Chapter 23

Sitting cross legged in Clark's room, Leonardo had his eyes closed in an attempt to learn to at least hover. For he was afraid of heights and knowing his luck, even if he overcomes it, Clark would wake up and make them fall. Hence he decided just to learn to hover for the moment, since he actually didn't know how to activate flight at the moment either.

'Alright, now let's begin this attempt.' Leonardo thought to himself. 'Follow the beautiful women into the sky. The winds blowing across their skirts as their beautiful figures are in front as the sun rays landed on our bodies. The clouds falling away as freedom of the sky takes hold as the beautiful women and I play tag in the sky.'

Opening his eyes, Leonardo found himself shakily hovering over Clark's bed which made him grin. While it was a bit shaky like if he was trying to balance on a large exercise ball, it slowly got more stable as he willed himself to slightly move around. He imagines the beautiful women calling out to him and one taking hold of his arm like to drag him forward.

"Clark! It's time to wake up or you will be late for school." Martha called out.

"Fudge biscuits." Leonardo grumbled as Clark woke up and fell to the ground.

With a loud thud and breaking the bed footboard as he sprawled out in a heap on the ground. Clark took control of the body as he picked them up, slightly confused.

'Were we flying again?' Clark asked.

'I managed to hover a tiny bit, but you woke up and we plummeted. Thanks for that by the way, you had to wake up depressed because Lana refused to talk with you for the last two weeks.' Leonardo grumbled. 'I don't see why you like her so much, as all she does is make you feel miserable and hound you for your secrets when not angry at you.'

'It's hard to turn off my feelings for her.' Clark stated after a moment.

Leonardo sighed as he really didn't want to start another round of this. 'Clark, do you think it's not so much you love her, but the image of what you built of her?'

For a change, Clark wavered greatly as it took more time for him to answer then it took for them to shower and prepare for school. 'Maybe."

--

'Lex is getting married…again?' Clark looked around the rehearsal dinner.

'Shocking, with as many one night stands he has, it is really shocking isn't it.' Leonardo sarcastically said. 'Those poor women, Lex performed so poorly that they didn't come back or thought about attempting to date him.'

Clark shifted uncomfortably at Leonardo's words. 'I don't think that's the issue.'

'Really? Once or twice, fine, but when it becomes a habit there is a problem.' Leonardo said. 'Also, I'm not talking about one night stands, but the amount of marriages and girlfriends he went through since coming to Smallville alone.'

'It's not that many, right?' Clark asked, thinking about his friend's love life.

After counting on his fingers, Clark nearly used up two hands for the ones he met. Which didn't count the ones he didn't since Lex usually keeps his women to the Metropolis area. So Clark only sighed weakly.

'If you had a body, you probably wouldn't be much better.' Clark said.

'Clark, there is a difference between enjoying the company of a beautiful woman then using them to satisfy one lust before tossing the woman away.' Leonardo spoke. 'It is why I tell you to explore more flavors of the ice cream, the girls are the ice cream by the way. It's also why I don't tell you to be a dog in heat, that grabs any woman that comes along.'

Clark just nodded lightly as much as it pained him to listen to Leonardo about that. Since Leonardo seemed to be more honest and open, but also constrained about how far to go.

'Well, anyway, I wish this dinner will end as Jor-El should begin your training soon-ish.' Leonardo said.

Clark clenched his teeth at that. 'I don't want to be a tyrant or rule Earth.'

'Please keep your dreams to your sleep. Jor-El is attempting to prepare you for future threats to the planet, since not all aliens are nice people and as bad as it is. A few Kryptonians bad apples will appear one day and he wants you ready to face them.' Leonardo sighed. 'Not all Kryptonians are bad like humans, but most of the remaining ones are from the bad apple bunch.'

'You mentioned that before, but Jor-El hasn't really given me the impression of being good since then.' Clark snarked.

Leonardo only sighed at Clark's anger. 'Clark, Jor-El is very similar to you in his youth, but he is also very similar to Jonathan. While he is not always right, he is always trying to do the right thing and has high hopes for you. His biggest hope is for you to lead Earth away from being the next Krypton.'

'So he wants me to rule over the planet.' Clark growled.

'There is more than one way to rule, Clark. If you dream of being a tyrant to do it your way, so be it. However, you can also rule by leading by example, by being a beacon, a symbol of what humans can be. Humans aren't perfect, they will stumble, they will fall, they will race behind you, but in time you could lead them to be better.'

'How can I lead them to be better when all I do is mess things up and cause pain and suffering.' Clark grumbled angrily.

'Everyone makes mistakes Clark. However, self-blame won't fix them and having abilities just makes one's own mistake just that much bigger. You need to learn that not all accidents or events are related to you, just like despite your near god-tier abilities, you can't solve all issues.' Leonardo calmly said. 'Your not a god, nor should you try to be one, but Clark remember, pain and suffering will craft you into the man you will become. Should that be a good or bad one is left to you to decide.'

Leonardo ended the topic as having such a serious debate shouldn't be at Lex Luthor rehearsal dinner. Not to mention, he really hopes that Clark won't end up blowing up the space ship. He hopefully can be a bit more mature and realize his actions have consequences. Just like he hopes it won't take Jonathan death for him to realize this fact.

--

Later that night when the rehearsal dinner was over, Clark headed to the storm cellar. While glancing out at the stars, he noticed a light shining up from there. Walking down to the cellar, the ship was floating as Clark raised his arms due to the light.

"It is time, my sons. It is time to begin your journeys in order to accept your destiny. For when you traveled through the cosmos, you carried the hopes and dreams of your people. They now live through you two." Jor-El spoke.

"No, my life is here in Smallville, not out there." Clark shouted.

"Where are we supposed to go and how long before we can return to Smallville?" Leonardo asked, ignoring Clark's rage.

"Travel the world and begin uniting the three elements to build the Fortress of Knowledge and begin your training." Jor-El explained.

"Clark, stop throwing a tantrum." Leonardo began to tremble as Clark and he fought for control. "Jor-El, do you at least have a hint of where to locate one of these three elements? It is kind of hard to track palm size on this planet."

"I do not know." Jor-El answered.

"Then can you make one ring?" Leonardo asked.

"I am unable to, until you obtain the first one." Jor-El spoke.

"Just great, you are sending us on a wild goose chase." Clark shouted venting.

"The knowledge of our civilization was encoded in three stones brought to Earth and hidden at the far reaches of the world. Greed will drive others to hunt the stones. But if the humans unite them before you, they will not be able to withstand the temptation and will drive the world to famine, war, and the Earth's ultimate destruction. You must find the other three stones. The fate of the world lies in your hands... my sons."

Clark cried and shouted clearly wanting to defy the order, however Leonardo agreed to do it.