had imagined everything, the stranger, her mother, even ARLO. 

Then, through the darkness, came the sound of familiar footsteps. Could that be Mother and Virell? It sounds like them. Could they have truly returned or have the Phantoms come to mess with  my head once more? The two women drew closer and she began to hear them speaking in low, serious whispers. “Mother?” She called out, her voice trembling. “Is that you?”

“Yes, little one, I am here.” Her mother replied after a brief pause. “My friend, Virell, is here as well.”

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

“We apologise for not visiting sooner, little one.”  

“We planned to see you soon, however, we uncovered something about the Phantom Zone that captured our attention. During my time here, I have studied the Phantom Zone. and with the help of your…mother, we were able to identify a weakness hidden within its structure. It was exceptionally well concealed, yet with time we did locate it. Once we discovered the flaw, determining the correct spell required to free you from this place became far simpler. Virell explained. 

“The Phantom Zone has weaknesses?” Kara muttered, confused. “I thought it was designed to have no such flaws.

“You are correct, little one. The Phantom Zone was created to be inescapable and for the most part it is. However, when it was made, there was one factor that was overlooked; magic. Do not get me wrong, a low level magic wielder cannot escape the Phantom Zone. However, we have theorised that a being who wields sufficiently powerful magic could potentially do so.” Her mother added.

“That is precisely what we intend to do. We are going to use my magic to free you from this Rao-forsaken place. It did require some time to determine the appropriate spell to use that shall not be detected by the other prisoners, and we have finally succeeded.”

“Does this mean that, after all this time, I am truly going to be free of the Phantom Zone?” Kara asked, almost too afraid to speak the words out loud. “How is that possible?”

“Indeed, that is what it means.” Virell confirmed. “The spell we shall be using will act as a cloak, it will conceal you from the Phantom Zone long enough for me to recharge your battery, reactivate your pod and send you on your way. Once you have departed the Phantom Zone, ARLO shall guide you safely home where you belong.”

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

A sudden wave of desperation washed over Kara. No. This cannot be goodbye! She forced her eyes open, terrified that if she did not look now, she would never get the chance to see her mother’s face again.

The first thing Kara noticed was the soft golden light that illuminated the faces of the two women standing before her “Mother!” She breathed, her voice thick with emotion. “It is truly you. I was so certain I had imagined hearing your voice. I never believed 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. She found it odd that her mother would have allowed herself to hope to see Kara again after sending  her away from their dying planet. For the first time since opening her eyes, Kara truly observed the woman she once believed to be her mother. I cannot believe I did not realise sooner that the woman standing before me is not my mother. 

While the woman looked identical to Alura In-Ze, 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 believed belonged to her mother had been calling her little one the whole time and there was only one person who ever called her that. “Aunt Astra?” Kara asked.

“I am sorry for deceiving you, little one. I never intended to do so, yet when you called out for my sister, you had so much hope in your voice. 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 odd 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 all it can from you, to make you easier prey for the Phantoms. For me, it was my white streak of hair. By taking that, the Phantom Zone attempted to take away my sense of self-identity. It did not work, however.”

“I am uncertain of what they took from me or what remains.” 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 officially meet you, though this shall 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. The woman’s long, waist-length silver hair was braided into an intricate plait that hung over her right shoulder. 

Kara did not recognise the family crest on the woman’s chest. She is not Kryptonian, that I am certain of. 

Floating above Virell’s outstretched hand was the source of the light. Kara had read stories about powerful beings with magical abilities, but seeing one in real life was entirely different. Kara 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 appeared when Kara first saw her aunt and mistook her for her mother, and she was also responsible for the sudden disappearance of the Phantoms. Virell must be using her magic to shield me from the Phantoms. Kara realised 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 spoke 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. “I am aware this is an unusual time to introduce myself to you, considering we shall be saying farewell soon. However, I only wish to tell you that no matter what the Phantoms may have taken from you, they never took your hope. I can see it within you 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 shall begin to rediscover the pieces of yourself you once thought they had taken from you forever. It might not happen all at once. But they shall return.”

“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 cannot bear to leave you behind.” Kara said, her voice tight with emotion. “You are my aunt and I only got you back. Please, there must be a way for all three of us to escape the Phantom Zone.”

“There is no way, little one, though I wish there were.” 

Kara shook her head as tears began to stream down her face. “I refuse to say goodbye to you again.” 

"That is fine, little one, for this is not goodbye. It is simply see you soon, as we shall be reunited once more in the light of Rao." Aunt Astra said. “For now, you must rest for when you awake, you shall be free to live out the remainder of your life far away from this soul crushing place.”

“Rest well, child.” Virell whispered softly.

I am devastated by the events that have recently transpired. I cannot believe that I was fortunate enough to be reunited with Aunt Astra again, only for her to be ripped away from me once more. I always believed that I wished for all the pain the Phantoms afflicted upon me to end. Now I realise that I would remain here for eternity and endure every moment of their endless attacks, if it meant I could keep Aunt Astra by my side and be spared the loss of another loved one. In saying that, perhaps she was never truly here in the first place. Perhaps Aunt Astra and Virell were purely figments of my imagination. I would not put it past the Phantoms to do such a thing. They are cunning and creative, always coming up with new and crueler ways to torment me. It would not be the first time they had taken the things I long for and twisted them into something that would inflict the most amount of pain and suffering upon me. If I could choose right now between staying here with Aunt Astra, knowing I would have to face the Phantoms everyday or have my freedom, I wonder which one I would choose. Exhaustion washed over her before she could even consider that question and Kara was powerless to resist as it dragged her back into unconsciousness

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

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 I feel my pod move? Has Virell's spell been able to restore enough power for it to reactivate itself? The feeling of hope quickly ignited in her chest; however the absence of lights and the lack of her pod’s usual mechanical hum soon extinguished that hope. No, my pod still has no power. So what force could have caused it to move? Kara turned her attention to the space 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 spiralling out of control as she became more and more convinced that she was being pulled toward her death. This cannot be how my life ends. I cannot die here, alone, having never seen Kal-El again. Please, Rao, I beg of you, please do not allow this to be how I die. She swallowed hard as another realisation surfaced. I am aware that I had once longed for my suffering to end, I had even reached for it. But now, after seeing Aunt Astra again, I no longer desire death. I wish to live. I wish to leave this place and be reunited with my cousin. I wish to keep my promise to my mother and live the life that my Aunt believes is awaiting me.

