Co-written with scifigirl33 on Divine Intervention

Prologue

Jonathan, Duke of Kent, Commander of the Royal Forces, and King Reagent of Krypton, lay in his bed at the Kent castle. His physicians had just told him that there was nothing more they could do to heal his battle wound.

Jonathan remembered how he received the wound. He and the royal forces were defending the stronghold at the border between Krypton and Genesis. King Lionel himself was lying seize to the castle. Jonathan faced him on the battlefield, where they both wounded each other and had to be taken away for medical attention. His wife and sons were now on their way from Kandor, the capital of Krypton.

A carriage pulled up to the castle and Martha, Duchess of Kent, exited the carriage with her sons. Their youngest exited the carriage after his mother and his name was Henry, the Earl of Smallville. He was the average height of a boy his age with light brown hair and his mother's eyes. He had just turned 15 years old.

And their eldest exited the carriage but in truth he was not their son. Martha did not carry him for nine months and she did not give birth to him like she did Henry. However, they did raise him when his parents were murdered when he was only three years old.

He was Kal-El, Prince of Krypton and Duke of Kandor, but his godparents and little brother called him Clark. He was quite tall for his age with dark hair and muscular.

More carriages arrived after theirs, Kryptonian nobles and knights of the Red Shard with the High Priest of Rao, who wore long dark robes and a large diamond pendant around his neck. The High Priest was the only priest of the Order of Rao who was allowed not to wear his hood up or the ceremonial white mask. They had just received word that the Honorable Duke of Kent was on his deathbed.

Jonathan appeared to be sleeping and then a knight whispered in his ear. "You're Grace…your wife and son has arrived along with his Royal Highness." The knight wore the traditional black armor with his family crest in a pale blue color on the spaulders of his armor.

Jonathan slowly opened his eyes. He was sweating and he was pale but he smiled as he saw his family enter the bed chamber. "Martha…" He whispered as she sat down on the edge of bed.

Martha's eyes were filled with sadness and she gave him a weak smile. She wore a green gown. She held his hand and kissed it. "Oh my love, I wish we had more time together." She said.

Jonathan caressed her cheek. "I do not regret one moment of our life together. Just know that I love you and always will." Tears began to fall on both Jonathan and Martha's faces as they stared at one another.

"And I love you, Jonathan." She said as she continued to hold his hand.

"Henry…" Jonathan said. The boy looked scared but he slowly stepped forward. Henry wore a red tunic with black pants and boots and a gold chain around his shoulders.

Jonathan smiled at the young boy. "Henry…it is now your job to look after your mother and I have made preparations that on your eighteenth birthday, you will become the new Duke of Kent."

"But I do not want to be Duke of Kent if that means you are dead, father." Henry pleaded.

"We cannot change our destinies, son. I do not want to leave your mother, you or Clark but I have lived a full, wonderful life. I had everything that a husband and father could dream of. It is my time. Just know that I love you, Henry."

"And I love you, father." Henry said sadly. Jonathan kissed Henry's forehead and then ruffled his son's hair for one last time. Instead of groaning like he usually did, he actually smiled as tears rolled down his cheeks.

"Clark?" Jonathan asked weakly and began coughing. Clark stepped out of the shadows. He wore a purple tunic with black pants and boots. He also wore a belt with a sheath containing a dagger around his waist.

Jonathan smiled at the sad young man as he kneeled beside him. "Clark…you know what this means don't you?" Clark looked down as if he were ashamed. "When I'm dead, you will receive your birthright: the throne of your father, my best friend."

"I don't know if I am ready." Clark said in a semi-deep voice.

"It is for that reason that I know that you are." Jonathan said and grinned.

"But I do not want to lose you. You are the only father I have ever known." Clark pleaded.

"Martha and I have raised you as if you were our own but you are the son of Jor-El and Lara. You are Kal-El and you must carry on the legacy of your forefathers, the House of El." Jonathan was now speaking in a whisper.

"I can't do this without your guidance. I will need you now more than ever." Clark said.

"I have faith in you. I have taught both you and Henry everything I know about being a man. You will be a great king like your father and grandfather. There will be many trials ahead but do not lose faith in yourself." Jonathan paused as he took a deep breath.

"Also, remember you are not just a king but a man. You will have your triumphs and mistakes. You will grow older and fall in love, have children, and you will live a long fulfilling life. Look after Martha and Henry, promise me…son." Jonathan looked deep into Clark's blue eyes.

