Chapter Text
Daxam- 19 years ago
At the royal palace, Queen Alura and King Zor-El of Daxam sit on their thrones in their black and grey attire talking amongst themselves. A palace guard enters through the large castle doors interrupting them.
"Your royal highnesses, Rhea and Lar Gand of Krypton are here with an urgent message."
Adjusting their positions to sit straighter and more opposing, Queen Alura speaks, "Let them in."
The guard retreats from them with a bow to retrieve their guests and once again the large doors are opened but standing at the entrance are two Kryptonians, donning royal blue with white.
"To what do we owe this wonderful visit from Krypton's finest," Alura sarcastically speaks with a smile as Rhea and Lar are escorted in by the guard who steps off to the side.
Krypton and Daxam have never been on good terms due to the war that raged against their planets for generations. Monarchy vs. Democracy. The war ended in a stalemate and both sides remaining bitter. Years have passed but the distaste for each other never left.
Rhea fights the urge to roll her eyes, "We've come on behalf of Krypton as ambassadors to make a proposition."
"As if Krypton has anything to offer us lowly Daxamites," Alura snares looking down at them with daggers in her eyes.
Zor-El leans in and speaks softly to Alura, "Let's just hear them out," and lovingly caresses her back. Alura looks at her husband agreeing with her eyes and regains her composure. Meeting Rhea's eyes once more she outstretches her hand at a conference table on the left side of the room.
"Please have seat."
"Thank you, Queen Alura and King Zor-El."
Moving off their thrones and onto the chairs opposite Lar and Rhea, Alura begins.
"So, what is this urgent business you want to discuss?"
Rhea’s face switches to one full of dread, "Krypton is dying."
The Queens' face remains emotionless, “What concern is that to us? You all think yourselves better than Daxamites, why should we care about the state of your planet?”
"Our projections state that if Krypton is destroyed Daxam will be as well. The debris from our planet would make yours a barren wasteland," Rhea stated grimly.
The eyes of the King and Queen widen revealing a sliver of fear in their eyes, if not for themselves then for their newborn daughter. Taken aback by the statement the royals focus on the Kryptonians bearing horrible news.
"Well, how do you propose to rectify this situation!" Queen Alura yells and stands up to slam her fist on the dark steel table, distraught by the unsettling revelation.
Wincing, Rhea begins, "Upon our thorough research we came across an element unique to Daxam that we can use to stabilize our core."
"So, what? We give you our resources, so we don't die from your ticking time bomb of a planet? No, No, No. We are going to need more than Krypton's word that they're not going to end us all. We will need far more concrete assurances you won't procure our resources to buy yourselves time to abandon your planet and leave ours to be destroyed." A strong, fortified look on Alura's face waits for a response.
Rhea looks at her husband, grabbing his hand and giving it a squeeze, then looks back at the queen with complete honesty and says, "We would never leave Krypton because it is our home you have to believe that. In exchange, we propose an alliance between our worlds."
"Political alliance?" She asked, calmer.
"Yes, we were blessed with a beautiful baby boy," she gives her husband a smile, "and I heard that you yourself, Queen Alura, became a mother to a baby girl. Our family is well respected on Krypton and the alliance would ease tensions between our worlds..."
Queen Alura remained quiet, allowing Rhea to continue.
"…and we suggest they marry when they are both twenty-five, but we tell them about the arrangement when they turn twenty as to transition slowly through yearly meetings."
"It appears you have thought long and hard about the details of this arrangement. Let me just clarify," Alura stands up and walks to the ceiling high window in the room that overlooks the city. Staring at her reflection in the glass, "You want me to betroth my daughter to a Kryptonian to make sure relations between us never sever?"
"Yes, and we don't take this agreement lightly, in the meantime we would also aid in trading and technology, please Queen Alura Krypton's fate relies on your cooperation."
Queen Alura and King Zor-El knew over the years Daxam's economy was struggling due to a lack of trading. The planet has become so isolated they were on the verge of a depression, but those snobby Kryptonians didn't need to know that. "You're sure our resources will stabilize your core?"
"Absolutely, without a doubt."
She walks back to her seat and sits down slowly looking at her husband already knowing his answer. First and foremost comes the life of their precious Kara.
"We agree to your terms…on one condition…"
"Any..anything," Rhea struggles to say, regretting the word as soon as it leaves her mouth.
A wicked smirk grows on the Daxamite Queen's face. "Once married…your son, what's his name?"
"Mon-El, your majesty."
Fueled by the rage of just learning about the mutually assured destruction Krypton has put Daxam in, Alura repeats herself, "Once married, Mon-El will live on Daxam in the palace and will not be allowed to return to Krypton, do you agree to this term?"
Rhea’s body stiffens, and Lar Gand speaks with disdain, "Yes, we agree to your term."
"Great! Then I'm glad we have a deal," Alura and Zor-El stand up and make their way to Rhea and Lar. They shake hands and draw up a contract. After they all sign the document Alura's smile drops.
"Now get off my planet."
Watching the Kryptonian ambassadors exit the room releases the tension in Alura's shoulders. The worry she was hiding shows on her face as she turns towards her husband.
"Zor-El, did we do the right thing?"
Reaching over hold her arm reassuringly, "We did what we had to do, for Daxam. We weren’t given much of a choice."
Furrowing her brow, “But what about for Kara?"
Zor-El gazed into her eyes with pain remaining silent. They both knew they failed that day at being parents. Sure, it was customary for arranged marriages to take place but to a Kryptonian, it was unheard of.
"I need to see her, will you come with me?" Alura asks as she grabs his hand.
Warmly smiling at her he says, "Of course, my love."
They walked into the nursery and saw baby Kara being cared for by one of their servants. Upon entering the room, the queen commands the woman, "Leave us." Alura takes Kara into her arms and with the king at her side she whispers, "My brave daughter I hope one day you will understand and forgive us." Kissing her forehead, the small family remain in the embrace letting the world around them disappear.
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Krypton- 19 years ago
Back at the Gand residence, walking into their house which is more like an entire floor of a skyrise, Rhea finally speaks her mind, "I hate being an ambassador."
She takes off her heels and relaxes into the couch in their living room that’s glowing a light pink from the setting sun.
"No, you don't, you just hate the queen." Lar smiles and joins her on the couch.
Smiling back and taking a deep breath turning towards her husband, "I don't hate her. I am just so stressed with Krypton's fragile state and the fact we promised our boy to a Daxamite. It makes my skin crawl."
"Hey," he brings her closer for a hug, "our boy will understand, I already know."
"Let's go see him."
Walking into their nursery they pick up their baby with blue-grey eyes and dark hair dreading the future for their son.