Kara could feel her chest tighten 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 panicked 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. I am uncertain of what I shall do. If I remain inside my pod, I may die at the hands of the unseen force. Yet, if I open the pod door, I risk breaking Virell’s spell and allowing the Phantoms to return, which would surely kill me as well. Kara’s thoughts returned to her aunt, Astra and Virell. Perhaps, if I remain inside my pod, the magic Virell used to chase away the Phantoms in the first place, may protect me from the unseen force that now threatens my life. Kara took a deep, shuddering breath as her fingers tightened around the armrests as a way to hold herself still and prevent herself 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. Is it merely a trick of my mind, or are the walls truly closing in around me? I feel as though the walls are steadily closing in on me. Am I about to be crushed within the confines of 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 am ashamed of myself for becoming a disgrace to the House of El. I have brought dishonour and shame upon my house by failing not only my mother and my people, but also Kal-El. When he needed me most, I was not there for him. I was entrusted by my mother to protect him, and I could not fulfil that duty. I shall die in the Phantom Zone, never to be given the opportunity to see Kal-El again or to bestow upon him all that I know. Poor Kal-El, he is merely a baby and is all alone. Please, Rao, watch over Kal-El. and protect him, for I can no longer do so. Please grant him the guidance, love, and protection that I no longer can.

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 and her heart began to race. What is happening? That last jolt did not feel like the earlier ones; it felt stronger and more purposeful. I can sense that I am moving, yet I cannot tell in which direction. Am I ascending or descending? How could I be descending when my pod is already on the ground? Wait, is my pod flying? No, that cannot be possible, my pod has no power; it cannot fly 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, with absolute certainty, that what she was seeing was real. 

A feeling of relief flooded her so intense it left her feeling light-headed, I am free! The worst has passed and I am finally safe. Her reprieve was short lived as her relief was soon followed by a feeling of confusion. How did I survive that? How did I escape when no one else could? Was it Rao? Did He hear me and answer my prayers? Or perhaps I truly did see Aunt Astra and she was not simply a hallucination after all. Kara quickly shook her head and pushed the thought down before it could take root. No. I cannot dwell on that now. Not when I have barely survived the Phantom Zone and I am aware that the knowledge I had left my aunt behind in that unspeakable place will utterly destroy me. I must keep moving forward. For Kal-El. For my mother. For Krypton. I shall have time to mourn my aunt once I am safely on Earth.

Not long after her escape, 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, where I shall be reunited with Kal-El once more. I am unaware of how much time has passed, yet it does not matter.  I am grateful to whoever freed me from the Phantom Zone—be it Rao, or Aunt Astra and Virell—for it means I still have time to fulfil my duty and not let my mother down. Speaking of duty… Kara’s thoughts shifted as a new concern surfaced. Are all my systems functioning properly? “ARLO?” She called softly, her voice filled with hope. “Are you there?”

For a long moment, there was only silence. Then, a familiar 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 is currently operating at fifty percent capacity, and your navigation systems are once again fully functional.”

“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 as I have completed my studies on the planet, I would like for you to simply keep me company on my travels.”

“I shall remain with you.” ARLO said. “How would you like to occupy the time until your arrival on Earth?”

“Before I was sent away from Krypton, I promised my parents that I would raise my cousin in the Kryptonian way, and I intend to honour that promise. Kal-El shall know our language, our history, and the legacy of our people. I shall ensure he never forgets who he is or where he comes from. First, we must devise a plan for when I arrive on Earth. The most important thing we must do is identify a safe location for me to land my pod. Then we shall begin our search to locate Kal-El’s pod as soon as possible. He is only a baby and must not be left alone for long. Once we are reunited, I shall find somewhere safe for us to stay and determine our next course of action" 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 The Years Before Kara’s 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.

!!!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 must get to Kal-El!” Kara cried, fumbling with the controls, trying to get herself back on course. However, 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 allow this to happen, Rao?!" Kara begged as tears streamed down her face. "Not only have I been cruelly torn 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.

Kara gripped the edges of her arm rests, knuckles whitening as her chest tightened as she was overcome with a feeling of dread. What if ARLO had been knocked offline when her pod was hit and now she was all alone. I do not want to be alone. Kara was about to give up hope that she would ever hear a reply when a soft, shimmering light flickered to life above her pod’s dashboard 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 white lines that were connected to each other by star like dots. The only colour the humanoid had was the light fern green of his irises. Kara had chosen that particular shade of green while designing her A.I for its similarities to the natural grass that grew in the Sacred Garden of Rao.

“I am 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 definitely 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 paternal 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 modifications made to my language settings.”

“When were these modifications implemented?” Kara asked.

"Master Zor-El upgraded my language program two months before you departed Krypton. The upgrade allows me the ability to speak all Earth languages. Master Zor-El also installed a program that converts my verbal speech into Kryptonese subtitles so that you shall understand everything I am saying. My language was switched to English mere moments before your departure from Krypton. Master Zor-El 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 malware. It is currently showing you to be in the Phantom Zone, the home of Fort Rozz. This simply cannot be accurate. Do you wish for me to run a diagnostic test to confirm?"