"I promise…father." Clark placed his hand on Jonathan's shoulder. They smiled at each other one last time. Jonathan put his hand on Clark's shoulder.

Jonathan, Duke of Kent, then laid his head back and took his last breath and his hand fell from Clark's shoulder. Martha and Henry began crying. Tears filled Clark's eyes as he rose and placed one comforting hand on Martha and Henry's shoulders.

"Kneel before Kal-El." The High Priest of Rao said. The whole room began to kneel in the Kryptonian manner. As soon as they composed themselves, Martha and Henry kneeled as well.

The High Priest then walked up to Kal-El and opened his hand. Lying in his palm was the ring of his father, and his father before him, and so forth.

Kal-El picked up the ring and slowly placed it on the ring ringer of his right hand. The High Priest then kneeled as well.

Kal-El glanced at the ring but then held his head high and placed his hands at his sides.

Knights climbed onto their horses and rode into more than several directions to spread the word that Jonathan, Duke of Kent, was dead and Kal-El was now King.

Two Days Later

Kal-El walked through the corridors of the Kent Castle. People muttered, "You're Majesty," as he walked past them. He found Martha staring at a portrait of the four of them above the large fireplace.

Clark wore all black and a fur robe because it was snowing outside. Martha did not see him. Clark placed her fur robe around her shoulders and she relaxed a little. She turned around to face him and he hugged her.

Henry was sitting and he watched as his mother cried into Clark's arms. Henry began to cry as well and Clark held out his hand. Henry walked over to them and placed his right arm around Henry's shoulders. "You're Majesty, all is prepared." A servant said and Clark nodded.

Clark took Martha's hand and kept his right arm around Henry's shoulders. Everyone then proceeded to walk outside to the carriages. The funeral was to be held a mile away because they could still hears the sounds of battle not too far away in Smallville.

General Lane's troops decided to take advantage of this day of mourning to attack and the soldiers still kept hold of the stronghold in Smallville.

After a short ride, the carriage stopped at a hill. Gravediggers were at the top waiting to bury the Duke of Kent. Clark exited the second carriage and walked to the first one, which held the body of his father. He opened the back of the carriage and saw his body.

Jonathan wore his dark gray armor with his black cape around his shoulders. In his hands, he held his sword. A thin white sheet covered his body. His helmet lay next to him and Clark handed it to Martha, who cradled it as if it were a baby, as she remembered helping him put it on only a few days prior.

Clark grabbed the front handle of the wood slab underneath Jonathan's body. Henry grabbed the handle across from Clark. General Nox-Van grabbed the handle in the back and Commander Milton Fine V grabbed the handle across from Nox-Van.

They lifted his body to their shoulders and began to walk up the hill. Martha led them up the hill holding her husband's helmet. Everyone followed them with somber looks.

When they made it to the top, they slowly lowered his body into the fresh, neat grave. Clark and Henry took one last look at their father. Martha handed to helmet to Henry, who looked at it and closed his eyes. Henry then handed it to Clark, who did not even look at it. He just couldn't.

Clark then kneeled so he placed the helmet on Jonathan's chest.

"Jonathan, Duke of Kent, was a great and honorable man. He lived a full life but his ended too early in a time of war. He will be remembered for his bravery, honor, his great love and devotion to his family and for his faithful service to the crown. He was a man that every man, woman, and child could look up to for leadership and guidance. May Rao grant him the peace he so rightfully deserves." The High Priest said.

The grave diggers soon began to fill the grave. Martha closed her eyes because she could not watch. Everyone soon began to walk away back to their carriages. Jonathan's body was now covered with dirt but the grave was not filled yet.

"Goodbye my love." Martha said and placed her arm around Henry.

"Goodbye father." Henry said. Martha and Henry then walked away to their carriage.

Clark could not say anything. He stared as more dirt piled onto Jonathan. He then kneeled down and grabbed a handful of dirt. He slowly let the dirt fall from his hand into the grave. He could not still say goodbye. All he could feel was anger.

Kal-El then stood tall and looked at his godfather's grave. He then walked away but when he reached the bottom of the hill, he looked back once more. He still could not say goodbye so he entered the carriage.

This is your destiny, son. You are going to touch the lives of so many people not just a man but as a symbol. You're a symbol of peace. You're symbol of justice.