Chapter Seventeen: Future's Doomsday V

“So you going to just sit there or are you going to say something?” Willow asks her younger self. They had moved into a nearby building which Willow had spruced up with a quick spell or two. Doomsday was outside on guard.

The younger Willow just looks at her older counterpart and thinks back in horror at what she was like last time she looked like that. Of course now certain things make sense. Why she could tap into the thoughts of the mysterious person. She could do it because they were her thoughts. That was why the voice sounded like her own because it was her own voice. “How could you? How could we?” she has to ask.

“How could we what? Turn back to the dark side?” The younger Willow nods. “You see it was like I was trying to explain to Dawn just before you showed up. It isn't about good or evil. Those are concepts created by small beings with small minds. Power is the only thing that matters.” Willow looks at her younger self's reaction. “You don't agree do you?”

The younger Willow shakes her head.

Willow sighs. “Oh how disappointing. I had forgotten when I was your age how I denied my...denied our true nature.” Willow gestures at herself. “This is our true nature Willow. You can fight it all you want. Deny it all you want but deep down you know it is true.”

“No,” the younger Willow whispers out in denial. She won't believe that despite the evidence in front of her eyes.

“Oh yes it is. You think that by coming here you are what? Saving Buffy? Saving Clark? Saving the world?” Willow chuckles darkly. “You're wrong. By coming here. By bringing Clark here you have ensured his death but if it is any consolation his death will save Buffy's and more importantly save Chloe's.” Willow sees a spark in her younger self's eyes at the mention of Chloe. “Tell me you wouldn't do anything to save Chloe,” Willow dares her younger self.

The younger Willow wants to say that there are things she wouldn't do but the words won't leave her lips.

Willow smiles triumphantly in her rightness. “You see. Our true nature is inside you yearning to be let free.” Willow bends down next to her younger self and strokes her cheek. “I can help you save Chloe. All you have to do is let me awaken your true self.”

The younger Willow is struggling within herself. She knows how deceptive and manipulative she can be when she is like this version of her but goddess she can't bear the thought of losing Chloe like she lost Tara.

Willow takes the fact her younger self says nothing in response as approval to do what she proposed. She moves forward slowly and presses her lips to her younger self's lips. The younger Willow's eyes widen in total shock at the fact she is kissing herself. It is then she feels it slipping inside her. Magic. Dark magic with all its seductive nature. She can feel her body tingle as the magic starts to spread to every cell in her body and as it does so she can feel that side of her she buried long ago when Xander stopped her begin to wake up.

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“Mom?!” Buffy repeats.

“Yep,” Dawn confirms for her.

“Mom?!” Buffy says again.

“Yes as in you gave birth to a little girl.” Dawn shakes her head. “What a day that was let me tell you. I'm amazed any of us survived it. You were pretty cranky but then again Karen was a pretty big baby so you can probably be excused.”

“Mom?!” Buffy has to say again before she snaps out of her loop. “How big?” she asks.

“Oh Karen was a nine pounder,” Dawn tell her sister.

Buffy's eyes nearly bug of her head but that could be due to the iron grip that her 'daughter' has on her. Sheesh is this what people feel like when she squeezes them too hard.

Dawn places her hand on her niece's shoulder. “Karen. You're squeezing the life out of your mother and considering she hasn't given birth to you yet that would be bad.”

Karen lets go looking a tad embarrassed. “Sorry. I got carried away.”

“Uh huh. Look this is a shock for Buffy. Go help sort through what the scouting party brought back and give me 10 minutes to bring your mother back to reality.”

“Ok auntie Dawn,” Karen says obediently. After all her aunt had raised her after she lost her father.

“Bruce you too. I need some alone time with my sister,” Dawn instructs him.

Bruce gives a small nod an follows Karen out the door shutting it behind him.

Buffy just stares blankly at the door after her daughter leaves. “Mom?!” she has to say again.

Dawn rolls her eyes. She moves forward and slaps her sister across the face before she slips back into that loop. “Buffy. Snap out of it!”