“No, thank you.” She said softly. “That shall not be required.”

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

“That is unnecessary, ARLO.” Kara replied. “I believe Father was wise in his decision to have me learn at least one of Earth’s widely spoken languages. It is merely a basic requirement I must meet if I wish to one day communicate with its inhabitants. Though I admit I am surprised Father chose to keep English as one of the languages, considering I am already perfectly fluent in it. Nevertheless, I shall gladly take this opportunity to refine my vocabulary.”

“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. "Indeed, ARLO, there is something you can help me with. I am going to ask you a trivial question that all Kryptonians know the answer to. Nevertheless, I want you to answer it anyway, because I need to hear it out loud. Do you understand?" She asked.

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

"Is there any possible means of escape from 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.”

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 was then that she realised that sometimes knowing something and having it confirmed were two completely different things. “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 wish 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. 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 our 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. However, 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 nor 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 others had missed and, by the time they finally 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 like minded 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 other 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 my aunt willingly 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.” She requested.

“Silent Mode has now 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 pray. 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 now 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. Where they remained long after Astra In-Ze and Non were arrested for war crimes against Krypton and sentenced to Fort Rozz.”  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. 

Kara was absolutely devastated. I cannot believe that Aunt Astra belongs in Fort Rozz after all. I know she was fighting to save us, but what could have possibly led her to believe that leading a rebellion against the High Council was the right thing to do? The thought that her beloved aunt could be so cold and cruel to her own people did not make any sense to Kara. She simply 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 must find a way out.” She told herself continuously. “For Kal-El. He is counting on me.” 

However, the longer the once familiar hum of technology remained absent, and every time her attempts to restart her pod failed, the deeper her sense of hopelessness grew. A crushing sense of despair filled her as she realised she was destined to spend eternity trapped in an endless dark void, never to die nor feel the warmth of light upon her skin again.

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 began to lose hope that she would ever escape the Phantom Zone, Kara turned to Rao. She would pray to Him, asking that He watch over her cousin and see to it that, if she should be unable to reach Earth, Kal-El, as the last son of Krypton, would carry on the legacy of their people.

 ⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂ ⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂ ⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂ ⋆

Over time, as Kara continued to slip in and out of consciousness, she found herself trapped in a cruel cycle. She could not discern what tormented her more: 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, however, 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 whether Aunt Lara birthed a boy or a girl. It is of no concern to me either way. I am simply happy to have someone with whom to play. The joy she felt had her bouncing in place. It was all she could do to prevent herself from rushing inside her aunt and uncle’s chambers.

As Kara cautiously stepped inside, the first thing she saw was the large bed in the centre of the room that was being bathed in Rao’s light. The bed was covered in soft, clean, white drapes, as in the centre 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 may come closer if you desire. There is no 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.” 

“Do you desire to nurse him?” Aunt Lara asked.

“Indeed, thank you.” 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 shall grow up to be as strong and wise as he is.” She told Kal-El with a tender smile on her face. Her cousin gave her a wide, toothless grin. I had Aunt Astra to guide me as I was growing up. You will not have that privilege, as she is no longer with us. Kara was saddened by the thought. I shall take her place and teach you all the things she taught me and everything I have learnt since she was sent away.

“You shall be there to guide him.” Kara’s father told her with pride.

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

“He is fortunate to have you watching over him, may Rao’s light continue to guide you both.” Kara’s mother said, placing 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. However, 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 shall let you pilot this. For now, it is essential that you understand the basics, starting with how to work the control panel 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 shall not disappoint you, Father," She promised, her voice filled with determination. 

“You are already more capable 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 this true?” Kara asked. 

“Indeed.” 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 surpass 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 shall exceed your flight times.” Kara shot back with a grin, making her parents laugh.

When Kara awoke in her pod, for a fleeting moment it felt as if she had simply drifted away from Argo City during a flight lesson. However, 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 am aware that I asked for this. However, I have changed my mind. Now, I seek your mercy. I do not believe I can keep dreaming of home, only to awaken and not be there. If there is a path forward that I must take, please reveal it to me, so I may follow it. Please grant me the strength to survive the Phantom Zone and the wisdom to comprehend the purpose of my presence here. I pray that one day I may feel light upon my skin, warmth within my heart and hold Kal-El within my arms. Should these things be impossible, please grant me the courage to accept my fate.” She prayed.

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. Do you wish to continue your studies?” ARLO asked.

“Indeed, ARLO, please continue from where we left off.” Kara answered, grateful for the distraction, as it was better than being consumed by her feelings of loss and despair.

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

Kara closed her eyes and listened as the soothing voice of her mother filled her pod. “Hello Kara, if you are listening to this, 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 recording is to teach you about the plant life that grows on the world that will one day become your home. Earth differs from Krypton in many ways, particularly in its plant life. Where Krypton has little vegetation and plant life, Earth is full of many beautiful and colourful plants that help sustain the planet it inhabits. Each plant, no matter how big or small they are or how long or short their lifespan is, plays an important role in balancing Earth’s ecosystems. Some plants provide oxygen, others provide food or shelter. A few plants even provide all three. The planet’s landscapes are as diverse as its plant life and each landscape has different vegetation that can survive its climate. Having a proper understanding of how everything works and is connected will help you to appreciate the beauty and complexity of your new home.”

Though Mother is no longer with me and her voice exists only on this recording, if I close my eyes tight enough, I can imagine she is really here beside me. As she started to drift to sleep, Kara found herself wondering what kind of mother she might have been had she been given the chance. 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. She was reviewing the data when her father called her over. “Daughter, might you come over here for a moment, please?”

