17 OMAKE: A New Day

Luke gasped, the kick to his stomach crumpling him to the ground. The next kick, aimed at his chin, knocked him backwards toward the wounded Stark knights.

The young lord Parmen Crane spat on the ground next to him, around the empty plain a retinue of Targaryen-aligned men jeering at the defeated squire, practically baying for his blood in the dark, early morning.

Touching his now black eye, Parmen winced in pain, before fixing Luke a look of disgust, the grip on his blade tightening.

"I'd have hoped, despite your station, you had enough honor to follow the command of your superiors and eliminate these savages when ordered. I can't say I'm surprised to be proven wrong however."

Fear gripped Luke's heart. His eyes briefly went to his injuries, his body covered in various cuts and bruises from the beating he'd received, courtesy of Parmen Crane and his loyal men. Then it went to his stolen sword, in the grasp of one of Ser Crane's knights, stolen from him during the initial scuffle and now leaving him helpless.

He was an idiot. Luke knew there would be no talking his way out of this situation. He'd known that the second his pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears, and his body instinctively moved in front Parmen, blocking the young lord's swing against a helpless Stark knight's neck. He didn't know why he'd done such stupid thing, knowing it would lead to his own death.

... No. That would be a lie. He knew exactly why he defended this group of enemy knights.

They were wounded. They were helpless. They had surrendered. And yet they would still be mercilessly slaughtered by his contingent.

No matter how stupid it was, Luke had to protect these knights from an unjust execution. It was the right thing to do, he knew it deep inside, and he'd never be able to forgive himself if he just stood by and watched while men whose only crimes were being from a different House were gutted like animals before him.

He could never face his brother Caelum if he did that.

So despite the fear, and despite knowing pointless a gesture it was, Luke clenched his teeth and stood back up, visibly struggling as he did so. A few of the Stark knights helping regain his balance; they couldn't do much, most of them already wounded from before they'd encountered his group, but the gesture was appreciated all the same.

Pain radiated from everywhere, blood from his cuts dripping into the dirty battlefield, but he still mustered what strength he had left to glare at Parmen.

"There is no honor in killing surrendering men." Luke wheezed.

A backhand from an armored glove, and Luke had to spit the blood from his mouth. At least he was still standing. A small victory.

"Filthy peasant. It is not your place to judge what's honorable and what isn't." Parmen's clicked his tongue, as if scolding a child. He raised his sword and positioned it next to Luke's neck.

Parmen crane's face twisted into a sneer.

"But I am not without mercy. We need every last body for this war, after all. So beg me for forgiveness squire, and I shall let you live."

It was clear from his eyes that Parmen was enjoying this. The squire who'd managed to disarm him during training now making a mistake that left him at the young lord's mercy. Knowing whatever choice the peasant made, it would be victory for the young Crane.

It was obvious enough to everyone, and despite the blow to his pride, Luke knew he should accept the lordling's condescending offer, because it was still better than dying, even if it was at the expense of some men's lives.

Too bad for him he was such a bleeding heart idiot.

Luke stayed silent, and the slight mirth apparent on Lord Parmen's face dimmed, his mocking smile dropping into a frown.

"Really? Do you truly wish to die such a pathetic death?"

It took a while for Luke to find his words, the sword still aimed at his unguarded neck doing his nerves no favors.

"... I can't let you kill these men, Lord Parmen."

"Why?"

There was genuine confusion in the young lord's tone, and Luke couldn't fault him for that. Luke had other people he wanted to protect. More important people like Harlon and Caelum. So why would he risk all that for a handful of wounded enemies he didn't even know the names of?

Despite it all, Luke smiled, lifting his head to look at his executioner in the eye.

"Because it feels like it's the right thing to do."

Parmen Crane scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief as his men continued to hurl insults at the beaten down traitor.

"So be it then."

Ser Crane's heir raised his sword high, and Luke shut his eyes tight, knowing what was to come. He hoped Caelum wouldn't be too upset at his death, and that he'd understand why he had to do what he did. If only he could jus-

FWOOSH

A sudden green flash erupted, cutting off Luke's internal thoughts and blinding the gaze of everyone in the flatland. Parmen winced, his sword forgotten as he instinctively covered his eyes. Around him the men- Stark and Targaryen alike- were similarly rendered sightless. Even Luke, with his eyes closed, could see as the strong light bathing his vision in emerald. And then something else happened.

The pain he'd felt from his wounds inexplicably started fading, as if soothed by the mysterious energy this light brought forth. Another gasp escaped Luke's lungs, but this one was from surprise as he was lifted off the ground, the calming sensation spreading throughout his entire body, as if he was being cradled by the Gods themselves.

Luke's eyes snapped open, looking at what was being done to him by who knows what, and what he saw stunned him even more than what he'd seen in the farm all those nights ago.

The numerous injuries inflicted on him were gone, as if he'd never been harmed at all. Parts of his armor and the entirety of his chainmail and clothes had disappeared, being replaced with a strange black and green material covering his whole body. What was left- his pauldrons, courters, greaves and sabatons, were no longer dented and rusted. Rather, they were now flawless and brilliant, matching the colors of the unusual fabric perftecly.

What caught Luke's attention most of all though was the glowing green ring now on his finger, the sigil on it reminiscent of... something. He could feel the power radiating out of it, something that terrified yet excited him for reasons he didn't know.

His wide eyes still focused on the mysterious band his right hand in wonder, Luke barely noticed the starstruck faces of the people around him, nor that he'd now been lowered back onto the ground.

The entire plain was rendered silent. Parmen, his men and even the Stark knights could do nothing but gawk at the impossible display before them. A sudden green flash, and where was once a traitorous squire now stood a being clad in emerald energy swirling around him? Such a thing would've been deemed a daydream had it not happened before their very eyes.

A million questions ran through Luke's mind, but before he could voice even a single one, a voice- his own voice?- shattered the silence. It was far steadier than it had any right to be, almost monotone, and laced with a tinge of something the young man couldn't quite decipher.

It was what the voice said though, the words echoing across the land, that snapped him out of his fugue.

Luke of Planetos. You have the ability to overcome great fear.

Welcome to the Green Lantern Corps.

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So, apparently, I got botted.

And it was an AO3-wide thing.

The whole situation is so wild, it's very new to me. I felt so demoralized when I read those comments. I have never faced anything like this online, I don't use social media all that much.

My social media is all boiled down to reddit, youtube, twitter, and discord. And I've never uploaded anything about myself on any of them. Getting attacked for my writing felt very personal, and demoralizing.

I've obviously encountered mean people online, but it's never been so direct, and never about something like my writing.

I love this story, love Superman a lot.

I will take another week or so off, cool my head, and try and get back into writing again.

I have updated thread marks with a fantastic omake made by JustAnotherHachimanFan on spacebattles.

His work is wonderful. I hope you like it.

I am sorry if I seem like I am going back on my word, I had promised a chapter by yesterday.

Hopefully, I will feel better about writing and get back to this story soon.