Buffy looks at her sister. “But...but...mom?!”

Dawn can feel a headache coming. “Buffy really get over it. Ok. Yes that is your daughter. Her name is Karen.”

“Karen?!” Buffy moves on to. “I would never name my daughter Karen,” she says with certainty.

“Yeah. You and Clark couldn't agree on a name,” Dawn tells her.

“So what? We randomly chose one out of a book or something?”

Dawn shrugs. “Pretty much exactly yeah.”

Buffy looks at Dawn with an expression that says 'you can't be serious'.

“Buffy. That is exactly how it happened,” Dawn assures her.

Buffy sits back down. “Ok. Ok. Let me get a few facts straight here. That girl is my daughter.”

“Right.”

“But I die in a year you said.”

“You do.”

Buffy holds her hands up totally confused. “You see that doesn't make any sense.”

Dawn tries to explain “Lets see now. A pregnancy lasts 9 months so that gives you 3 months lee time.”

“A human pregnancy lasts 9 months,” Buffy corrects. It wasn't difficult to figure out who the father was. With those eyes it had to be Clark.

“Well in fact you might already be pregnant,” Dawn tells her and in response Buffy's hands cover her stomach protectively. “We never did work out the exact timing of conception.”

Buffy shakes her head in denial. “Nu uh. No way Dawnie. I ain't that stupid not to be using birth control.”

“That's what you said when you found out in the original time-line,” Dawn points out. “That and screaming at Clark that it was all his fault. His and his 'super-sperm',” she says using air-quotes.

Buffy makes a face. That is kinda graphic even for her.

“Funny thing is that you probably weren't wrong.”

“What?”

“Every part of Clark is super,” Dawn tries to explain. “He absorbs sunlight into every cell of his body. Our best guess as to how you ended up pregnant was that there is something in Kryptonian physiology that counters the birth control methods you are on.”

“Ok but still...Me human. Him alien,” she says in a Tarzan impression. She is trying to get at that they are two separate species and therefore not compatible.

Dawn shrugs. “What do you want me to say Buffy? I can't explain it. Clark could never explain it. It just happened but if you want my best guess it is probably something to do with the mystical nature of the power of the Slayer. Sure even then the odds against it were probably millions to 1 but heck when did the odds ever mean anything to you.” Dawn moves over to her sister. “Now regardless of how it happened out there is a girl who lost her mother when she was a baby and is desperate to bond with you in a way she missed out on growing up.”

“What do you mean missed out? Didn't Clark find someone else? You know I would not begrudge him being happy.”

“I know that but come on he was a single-parent/superhero. Doesn't leave a whole lot of time for dating...unless you count that 5 month fling with Faith.”

“What 5 month fling?!” Buffy demands to know, her jealously creeping up on her without warning.

“Oops. Probably shouldn't have mentioned that. I forgot you had issues with Faith around boyfriends. Forget I said anything.”

“Dawn,” Buffy says insistently.

Dawn lets out a sigh. “What do you want me to say Buffy? He was depressed and lonely and as much as it may surprise you to hear this Faith was very supportive after you died.”

“Oh I bet she was,” Buffy says with some anger.

“Buffy it only lasted 5 months. Clark realised that he had fallen into it for the wrong reasons and ended it. Give him a break. You died. He was in grief. Hell he even changed that shield of his to have a black background as a memorial to you.”

Buffy blinks at this. “He did?”

Dawn nods.

That explains it. That explains why his shield was black when she saw his body earlier. Wait a second that makes her realise something else. “How old was Karen when Clark died?”

“About 11,” Dawn answers. “I've been raising her ever since.”

“How old is she now?”

“21.”

“You mean the world...it has been like this...”

“For getting on for a decade. Yep.”

Buffy sits in silence for a moment. “What is she like?”

“Why don't you go out there and find out for yourself,” Dawn suggests to her sister.

Buffy stands up. “Alright I will...but couldn't you give me a little something to go on?” Buffy looks at her sister pleadingly. “Please.”