"I shall 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.

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

“Certainly.” Kara’s eyes scanned the data and for a moment she was speechless. She could not believe what she was seeing. What I am observing is beyond anything we had hoped for. I was under the impression it would surely take a long time before we saw results like this. Yet it is happening right now. “This is extraordinary.” 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 achieved this together.” 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 smiled softly at the boy as he 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 knelt in front of her son, trying to keep her expression serious, fighting back a fond smile that threatened to break out across her face. “Little one, what have I told you about running in the lab?” She reprimanded gently. 

“I apologise , Mama,” Kieran mumbled.

Kara’s heart softened when she saw his sheepish expression. He is 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 soften even more. I know I should be sterner with him, however, 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, little one.” She said with a kind smile. “See to it that it does not 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 created one myself!” 

“This is extraordinary, little one. You did a fantastic job.” Kara gushed, lifting the crystal up to the light. A feeling of maternal pride swelled in her chest as she watched its reflected light cast soft rainbows on all four of the laboratory walls. Little one is so smart for his age, and I could not be happier. A warm, affectionate smile spread across her face. Though I cannot decide if Kieran inherited his brilliant mind from me or my exceptional 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 commence.”

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

“I certainly hope you are. It would be unwise for you to be tardy again. You know how much your mother despises tardiness.” 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 are aware you are not permitted to run in the lab.” Karena scolded their son as they walked out together. 

“Yes, Mummy, I am aware.” 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 smiled as she turned back to her father. “I shall 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 Krypton’s core is finally stabilising. I have also prepared a proposal outlining recommendations to maintain the core’s stability and prevent it from reaching such a critical state again.”

“I have no doubt your proposal is exceptional and the High Council will gladly implement all of your extraordinary recommendations. You are the future of our people, Kara.” Her father said 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 up in her eyes. “It was only a dream; none of it was real. I did not save Krypton; my family is truly gone and I am trapped within the Phantom Zone, never to grow up and have a family of my own.” 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 effect 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 trapped in the Phantom Zone, she never imagined she would get a chance to experience this; a life and family on a thriving planet that was not dying.  Now that she has it, a warm sense of belonging filled her chest. “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 beloved. The one person in the whole world who truly sees me loves me for who I am. Kara gushed as she gazed at Kieran, 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 am uncertain about that,” Kara laughed, glancing down at Kal-El. “He is simply an easy baby to take care of.”

“I must disagree with you.” Kieran said as she walked over and sat down beside Kara. “I believe you are remarkable with him. It is as though 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. It never failed to amaze her how Kieran always knew exactly what to say to make her feel like she mattered. “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 desire 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.

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

She really desires this. She desires a family with me and a future together. I did not come to Earth seeking this; however now that I have it, I shall never let it go. Everything feels like it should when she is with me and I wish to spend the rest of my life with her. We would spoil Kal-El and our future children. We would give them the life I never had. Kara sighed dreamily. “I love you.” She told Kieran in Kryptonise 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 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. 

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 willpower 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 child and deserves protection. After her prayer finished, Kara opened her eyes and continued to gaze out her pod. 

Although being trapped in the Phantom Zone had forced Kara to frequently 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 Rao, seeking help and guidance, even when she felt abandoned by her god. 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 again. In those moments of exhaustion-induced disorientation, Kara found herself vulnerable to the Phantoms, horrible creatures 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 realised 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.

They were low and barely audible at first, mere murmurs at the very edge of Kara's hearing. Slowly, they increased in volume until she could hear every word the Phantoms uttered. Each one cutting her a little deeper.

"You are a failure, Kara Zor-El. You have failed all whom you have ever claimed to love: your mother, your father, your aunt, your own people. You have even failed your precious baby cousin. You are a disgrace who brings only dishonour and shame to the noble House of El. You deserve to be here. You deserve to be alone forever, for no one could ever possibly love a failure such as you."

Kara clamped her hands over her ears and pressed down with all her strength, desperate to shut out the voices that screamed in her mind. "No! No! No! That is not true!” She cried, her voice trembling. “I have not failed my parents. I have not failed my aunt. I have not failed my people. I have not failed Kal-El. I am not a disgrace to the House of El. I am not alone, for I have Rao with me. I will always have Him with me, no matter where I go or who I become. He shall never leave me. Rao shall save me.”

"Why do you deserve to be saved when you failed to save your own people? They perished because you were too weak and too selfish to save them. Kal-El met his end alone on an alien world because you were not there to protect him. You do not deserve to be saved; you deserve to die."

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 grant me safe passage from this place. I beg of you, please save me!" She prayed.

"You may pray all you wish, Kara Zor-El; it shall not save you. You shall remain here forever, never to leave, for there is no escape from the Phantom Zone. None shall come to your aid, for none know of your existence. Those that did, perished on Krypton. Your cousin was too young to remember you. Even if he did, he still shall not save you, for he knows that this is where you belong.”

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

“YESSS.” The Phantoms hissed as they began to gather around her pod, their cold presence pressing in on Kara from all sides.

The familiar tremors of fear and dread coursed through her body as she felt her stomach drop. No, no, not again! Please, not again! She pleaded 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 firmly as possible into a corner of her pod to escape the Phantoms, though she knew her attempt was futile. 

She began to sing Kryptonian lullabies to herself in a desperate effort to drown out their presence and block the horrific hallucinations they imposed upon her. However, it appeared to make no difference, for the Phantoms continued to invade her mind, relentlessly twisting and reshaping her memories until she could no longer distinguish her memories from those induced by the Phantoms.

