Smallville, Kansas - The Kent Farm
The sun hung low over the fields, where the golden wheat that stretched toward the horizon. The air was warm, and the farmhouse stood in the distance, Arthur Blackwynd stood at the edge of the field, his hands in his pockets, his eyes fixed on the endless expanse of wheat. He wore simple clothes, a dark jacket, jeans, his shadow armor was nowhere to be seen, his violet eyes dimmed to something almost human.
Clark Kent stood beside him, his own clothes equally casual, a flannel shirt, jeans, work boots that were caked with the dust of the fields. His posture was relaxed, his expression open, the mask of Superman set aside for the moment. He was just Clark here, a farmer's son, a man who had grown up in this place and still found peace in it.
They had been standing in silence for a while, watching the wheat sway in the breeze, the distant call of birds the only sound.
Clark spoke first. "You know, when I'm here, I sometimes forget about everything else. The battles, the threats, the universe itself." He paused. "It's nice."
Arthur smiled. "I thought you would be in the fortress of Solitude but I can see why you're here. It's quiet and peaceful." He paused. "I don't get much of that lately."
Clark glanced at him. "You could, you know. You could take a break and let someone else handle things for a while."
Arthur's laugh was soft. "I don't think that's an option I have at the moment."
Clark nodded slowly, his eyes returning to the field. "I know the feeling."
They stood in comfortable silence for a moment.
Then Arthur spoke, his voice shifting, becoming more serious. "I went to Oa."
Clark's eyebrow rose. "Oa? The Guardians? That must have been interesting."
Arthur's smile was thin, knowing. "Interesting is one word for it. John Stewart accompanied me. He was worried I would antagonize them." He paused. "I did antagonize them."
Clark's laugh was warm, surprised. "Of course you did."
"I needed information, about Mobius." Arthur's voice hardened. "I got what I came for and more, even though they didn't share much, but what they shared is enough for me to work with."
Clark's expression shifted, becoming more serious. "And what did you learn?"
Arthur was silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on the horizon. "I learned that Mobius has been recovering, waiting, planning. And that confirmed my theory, he is weakened and something did happen to him that reduced him to that state, either Darkseid did it or someone else." He paused. "It was a bad idea to test me either way, he just made one hell of an enemy."
Clark's jaw tightened. "And how are you going to react?"
Arthur's eyes met his, violet flickering at the edges. "I'm going to confront him. In the anti-matter universe, on his own ground."
Clark was silent for a long moment.
Then he spoke, his voice carrying a note of concern. "Is there any way we can help? I know you like to work alone, but I'm here... as you can see, I even have time to tend to this farm, and you can stay with Kara instead."
Arthur raised a hand, cutting him off gently. "I know you can. I know you want to." He paused. "But this is different, Clark. Mobius isn't like Darkseid. He isn't like the Monarchs. He's an entirely different type of being, if he lands a blow on you, you won't just die. You'll cease to exist."
Clark's eyes narrowed. "You think I can't handle that?"
Arthur's voice was soft, almost gentle. "I think you can handle a lot. I think you're one of the strongest people I've ever met." He paused. "But I also think this is my fight. Nyx is my city, The Shadow Lanterns are my responsibility. And Mobius just made it personal."
Clark studied him for a long moment.
Then he spoke, "You're not going to change your mind, are you?"
Arthur's smile was small, but genuine. "No."
Clark sighed. "I figured as much." He shook his head slowly. "But Arthur, do be careful. We've lost too many people already in Gotham during that Monarch Gate, Hunters dying during raids... don't make yourself one of them, for the sake of Kara."
Arthur's eyes met his. "I'll be careful, I always am."
Clark's laugh was dry, humorless. "You're the least careful person I know."
Arthur's smile widened. "That's not true. I'm very careful, I just have a different definition of the word."
Clark shook his head, but there was warmth in his eyes. "Right, different definition."
They stood in silence again, the wheat swaying in the breeze.
Then Arthur's voice dropped, becoming more serious. "Don't tell Kara about this."