“Karen is...she is basically this perfect merger of you and Clark. If the world hadn't been destroyed I could see her trailing the malls as we speak and being perfectly content. Equally she has Clark's laid-back down-to-earth attitude to everything which makes no sense but Karen pulls it off somehow. She has his powers and your temper which is a frightening thought if you really think about it.”

“Why? I don't have a temper.”

Dawn rolls her eyes. “Sure you don't Buffy,” she says insincerely. “Have you ever seen yourself when you're pissed. It is scary and you can't bench press mountains.”

“She can do that?!”

“Well no. Not yet anyway but I'm pretty certain she could in a few years.”

“Why in a few years?”

“It's a Kryptonian trait. The longer they live under a yellow sun absorbing its energy the stronger they become. Even the Clark I knew before he died hadn't reached his physical peak yet as far as anyone could ascertain and he was 12 years older than the one you know.” Dawn takes Buffy's arms and pulls her to her feet. “Now lets stop all the chit-chat. Go out there and bond.”

Buffy lets Dawn pull her out the door where she spots her daughter helping a group of people sort through some items. It is when one stands up straight from picking something up from the ground that a stirring of recognition hits her. She makes her way over and touches the guy on the shoulder. He turns around. “Oz?”

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“We're ready to try and reinitialise the start-up protocols,” Imra announces.

Clark double checks the read-out from the scanner that they had converted into a access terminal to Brainiac's programming. “I agree,” he says.

“Alright. Proceed,” Rokk decides.

Clark inputs the commands and the remains of Brainiac flow to the ground like a liquid before they start to reorganise themselves into a new figure. Due to how much of Brainiac was vaporised the figure would be no bigger than an adolescent until they could procure new material for Brainiac to absorb. A humanoid figure takes shape. The appearance of skin starts to form but unlike Brainiac's previous forms the skin this time is green wearing a purple uniform and the hair is yellow. As the features of the face form 3 circles appear on the forehead. When the eyes open they are pupil-less and pink in colour. The new Brainiac speaks. “Greetings. I am Brainiac 5. How may I be of assistance?” it asks politely and formally.

Clark quirks an eyebrow and looks at his 3 friends. This wasn't quite what they were aiming at. Guess this is what they get for rushing.

Garth shrugs. “Oh well. It wasn't bad for a first attempt,” he remarks.

“Garth,” Rokk tells him off. He sighs. “This will just have to do.” He addresses Brainiac. What is your current status?” he asks it.

“One moment. All systems are functioning within established parameters,” it reports.

“Status of memory?”

“There is a 8% fragmentation of my memory files. It might be possible to retrieve memories using a fractal sorting code. Such a task would require 37.4 hours to complete.”

“37.4 hours we don't have,” Garth points out.

“Do you know who I am?” Clark asks Brainiac testing its memory.

“Yes. You are Kal-El. Son of Jor-El and Lara. Last survivor of the planet Krypton where I was created.”

“Do you remember what happened here before you were reactivated?”

“Yes. I allowed the shield to collapse so you would destroy me.”

“What?” Clark asks totally taken aback by that answer.

“I had grown tired of being nothing but a slave to my mistress and I saw you as the means to bring my existence to an end. It was why I brought you here when my mistress intended for you to land somewhere else,” Brainiac explains rationally of what was a betrayal of its mistress. “I did not anticipate you being able to reactivate me,” it adds.

Well that is not what Clark expected to hear.

“Who is this mistress?” Rokk asks wanting them to stay on track.

“That information is not available. It is amongst my fragmented memory files.”

“Do you know anything about a person by the name of Buffy Summers?” Clark asks.

“Yes. My mistress brought her here at an earlier time but her travel through the vortex was disrupted by the rebels.”

“Rebels?” Imra queries.

“Those who rebel against the mistress,” Brainiac explains.

“Do you know where Buffy is?” Clark asks hopeful that they find Buffy soon.

“Not precisely no. Her most likely location is Metropolis. It is where the rebels maintain a hidden base.”