None of this is real. It exists only within my mind. The Phantoms are simply manipulating my thoughts in a fit of rage, for they cannot reach me while I am inside my pod. Kara told herself continuously as she felt her body growing heavier as the Phantom Zone around her began to blur. 

Kara was aware 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. Though Kara understood what was about to happen, she did not resist sleep, for she would rather face her nightmares than continue to endure the horrible 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 whether Aunt Lara birthed a boy or a girl. I do not mind either way, I am simply happy to have someone with whom to play. A bubbling happiness had her practically bouncing in place and she struggled to hold herself back from bursting into her aunt and uncle’s chambers.

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 evening now. We must have arrived later than I recalled. Kara thought with a furrowed brow, even though she knew 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, however 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. Perhaps it becomes cold here when Rao does not share 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 centre 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 permit such things. Kara could not take her 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, simply that it made her feel uneasy. “You may come closer; you need not 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 occurring. This is meant to be one of the happiest moments for Aunt Laura and Uncle Jor-El. Why do they look so distraught? 

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

Kara recoiled as though her aunt had physically hit her. What did Aunt Lara say? What could she have possibly meant by I have killed everyone on Krypton? None have died. She reassured herself as she looked out the high windows at Rao. Though Rao appears closer than usual. She mused. “I am sorry, what did you say?” 

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

“Indeed, thank you.” 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 and tried to push her worries aside. Newborns are fragile, regardless of how they are birthed. Perhaps he simply requires extra warmth, which is okay for I have plenty to share. Kara thought, holding him closer to her chest. As she gazed down at Kal-El, a feeling of awe began to wash over her, however 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. "I hope that as you grow older, you retain your father's blue eyes and that 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.

“You shall be there to guide him.” Her father told her, however 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 gazed upon me in this manner before. A heavy sense of confusion pressed down on her, leaving Kara feeling strangely small and out of place?

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

“How shall you 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 merely 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 red baby 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. All the glass in the high windows was 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 filled the chambers, thick with 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 and 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 reassured herself as her breathing started to come 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. However the moment Kara made contact with her mother’s cold skin, she knew the truth. Her entire family had perished.

“NOO!” Kara screamed, awakening with a start. Her chest rose and fell in rapid, shallow breaths as she frantically scanned the darkness, expecting to see the ruined remains of Krypton and the lifeless bodies of her family, However, there was nothing - only endless darkness. As Kara's surroundings settled back into focus she realised it was only a nightmare, she was surprisingly relieved. Her heart beat began to slow back to normal 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 satchel her mother packed for her. The satchel was dyed in the same shade of colours of her pod, the long sides were a Royal El Blue with a center panel of Rao Red, the two colours were divided by an outlining of Solfyre Gold. The smaller sides were dyed entirely in red. The trims and zip were gold, while the zip track itself was a Royal El Blue. 

Kara opened the satchel and pulled out her baby blanket. 

Being wrapped tightly in its soft, plush 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 shall because I will never die.” Kara muttered as she curled in on herself and stared out her pod. 

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

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 am uncertain about that,” Kara said. “He is simply an easy baby to take care of.”

“I must disagree with you.” Her girlfriend said as she walked over and sat down beside Kara. “I believe you are remarkable 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. Nothing is wrong. She told herself, still unable to 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, though she did not laugh. “It is time to awaken, 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 merely a dream and you know that, Kara.” Kieran told her, her eyes filled with pity. “You are still trapped in the Phantom Zone, and this is all a fallacy.”

“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 entirely 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 panicked 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 be better than Krypton. Yet it is not. It is exactly like Krypton. The same fire, the same destruction, the same death. I cannot believe it is happening again. Exactly like Krypton, only this time there is no pod to fly me to safety. This time I am truly 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 frantically searched the room and found no sign of her cousin. He must be with Kieran, she is the only other person here. I must have given Kal-El to her before I ran toward the window and simply forgot. Kara did her best to remain calm as she knew she did not have time to panic.

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 my noticing? What if something happened to them? I must find them; the world is dying, and I must 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, it is like Krypton all over again. How could I have failed everyone so completely?” 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 start 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? How could you believe 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 words were like a blade being continually stabbed through Kara’s chest, cutting deeper with each syllable.

“I was only a child when Krypton died, and I did not know Earth needed saving until it was too late. Please, you must 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 could feel herself begin to panic.

“Greetings Lady Zor-El, it appears you are experiencing difficulty breathing.” ARLO’s voice reported from the speaker in Kara’s control panel. “Please try to relax as I administer a sedative to alleviate 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 smouldering 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 panicked as she stumbled out of her pod. 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 unworthy 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 a disgrace, who has only brought dishonour and shame to the noble House of El. 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 a nightmare. One that hit 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, however, instead of expanding, it started to dim and grow weaker before it vanished. "Greetings Lady Zor-El, it appears your pod's systems are being adversely affected by the 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 dispelling them once you have awoken. Would you like me to do so, Lady Zor-El?"

"Affirmative, ARLO. I ask that you stay with me."

"Understood, Lady Zor-El.” ARLO replied. “I shall 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 functionality and power reserves continue to deteriorate,” ARLO informed her. “My best estimation is a few hours, perhaps even less.”

The Phantom Zone is isolating and soul crushing enough as it is. Without ARLO, I surely will not survive.” Kara 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.

"Regrettably, 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 desire to be alone.”

"As you wish, Lady Zor-El." ARLO replied softly.

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

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading Chapter One: Part Four (1 of 2) of The Years Before Kara’s 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.

!!!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: Please be aware that Krypton and what life was like on it will not be entirely accurate. I will do my best to stay close to its established lore as possible, but I will also be making up details as I write.

