In order to test Adrian's strength, the younger Kara launched a sudden attack without warning.
She could not yet fly, and her full Kryptonian abilities had not awakened, but the super strength and speed she possessed already placed her far beyond any ordinary human. She moved in a blur, closing the distance in an instant, aiming a clean strike at Adrian's back.
He did not turn.
Before her fist could even brush his shirt, a counterstrike slammed into her chest.
The impact was precise and merciless.
Her vision went dark. For a fraction of a second, her consciousness scattered into white noise. The next thing she felt was the violent rush of air as her body was hurled backward.
A second later, she burst through the farmhouse door and flew across the yard.
At that same moment, Martha Kent was driving toward Kent Farm. She had been at the hospital with Jonathan and had come home to gather fresh clothes. The Kansas road was quiet, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows over the fields.
She had just reached the entrance of the farm when something shot out of the house and smashed into the ground ahead of her.
Bang.
Dust exploded upward.
Startled, Martha slammed on the brakes. Her heart pounded as she stared at the figure embedded face down in the soil.
She pushed open the car door and hurried forward.
A teenage blonde girl lay sprawled in the dirt, her limbs spread awkwardly, her head buried in the earth.
Are you okay?
Martha bent down carefully, her voice tight with concern.
A groan answered her.
Kara's fingers twitched. She braced her palms against the ground and yanked her head free from the soil with visible irritation.
Adrian.
Resentment flashed across her eyes.
She staggered upright, brushing dirt from her clothes.
Just moments earlier, she had tried to catch him off guard. Instead, she had taken a punch to the chest that left her disoriented and airborne. He had thrown her out of the house as if discarding something inconvenient.
Now she found herself face to face with an astonished Martha Kent.
Kara immediately forced an awkward smile.
I am sorry. That was… an accident.
She dusted her hands and extended one politely.
I am Kara. You are Clark and Adrian's mother, Martha Kent, right?
Future Kara had already told her everything about the Kent family, so recognition came easily.
Martha froze at the name.
Kara?
The word felt heavy. That name had already brought chaos to her home once. Then another Kara had appeared. Now a third stood in front of her.
How many Karas are there?
Martha cleared her throat, pushing aside her confusion.
Are you hurt? That looked like a terrible fall. Should we go to the hospital?
I am fine. My body is… different. I do not get hurt easily.
Kara smiled, though her eyes still burned with frustration.
Together, they walked back toward the house.
Inside, Clark stood awkwardly in the living room, tension written across his face. Adrian remained crouched near Rachel's stroller, his expression calm and detached, as if none of this concerned him.
Martha's gaze settled on her youngest son.
Adrian.
She did not need an explanation to know who had thrown the girl across the yard.
He did not look up. Instead, he continued gently brushing Rachel's tiny hand away from grabbing his finger.
Kara clenched her fists, glaring at him.
Martha sighed and forced a polite tone.
Kara, have you had lunch? Why do you not stay and eat with us?
The word lunch immediately shifted Kara's priorities.
Retaliation could wait.
She was still unsure whether Adrian or Clark was truly Kal El, but one thing was certain, Adrian had captured her attention.
Most of it was irritation.
After lunch, Kara's suspicious gaze followed Adrian as he rose from the table without a word and walked outside.
The windmill behind the farmhouse turned slowly against the fading sky.
Adrian approached a lone figure standing beneath it.
Wonder Woman.
Diana stood with her back to him, a silver Greek sword resting across her shoulder. Her red and gold armor caught the last light of the setting sun. Her black hair moved gently in the breeze, framing a posture that radiated quiet authority.
He studied her in silence for a moment.
This is the first time Wonder Woman has walked into Kent Farm alone. I assumed Amazons avoided casual visits.
Diana turned, her eyes sharp and steady.
I am not the gods of Olympus.
Her voice carried both strength and restraint.
The greatest inheritance from my mother was compassion.
Adrian's tone remained level.
Yes. You love the world. Though your version of love seems selective.
Since her arrival from the future, she had carried a subtle hostility toward him. Even though she had stood beside him against Trigon, that did not mean she trusted him.
I do not divide my compassion. But if someone leaves marks on you while you sleep, you might understand my anger.
Her hand brushed the Olympian eagle emblem at her chest.
Adrian's gaze did not waver.
So, did I sleep with you?
Her jaw tightened.
Compared to your arrogance, I would rather drive the Sword of Vulcan through your chest.
Her fingers rested on the hilt, though she did not draw it.
I am not here to fight you.
She stepped closer.
You are a bastard. I have always known that.
He shrugged slightly.
Most people agree.
But you are not ruthless enough.
Her eyes sharpened.
If you truly had no limits, you would abandon emotion entirely. You would cut every tie and do whatever you wished. That would fit the image you project.
She searched his expression.
Yet at crucial moments, you hesitate. You care more than you admit. That is your weakness. You will never be an all powerful god. And that is precisely why I find you less unbearable than I should.
Before he could respond, she closed the distance.
Her arms wrapped around his neck. Her lips pressed against his.
The contact was direct and deliberate.
Under the windmill, as the sky shifted from gold to deep violet, the world seemed briefly suspended. Diana controlled the kiss completely, unyielding and confident. It lasted long enough to erase any doubt about her intention.
When she finally pulled back, her eyes shone.
Do not misunderstand. It is an imprint. A memory you will not forget. If you had kissed me first, it would not have mattered.
Adrian wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
Not bad. Is this a farewell gift?
Not a gift. A memory.
She reached into her robe and pulled out a crystal snow globe.
Inside, a red and white haired princess figurine aimed a bow at an unseen enemy, cheeks puffed in determination.
I bought it in Gotham during Christmas. I doubt I will have the chance to take it back.
He accepted it, the glass cool in his palm.
I thought warriors like you avoided sentimental trinkets.
Amazon is only one part of who I am.
She looked toward the horizon.
Before I leave, come with me.
He studied her briefly, then followed.
Metropolis shimmered under the twilight sky. The city pulsed with life, neon lights reflecting off polished storefront windows. People moved through the commercial district in steady waves, shopping, laughing, living ordinary lives unaware of the forces that guarded them.
So this is your destination. To blend into a crowd.
Almost.
Diana, now wrapped in a simple robe to conceal her armor, approached an ice cream stand and handed the vendor a dollar bill.
One ice cream.
She took the pink topped cone and, without ceremony, licked it.
Her expression softened instantly.
Ice cream may be the greatest invention of mankind.
Adrian said nothing, though the corner of his mouth twitched faintly.
Nearby, a little girl dropped her own cone and burst into tears.
A younger Diana, freshly returned from Bavaria after seeking a way to break her mother's curse, knelt beside her.
Is it that good?
The best in the world.
The girl's enthusiasm was undeniable.
When the cone fell, the young Diana marched to the vendor and demanded two more, hand resting on her sword for emphasis. The terrified vendor complied instantly.
She tasted it.
Her eyes widened in wonder.
I have never eaten anything so delicious.
The little girl beamed proudly.
Across the street, the future Diana stood with Adrian, holding her own cone.
Their eyes met.
Past and future.
Two versions of the same warrior, separated by time, illuminated by the city lights of Metropolis.
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