Well that is a place to start. Clark can search a single city in no time relatively speaking.

Rokk needs to ask something else. “The quantum stasis field your mistress is using to protect herself. How do we disrupt it?”

“Destroy the Fortress,” Brainiac replies simply.

“Explain,” Rokk orders needing more information.

“After Kal-El's death the mistress took control of this Fortress as its power could be used to aid her in her plans. I was placed here to control it otherwise my mistress would have to dedicate a not insubstantial amount of her power and concentration to maintaining the field herself.”

“So destroying this Fortress will weaken her,” Rokk surmises.

“Correct.”

Rokk looks at Kal and can see some hesitation at that idea. He places his hand on Kal's shoulder. “Kal I know this is all you have left of your home but if we succeed this time-line will cease to exist and your Fortress will be as you left it upon out return to your time.”

Clark nods. “Ok. You better get out of here. I don't want you hurt.”

“Very well,” Rokk says while he signals to Imra and Garth that they have to depart. “Brainiac 5. You will come with us as well.”

“As you wish. I am programmed to obey your commands Cosmic Boy.”

Clark gives them a few moments to get clear...wait a second did Brainiac say he died? He did say that. That is...something Clark can think of later. He has more important stuff to deal with right now. Clark can see that the others are now outside so he slams his fist into one of the key columns that supports the Fortress. It shatters. He moves onto the next one and then the next, shattering each in turn. Crystal columns start to collapse all around him.

Outside in the Arctic cold Imra, Garth, Rokk and Brainiac 5 look on as the grand structure, the monument to Krypton collapses into the snow and ice. Suddenly Kal is standing next to them as energy crackles around the remains of the Fortress.

“Field generation has ceased,” Brainiac 5 reports.

“Good,” Rokk comments. “You alright Kal?”

“I'm fine. Lets just go to Metropolis, find Buffy and then kick this mistress' butt. I want to go home.”

“I hear you Kal,” Garth says in eager agreement. He then holds up a hand and lets lighting play across his fingers. “Lets show this mistress what happens when she crosses the Legion.”

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Back in Metropolis Willow feels glorious as her older self pours all this dark energy inside her but then just as suddenly it is gone and she feels empty. She is also gasping for breath as her eyes open and she sees her older self staggering backwards.

“NO!!!” the older Willow screams. “What have you done??!!” She paces frantically back and forth muttering incomprehensibly in a few dozen languages.

The younger Willow doesn't know who they are that her older self is muttering about. At the moment she is more concerned with what she almost allowed to happen. Goddess. Is she so weak that she would just welcome darkness back into her soul like that?

The older Willow suddenly locks eyes with her. It sends a shiver up Willow's spine. “Plans have changed Willow. Someone has betrayed me. They'll be coming soon and then we'll have us a good old-fashioned but terribly clichéd showdown. Need to get some help. Their treachery has weakened me.” Most of her power has been diverted to maintaining this bubble of time. There is no way she can fight against all those she knows will be coming for her. She has much to do and little time. “Doomsday!” she calls out and it obeys by smashing through the wall and entering the building. She points at her younger self. “Guard her,” she commands.

“Willow,” she says to get her younger self's attention. “Do not even attempt to leave. My pet won't hurt you but it will incapacitate you should you try anything. I shall return soon.” With that she teleports away since haste is more important than conserving her power right now.

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“Oz!” Buffy says cheerfully before she pulls her old friend into a hug.

Oz just stands there very confused. Or is that perplexed. Miffed maybe. “Dawn. Why is Buffy hugging me? Did she come back from the dead again?”

Dawn laughs. “No Oz. She is from the past. Willow's doing,” she explains.

“Ok then,” he says in his usual stoic fashion.

Buffy pulls back to look at how Oz has aged. “You're still looking good Oz,” she compliments him.

“Um thanks. So welcome to the future I guess,” he says as a form of greeting.

Buffy lightly snorts. “Yeah well all things considered I would rather be in Vegas.”

“Who wouldn't,” Oz says in all seriousness. “Except Willow trashed it about 6 years ago.”