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

UnknownAlien3388.

LEAVING A DYING WORLD:

SIX MONTHS LATER:

FOR months following 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 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.

“What was that?” She muttered as she pushed herself upright in bed, struggling to clear the sleepy haze that clung to her mind. The first thing Kara noticed was the air around her felt so dense and heavy that she struggled to draw oxygen into her lungs. This does not feel like our core is healing itself. It feels wrong. 

A deep-seated feeling of dread coiled low in Kara’s stomach, and her heart began to race 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 to forgive their failings and save them.

In that moment, as she stared out her window and watched Argo City falling apart before her eyes, Kara realised 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. I cannot believe that it is happening. Krypton is dying. It is really dying and we are all going to die with it. 

This realisation struck Kara like a blow to her heart. How? I do not understand. The calculations seemed so solid, She told herself, recalling the results her father had shown her not that long ago. Father 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 save our dying world, then no one can.

Kara’s stomach lurched and her limbs shook as she stumbled from her chambers. Her thoughts tumbled over each other in a chaotic storm she did not have the time to sort through as her chest ached in a hollow, unfamiliar way. Kara rarely had the need to cry before, but the pressure rising behind her eyes alerted her to the tears that were threatening to stream down her face. 

Her heart pounded as she darted down the crumbling hallways, tripping over fallen debris, driven by a frantic need to reach her parents before it was too late. Kara knew she was going to die, and she did not want to be alone when it happened. She would much rather enter Rao’s light with her parents by her side

A feeling of overwhelming relief washed over Kara when she raced into the living area, and found her parents hunched over a table covered in holographic maps and devices, their expressions 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. Though I cannot help but wonder if things would have been different had they listened when Aunt Astra first revealed that our core was unstable. 

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 must come with us now. We do not have much time."

“What is so urgent that it has to be done at this very moment?” She asked, scared.

"We need 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.

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

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 and full of love.

Kara’s mind began to race with fear and confusion. Safe? 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, who bit back her protest. “I am not afraid, Father.”  She announced, trying to keep her voice steady. 

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. However, 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. Kara gazed at the spacecraft her aunt Lara had crafted for her, every colour and curve had been chosen with care. The base was painted a deep Royal El Blue and outlined in a dark Solfyre Gold. The opening of the cockpit was painted a rich Rao Red. 

Everyone believed the colours were selected to show Kara’s pride in being a member of the noble House of El and while she was proud of her house, it was not the reason her aunt had chosen those colours. Aunt Lara added the rich red and dark gold to mask Kara’s growing individuality from potential scrutiny of the High Council and to make it harder for any enemy to identify her pod in the chaos of battle.

Her mother knelt before her, cupping her face gently. “The trip is long, though 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 value do these great powers hold that will allow me to do extraordinary things when I shall never see you, 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 however 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? However 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 said as he lifted her into the pod and secured her safely inside.

“There is! Please, we can-” Kara began to argue, knowing there was no hope, but still trying anyway. I cannot face the next chapter of my life without them by my side.

“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, however 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 shall never forget you. I will live on in your honour and I swear to make you proud.

Kara was very tempted to override the autopilot and fly back to her parents, so she could die with them. Though she knew deep down that she could never bring herself to do that. Kara’s 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 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, the last light of Krypton. 

"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, however the image never faded from her mind.

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

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading Chapter One: Part Three of The Years Before Kara’s 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.

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 her bed, her gaze fixed on the faint glow of the secret communicator that she held tightly in her hands. The device was slightly larger than her palm and made of smooth gold metal marked with fine ridges that pressed against her skin. Kara absentmindedly ran her thumbs over them as she waited for a reply from her aunt. 

The small green light at its centre glowed steadily, indicating the device was operating. While the grey button beside it tempted her to send another encrypted transmission she knew would go unanswered.

The message asking for Aunt Astra to meet in Kara’s private chambers had been sent hours ago, and it was unlike her aunt to keep her waiting. Kara was desperate for answers, and she knew the only person she could get them from was Aunt Astra, who she was starting to believe was not going to show.

A soft hiss broke the quiet as the door slid open, followed by footsteps as someone entered her chambers. Kara did not look up from the communicator at the sound, assuming it was one or both of her parents coming in to check in on her after she had spent most of her day locked away in her chambers. 

“Little one.” A familiar voice called softly, followed by the sound of the door closing behind them. 

Kara looked up, her attention drawn to the only person who called her that. By the might of Rao, Aunt Astra is here, she actually came! A wide smile broke across her face as she rushed toward her aunt, who stood in the middle of the room. “Aunt Astra, you got my message!” She exclaimed, relief washing over her at the sight of her aunt. 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 up at her aunt, she could see 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’s chest tightened with unease as she tried to make sense of the sudden changes in her favourite aunt.

“Where have you been?” She asked, having not not seen Aunt Astra in an abnormally long time. Her father's ominous words at dinner the previous night about her aunt leaving and never coming back had made Kara’s stomach twist with unease. Neither her father nor her mother would explain to Kara why her aunt would leave without saying goodbye to her first. Kara could not shake the feeling that something was not right about what her parents were telling her. She knew her aunt and Aunt Astra 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 you were leaving and never coming back. Are you in trouble?”

 “We all are, little one.” Aunt Astra said gravely. Her usual warmth was overshadowed by an intensity that sent shivers down Kara’s spine. She was not accustomed to seeing her so serious. Of course, Kara knew that her aunt was a respected general of the Military Guild. She had heard all of her war stories. 

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 cried with 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.

