Chapter 9 – A Gift for Clark
It had already been a year since Arthur had used the portal to enter the world of Fairy Tail. In that distant land of magic, he had met Erza, awakened deep emotions, and lived through unforgettable adventures. But now, he was back in his original world, sitting in a regular classroom, staring at the blackboard with a mixture of boredom and detachment.
The teacher stood at the front of the class, passionately explaining some dull chapter of world history. The monotone voice echoed across the room, but Arthur wasn't paying attention. He rested his cheek on his hand and allowed his mind to wander.
"It's already been a whole year… Since I ended up in Fairy Tail and met Erza," Arthur thought, his eyes unfocused. "She managed to awaken her magic just like in the anime. We completed several missions together, mostly to earn money so she could buy more magical armors."
A small, nostalgic smile crept across Arthur's lips as he remembered how excited she would get every time she tried on a new armor. Her eyes would sparkle like a child opening a gift. He could almost hear her joyful laughter echoing in his memory.
"During one of those missions, we met Mirajane, Elfman, and Lisanna. They'd been kicked out of the village they lived in because Mirajane awakened her demon magic. People thought she had turned into a monster. But when I explained that it was just part of her magic, she calmed down. That's when I invited her to join Fairy Tail."
His expression changed slightly as another memory came up — a rather peculiar one.
"I think… she ended up falling for me after that. Because when she found out Erza was my girlfriend, the two of them started fighting over me — just like in the anime. Looks like some things never change, huh? Well, at least in Fairy Tail, I can marry both of them without any issues…"
Suddenly, the loud ring of the school bell snapped Arthur out of his thoughts. The class was over. Time to go home.
A little while later, he and his younger brother Clark were sitting on the school bus. Arthur sat next to him, casually looking out the window. Clark stared outside in silence, his small face visibly sad. Noticing his brother's demeanor, Arthur followed his gaze to the front of the bus. A group of boys sat there, chatting excitedly and making plans about what they were going to play after school.
Arthur understood immediately.
Clark had developed his Kryptonian powers a few months earlier due to constant exposure to Earth's yellow sun. With each passing day, he grew stronger — almost too strong for a child. Because of this, their parents had forbidden him from playing with other kids. It was just too risky. In the middle of an innocent game, Clark could accidentally hurt someone. Or worse.
Arthur felt a deep, painful tug in his chest. He knew just how much this affected his little brother. Clark was still just a child. Despite having all that incredible power, all he wanted was to play and laugh like any other boy his age.
When the bus finally stopped in front of their family's farm, the two boys got off and started walking toward the house. As they walked, Arthur's eyes drifted to the barn. Inside, hidden behind piles of hay and old wooden boards, was the spacecraft that had brought Clark to Earth.
A sudden thought sparked in his mind.
"Clark," he said, turning to his brother. "I need to do something real quick. Go on ahead, I'll catch up with you soon."
Clark gave him a curious look.
"Okay, but don't take too long, alright? Mom and Dad will worry."
Arthur nodded, and Clark ran off toward the house. Once he was gone, Arthur sprinted to the barn with determination in his steps.
Inside the barn, the air was thick with the smell of hay and aged wood. It was quiet, save for the occasional creak of the wooden beams. Arthur approached the spacecraft, still hidden carefully under old blankets and planks. He looked at it closely, eyes scanning its alien structure.
"Little bro… depending on which version of the comics we're living in… you might not have to be alone after all."
Arthur knelt down beside the ship and tried to open it. He used all his strength — strength he had earned after a year of devouring magical beasts and insects in different worlds, training his body to its peak. He had reached the point where he could lift up to eighty tons. And yet, even with that monstrous strength, the Kryptonian ship didn't budge an inch.
"Yep… definitely worthy of Krypton," he muttered, panting as he sat down on the floor. "If only I had Obito's Kamui, I could phase right through it…"
A thought suddenly flashed in his mind like lightning.
"Wait a minute…"
Arthur summoned his own dimensional power, one that he had crafted over countless battles. Inspired by Obito's technique but made to be even stronger, he opened a glowing portal — shimmering with cosmic energy. Carefully, he used the portal to pass through the hull of the spaceship.
And it worked.
Peering inside the ship, surrounded by glowing Kryptonian crystals and circuitry, something caught his eye — a small, subtle movement. Something white.
He reached in through the portal, stretching his hand carefully. When he pulled it back out and closed the portal, he looked in amazement at what he was holding.
It was a small puppy. Entirely white. Its eyes sparkled with curiosity and intelligence far beyond that of a normal dog. Arthur smiled warmly.
"With you by his side… , Krypto… Clark won't have to feel so alone anymore."
He gently petted the pup, who wagged its tail eagerly and licked Arthur's hand. Making sure everything in the barn was back in place and well hidden, Arthur stepped outside, the puppy cradled in his arms.
As soon as he walked into the house, his mother, Martha, immediately greeted him.
"Son, where were you? Clark said you were right behind him, but you took forever to show up."
Arthur gave her a wide grin and held out what he had been carrying.
"Look what I found, Mom."
Jonathan and Clark also walked into the room just in time to see. The moment Krypto caught a whiff of Clark's scent, his eyes lit up. The little dog leapt out of Arthur's arms with surprising force, tackling Clark to the floor and causing a noticeable dent in the wooden floorboards with his paws.
Clark fell on his back, laughing loudly as Krypto licked his face and wagged his tail in excitement. The boy hugged the puppy tightly, a wide, bright smile lighting up his entire face.
Arthur stood there, watching the scene, his heart feeling light and full.
"Now you'll have someone to play with, little brother… someone you don't have to hold back with. Someone you don't have to hide from."
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