Well that just deflated all Buffy's cheerfulness right there. She turns her head slightly to see her daughter looking at her surprisingly shyly for someone with Summers' blood running through her veins. Buffy walks over to her. “Hey...Karen. So...um...do you want to do something...together?”

Karen's face lights up joyfully. “Really?” Buffy nods and the next second she finds herself in another bone-crushing hug. “This is going to be great mom!” Karen says happily. “Dad and aunt Dawn have told me so many stories and you know I always wished we could meet and...and now here you are and...” she pulls back and looks herself over, “oh god I probably look a mess don't I. I finally get to meet you and I look like a poster-girl for 'After the Apocalypse' fashions.” Her hands go to her hair and start to sort it out. “God I haven't even brushed my hair today.”

Buffy just looks at her rather wide-eyed as Karen does this near award winning babble while Dawn bursts out into a giggle. “See Buffy. Totally your daughter.”

Buffy reaches up to Karen's shoulders. “Easy. Take a breath,” she tells Karen.

Karen looks at her mom funny. “Mom. I take after dad. I can hold my breath for like 2 hours easy.”

“Which means she can also babble for 2 hours easy,” Dawn says as a little teasing dig at her niece.

“Auntie Dawn!” Karen whines. “Do you have to embarrass me in front of mom?”

Dawn grins mischievously. “Why yes. Yes I do.”

Karen rolls her eyes and swears she will get back at her aunt later. “So mom what do you want to do but first I just have to fix me hair.”

“Um well how about you show me your room and I'll help you with your hair.”

Karen smiles widely. “Ok. That sounds great.”

Karen leads Buffy off. “Um one question though. How the heck are you so damn tall?” Buffy asks as she looks up at her daughter who almost towers over her.

Karen laughs. “Mom. You do remember how tall dad is right?”

Buffy smiles. “Yes I do. He's a freakin giant!”

That causes the two of to laugh loudly as they head off down a corridor. Dawn watches them go with a smile on he face. She knew they would get on if they met even if she didn't want them to meet because she hadn't been sure how Buffy would take it and if that knowledge might have ended up accidentally preventing Karen's conception. Dawn really hopes not. It then she suddenly feels incredibly dizzy and in fact is about to fall over until someone catches her. Dawn looks up and sees it is Bruce who leads her over to a chair.

“Dawn. Are you alright?” he asks her.

Dawn shakes her head as she tries to work out what has happened. Something has changed. The balance of the world has shifted. She can feel it. She is the Key after all and she has a connection to the world, to all worlds, across the dimensions. “Willow...” she whispers.

Bruce looks at Dawn curiously. “What is it Dawn? What about her?”

“She's weaker. I can feel it. Her power has been siphoned off. I...I need to meditate. I don't think she can block my vision anymore.”

Bruce helps Dawn to her room so she can meditate. Dawn closes her eyes and reaches out. She can sense...she can sense...two Willows? But this one is different...she is younger. Oh no! They didn't. They didn't come here after Buffy because if they did that means they brought Clark and that means the future is in grave danger. Dawn stretches out her senses further. Where is he? Oh there he is.

Clark, Brainiac 5 and the Legion are just nearing Metropolis when in front of them an apparition appears. One that looks kinda familiar. All 5 stop in mid-air as it solidifies.

“Hey Clark,” the figure's voice says cheerily.

Clark knows that voice. “Dawn?”

“The one and only and ooh you brought friends I see.”

Clark looks at them. “Yeah. These are the Legion from the 31st century and that is...well that is Brainiac.”

The image of Dawn frowns. “You do know he is Willow's slave right.”

“Willow!” Clark exclaims in total surprise.

“Ok I'm guessing from your reaction that you didn't know that. What do you know...no wait don't answer that. Look just follow me and we'll talk in person. The longer I'm doing this the more chance Willow will pick it up. Just one proviso though. Is Brainiac still under Willow's control?”

Brainiac 5 answers it. “I am not. My programming has been altered so that I aid Kal-El and the Legion in their mission.”