That side of her aunt was not present that day. She was missing and in her place was a strange version of Aunt Astra that Kara had never seen before. Her aunt was stern and weighed down as though she carried the weight of Krypton on her shoulders. "What is going on?" Kara asked, the feeling of unease tightening in her chest. What happened to her? 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. 

“Krypton is dying.” The words were said bluntly and struck Kara like a punch to the gut. Her eyes widened as her heart dropped and her breath caught in her throat. Kara could feel 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 and by doing so, I have had to make difficult choices. Choices your mother does not agree with.”

“Is that why Mother does not talk about you anymore?” She 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 in a soft, slightly rough voice. “No matter whatever happens next, little one, always remember that I did it for you, for all of us. I was trying to save our world.”

Kara felt her chest tighten and her stomach twist in anxious knots. Mother and Aunt Astra have always been really close. How can they be so divided now? And why will no one tell me what is happening?  She could not help but feel annoyed by the fact that everyone was being secretive and refusing 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. However, she could not bring herself to do it, because she 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 she noticed the way her aunt was staring at her, like she 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 Aunt Astra 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. However, I have failed to do so, because 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, Krypton 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 she was not lying. “Why did you not tell me sooner?” She asked, her voice filled 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 instilled in 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. A truth that now weighed on Kara like the heavy robes of mourning she had worn two years ago when she said her final goodbye to her grandparents. She wanted to ask if hiding everything from her had been worth it. Kara felt the question rise to her lips, then die before she could speak, simply because she did not have the courage. “I have to leave again,” Aunt Astra said, her voice thick with regret. “It is not safe for me here anymore. Your mother has sent the Military Guild to arrest me. She wants to send me to Fort Rozz.”

A shiver ran down Kara’s spine, the name Fort Rozz carried a coldness, a fear she had known ever since she could remember. The prison was a place of nightmares where the galaxy’s worst criminals went to die. There is no way Mother would ever be so cruel as to send her own sister there. Kara thought, not quite believing what she was telling herself. “No!” She cried, as she took a step back, her eyes widening in disbelief. “She would never do that. Mother would never sentence you to that place, you are her sister and she loves you!”

Kara’s aunt gazed at her with an expression on her face as if 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 though she was trying to bring her the smallest amount of comfort she could. “I am leaving Krypton and I wanted to see you one last time before I go. 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. However, 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 as her mother passed judgment on Krypton's criminals. 

Now, that same cold authority was directed at her sister and Kara was perplexed. Why has Mother brought the Military Guild to my chambers and why is she looking at Aunt Astra like she is nothing more than a common criminal? I do not understand what is happening and I cannot bring myself to believe that my mother would do any of the things Aunt Astra has accused her of.

“It is time to stop hiding, sister.” Her mother said in a cold, firm voice. Kara's mouth dropped open in shock and her eyes widened in disbelief. While she had heard her mother use this tone before, it had never been toward family, and most certainly not toward Aunt Astra. “You must face the consequences of your actions.”

Kara’s heart shattered as the realisation dawned on her 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. 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. 

She was surprised to see Aunt Astra’s face was calm like she was expecting this to happen, as if she knew her sister would use her love for Kara against her. “I knew this would happen.” Aunt Astra said, confirming Kara’s thoughts. “I will come peacefully for my niece’s sake. I do not wish for her to see anyone get hurt. Though, you should know that I plan to 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 against her aunt’s shoulder.

“I have to, little one. 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 her 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 she was more 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. Astra was wrong, okay? Krypton is strong and the High Council has everything under control. We will be fine, you will see.” 

Kara did not believe her mother, whose words felt hollow to her, and she did not want to argue with her either. Instead, she turned away from her and stared out the large window at Argo City. Kara did not react when her mother walked out of her room a few minutes later, she simply kept gazing out her window.

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

That night Kara lay in bed unable to sleep, overcome with conflicting emotions. She felt guilty for helping her aunt get arrested and sent to Fort Rozz. Even though Kara knew she did not mean for it to happen and she would have never contacted Aunt Astra had she known it was a trap. She felt betrayed by her mother and her decision to use Kara to lure her aunt out of hiding. She felt disappointed in her father, who had not tried to stop her mother. She felt angry that no one thought to tell her sooner that their world was dying. 

Worse than that, she felt ashamed for doubting her mother when she promised that Krypton was safe. Kara desperately wanted to believe her mother, to take comfort in her promise that everything was fine.  The temptation to sink back into her blissful ignorance was strong. 

However, no matter how hard she tried, Kara could not shake the nagging feeling that Aunt Astra was right about Krypton being in danger. Which is why Kara chose to trust Aunt Astra at her word, because she had never once lied to her before and Kara did not believe she would start now.

As she lay there, Kara's thoughts turned to her grandparents and how much their loss had shaken her world. She remembered the aching hollowness she had felt at their burial ceremony, like a part of her very self had died with them. A feeling that never went away, even years later.

Now, with her aunt also being ripped away from Kara, a similar emptiness threatened to consume her. In losing her grandparents, Kara had learned how fleeting and precious life could be. It is why she clung to her loved ones so fiercely. Because she knew how agonising it felt to have a close bond severed. 

Yet, here she was, unable to stop it from happening again. Will this cycle of loss ever end? Or will everyone I have ever loved eventually be taken from me? The thought sent a shiver of dread down her spine as Kara knew that if her aunt was right, she would lose more than her loved ones. She would lose her entire world.

Kara could not understand how someone as wise as her mother could not see the truth in Aunt Astra’s warning: that Krypton was changing and not for the better. Why could her mother not see the potential looming crisis Krypton was about to face.

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? Why did I not realise it was a trap sooner? Why did Father not intervene? And 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 behind what happened in my chambers. I hope she knows that I did not mean for any of this to happen. 