Clark's eyes narrowed. "Why not?"
"Because she'll worry. Because she'll want to help, you know how she is." Arthur paused. "And.. because she'll try to stop me, and I might actually stop this time.."
Clark's jaw tightened. "Arthur, I can't just.."
"You can, and you will." Arthur's voice was firm, but not unkind. "She's pregnant, Clark. She needs to focus on that. Not on me." He paused. "Not on this."
Clark was silent for a long moment.
Then he nodded slowly. "Alright. I won't tell her." He paused. "But if something happens to you, I'm telling her. And I'm making sure she knows it was your idea."
Arthur's laugh was warm, genuine. "Fair enough."
He turned to face Clark fully, his expression shifting back to business.
"I'm going to venture deep into the anti-matter universe. To find Mobius. To confront him." He paused. "It's going to be tricky. He's not going to make it easy, but I've faced worse.. I guess."
Clark's voice carried a note of genuine concern. "Isn't he a distant threat for now? Couldn't you wait? Prepare more?"
Arthur shook his head slowly. "No. He attacked Nyx very casually. He can do the same to Earth. I can't risk that happening." His voice hardened. "Not with what we have here to protect. So many lives rely on us. And we already have enough problems." His eyes met Clark's. "I can't keep explaining this to you, Clark. You need to understand."
Clark held his gaze.
Then he spoke, his voice quiet, sincere. "I do understand. I understand why you have to do this. I understand why you can't let it wait." He paused. "And I'm not going to try to convince you otherwise."
Arthur's shoulders relaxed.
"I'll keep an eye out on Apokolips movement," Clark continued. "In case some unwanted guests want to interfere.."
Arthur's voice carried a note of gratitude. "I appreciate it. But I don't think I'll let my guard down enough for Darkseid to use that opportunity." He paused. "I have a plan. One that can get me.."
He stopped.
The world froze.
It did not slow, it simply froze.
The wheat in the field stopped swaying. The birds in the distance stopped singing. The very light seemed to hang in the air, suspended, unmoving. Clark stood beside him, his form frozen mid-breath, his eyes fixed on nothing.
Arthur's eyes widened, the violet glow in them returning.
A figure flickered into existence beside him, a blur of motion and light, its form barely visible, its voice distorted, wrong, as if it was being transmitted through layers of static and chaos.
A hand grabbed his shoulder. The grip was urgent and desperate.
"Arthur!" The voice was fragmented, broken. "Arthur... Arthur! can you hear me?!"
Arthur's jaw tightened. "What.."
"Damn it, I know I'm not wrong!" The voice was frantic, pushing through the distortion. "This is the right time! Shit! Listen.... listen to me! Do not engage with him!... Do not!"
Arthur's eyes widened. "Who? Mobius?"
"DO NOT!" The voice grew more urgent. "Otherwise we will...focus on..." The words dissolved into static, into chaos, into nothing.
And the world resumed.
The wheat swayed. The birds sang. Clark breathed.
Arthur stood still, his mind racing, his heart pounding.
Clark's voice cut through the silence. "What's wrong, Arthur?"
Arthur's eyes found his. "You didn't... see that?"
Clark's brow furrowed. "See what?"
Arthur was silent for a moment.
Then he thought to himself. 'That was... the speed force.'
He looked around, his eyes searching for any trace of the figure that had appeared.
"Must have been Barry.." he said slowly. "But what the hell did he mean just now?"
Clark's voice carried a note of genuine confusion. "Barry? What are you talking about, Arthur? You're confusing me."
Arthur's jaw tightened. "Sorry, but...I have to return to the Watchtower. I need to check something with Shadow Lex."
Clark reached out, his hand closing around Arthur's arm. "Wait, Arthur!"
Arthur didn't wait, there was a gust of shadows and violet light, and he was gone.
Clark stood alone in the field, his hand still extended, his eyes fixed on the empty space where Arthur had been.
His voice was quiet and frustrated.
"Darn it..."
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