“Yeah well forgive me if I don't take your word for that,” Dawn says somewhat sceptically.

“You are forgiven Dawn Summers. It is understandable,” Brainiac tells her with sympathy to her position.

Dawn shakes her head. “Come on just follow me. We'll sort this out when you get here but if Brainiac turns out to be evil I will kick your sorry butt Clark Kent,” she threatens. Then with a huff and a flick of her hair the image turns round and flies off with Clark and co in pursuit.

They land outside a derelict building and follow Dawn inside, down into the basement and through a door only to find numerous people pointing weapons at them. Dawn, the real Dawn steps forward.

“Nice greeting there Dawn,” Clark says less than taken with the welcoming committee.

“Yes well if you had lived through what we have had to you would understand. Now don't move. This will only take a minute.”

Before Clark can ask what will take a minute a green glow forms around Dawn before spreading out to encompass him, Brainiac and the Legion. Then a minute later it fades away.

“Lower your weapons,” she instructs the others. “They're ok.” Dawn had used her powers to feel out what was in their hearts and confirm they are you they appear to be and that even worked on Brainiac which was a bit odd. Dawn address them. “I'm guessing you want to know what is going on.”

“Well that would be nice,” Clark says.

Dawn waves them to follow her. “Come on. We'll go find a seat and have a chat. This may take awhile and oh Clark...”

“Yes.”

“I have a couple of surprises for you,” she says with a little smirk.

“A couple of...?” Realisation dawns on him. “Buffy. Is she here?”

“Yeah she is. I'll have someone fetch her.”

Pure relief floods through Clark's being but he won't believe it until he can hold Buffy in his arms. They reach a large central room in the underground complex.

“Welcome to the rebellion,” Dawn says as she gestures around. “Now Buffy should be here in a minute then we can get down to buis....” she is cut off by a loud shout.

“Dad!!!”

Clark turns round just as a tall young woman with blond hair runs at him in superspeed he might add and almost crushes him in a hug leaving him floundering as to what to do in response. To his relief Buffy is rapidly moving across the room. She has this knowing smile on her face.

“Hey Clark!” she says with a strange nonchalance considering the situation they are in.

“Um hi Buffy. A little help please,” he asks in reference to the woman who is almost literally crushing him. It feels like she is Kryptonian strong.

Buffy chuckles. “Now Clark don't be like that. After all she is our daughter.”

“She's our what!!!” he yells out in shock sure he must have misheard that.

Buffy places her hand on Karen's shoulder and pulls her back a bit. “Clark says hello to Karen Summers-Kent.”

Clark just stares blankly at her for a few moments. Oh god she has his eyes and Buffy's mouth. This is just...unbelievable. He tentatively raises his hand to her cheek. “Our daughter?”

“Yep.”

An enormous smile comes to Clark's face before he pulls both Karen and Buffy into his arms. Oh god. He has always wanted a family and now it seems he is going to have one. He can't even begin to describe how happy that makes him. Dawn watches the little family group hug with her own little smile. It is so nice to see them reunited like this.

What no-one notices is the shared looks between the 3 members of the Legion. A look that reflects a terrible truth. As far as they know Kal never had any children with Buffy Summers which means that this girl is a paradox. She shouldn't exist. Now the only question is is her appearance due to how much this time-line has been messed up with or are they wrong in what they know about history. As they look at Kal and how happy he is all 3 hope it is the second one because if it is not then once they fix the time-line his daughter will no longer exist. In fact to be accurate she will never have existed and all 3 can guess how Kal will take that. It will pretty much destroy him.

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Author's Note: A few people asked why I chose Karen for Clark and Buffy's daughter's name and the reason is that it is the closest human equivalent to Kara who I am not sure if I will ever bring into this. So for now you can consider Karen Supergirl. As for the story I have now brought Clark and Buffy back together along with Dawn and all her fellow survivors. Willow is off gathering her own helpers and therefore the next chapter should include the showdown I have been building too. Thank you to all those who wrote reviews.