A low, simmering rage began to grow inside her, fuelled by the thought that Krypton was potentially on the brink of its destruction while its inhabitants were recklessly exploiting its natural resources without a care. She could not understand how her mother and the High Council could discredit her aunt’s warnings without at least looking into it first.

However, beneath the feeling of anger, hope sparked like a fragile flame in her heart. Maybe Mother was right. Maybe the High Council did look into it 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. My mother and the High Council. Kara held on tightly to that flame of hope as her eyes fluttered shut.

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

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading Chapter One: Part Two of The Years Before Kara’s New Beginning. I hope you enjoyed it. I believe this chapter was important in the development of Kara’s character 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.

💛🤝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.

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

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. 

!!!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 her life, Kara did not know the feeling of pain, grief, or sadness. She lived a life seemingly shielded from sorrow, filled instead with joy and wonder. That all changed with the devastatingly sudden and unexpected passing of her paternal grandparents. Their loss shocked Kara to her core, and shattered her sense of security. 

Although she had learned about death, the concept had always seemed distant to Kara, like it was real for others, but not for her. That illusion crumbled the day she 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? She wondered, gazing up at the faces of her family members, each one filled with sorrow. 

The strange empty feeling in her heart perplexed Kara and she 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. It felt too big and too final for her to accept. They cannot simply be gone. There are still so many things I want 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. 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 under His gracious light. Let us remember their kindness, their strength, and the brightness 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, yet, she could still see the grief that lingered in the hard set of his jaw and the unshed tears in his eyes. “Father is hurting, I am hurting, everyone is hurting.” Kara whispered to herself. Seeing her father, her strong, unshakable father, in such pain caused an unfamiliar ache to cut deeply through her chest. Though at the time, she could not yet put a name to what she was feeling. Kara would later learn that what she felt on 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.” As the reading of the Last Rites of Rao came to an end, Kara reluctantly looked away from her father, her gaze turning back to the burial pods that somehow seemed both too close and yet impossibly too far away. 

Her chest tightened further as the realisation sank in that she would never see her grandparents again, and they were already slipping away, into a place beyond her reach. Though Kara 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 behind 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? A feeling of panic surged through her and a lump formed in her throat. Will I forget the sounds of their voices or the way they laughed or how they liked to tease each other simply for fun? 

Kara wanted to cling to every single memory she had of them, because she was terrified that they would fade away, like her grandparents would soon disappear from her view. Kara’s heart clenched painfully as the now familiar ache that had settled in her chest deepened with the knowledge that she would never again engage in a playful game of chess with her grandfather. A human hobby he picked up from his time studying 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. Gone were the times Kara would 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 shaking uncontrollably, and for the first time in Kara’ life, tears leaked from her eyes.

It was in that moment Kara realised that this was not only an end for her grandparents, it was also an event in her life that was so profound and gut wrenching, it altered her understanding of life and death. 

Kara glanced at her father, curious about how he felt and she wondered if he felt as lost and confused as she did. Her gaze then shifted to her mother, with the same questions in mind. However, 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.

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

The ceremony ended shortly after, however, for Kara and her family, the mourning process was only beginning. For the next fourteen days the grieving family members of the House of El and the House of Van were expected to withdraw completely from society and come together as a house to reconnect with the essence of those they had lost, to honour their memory and learn to accept the new void their passing has left in their lives. 

As Kara and her parents walked across the sacred ground of Rao’s Temple, the last place on Krypton with natural 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 Grandfather and Grandmother will remember me?" She asked her, feeling uncertain yet 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." 

“How will I know they are still with me now that they are gone?” She asked, her young face creased with confusion.

"They are with Rao now, Kara and He will make sure that a piece of their light, their love, lives within you forever. 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." Her father told her, his stoic expression softening slightly as he gently placed his large hand over her heart.

Her brow furrowed as she felt the hollow ache in her chest. How can I feel them in my heart when it feels so empty? Not long after they had resumed walking, Kara stopped again and looked up at her father. “Do you miss Grandfather and Grandmother?” She asked, her voice small. Kara was scared to ask, however her need to know that she was not the only one who missed her grandparents was stronger.

Her father looked up at the sky, toward the place where the burial pods had last been seen. “Yes, Kara, I do, and I always will.” He replied, his voice raw with grief. However, I find comfort in knowing that as long as we remember them, they shall live on forever through us and our memories of them.”

"It is always hard to say goodbye to the ones we love, and it will take time before we find comfort in knowing they are at peace." Her mother said softly.

Kara turned her gaze to her mother as tears began to stream down her face. "I do not want Grandfather and Grandmother 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 Grandfather and Grandmother have to go and why can they not come back like Aunt Astra does when she leaves?" She asked, her heart aching.

Her mother knelt down and gently brushed away her tears. “I know it is confusing, Kara and it is okay to feel sad right now. We all do. In saying that, it is also important to remember, your grandparents 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 and placed a gentle hand on Kara’s shoulder. “We will get through this together, Kara. As a family.” He told her in a soft voice. “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 did give her a small sense of comfort to know that she was not alone in her heartache. It also made Kara realise that if her parents could be strong for each other, then she could be strong for them. “I will try to be strong like you.” She promised her parents as she wiped away her tears.

“You are already so strong, Kara.” Her mother assured her with a soft smile.

“I am?” Kara asked, surprised.

“Indeed you are, Kara. And we could not be more proud.” Her father added warmly as he stood back up. His hand was still gripping her shoulder as they continued their journey 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 realise. 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 the passing of her grandparents' had left a permanent scar on her heart, the first of many yet to come.

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

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading Chapter One: Part One of The Years Before Kara’s 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 naïve 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.