The expected Author's Note: Post-Ascension. Thought I may as well add to the meagre number. It really hurts how little of these there are.
This is set in first person (or rather, first people), throughout the days and weeks after the defeat of Apocalypse at the hands of our favorite mutants. I'm going to try to keep this completely in character, which means couples and relationships are what has been shown.
It seems that we'll never know if Season Five is going ahead, so may as well post this. Oh, how I have been waiting. Damned procrastinators.
Disclaimer: I don't just own X-Men: Evolution, I own all of Marvel. Oh, and Kids WB too, can't forget them. That's right; a seventeen year old from New Zealand owns Marvel and the Kids WB. Score!
Okay, I lied.
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To What Awaits Us
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25 September, 2005
Charles Xavier
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My hands fell into a steeple before me, my eyes still closed. It was too hard to look at them. Too painful. I was speaking of friends and foes and the state of the world. I had seen years pass by in his mind. Years. Granted, they were only fragments, but it was heartbreaking once I came into my own consciousness.
Once I truly realized what those images meant.
I slowly opened my eyes, letting them sweep over the group of mutants, young and old, gathered before me. My students, the Brotherhood, I smiled. Or tried, at least.
"But one thing was clear. No matter what awaits us, terrible or wondrous, the X-Men will always be there, ready. And of that, I am proud."
I saw a few teary eyes in the crowd. Kitty, Ororo, Jean…
No Charles, you mustn't think about it now. The future you saw…
"Nice speech, Pops. Can we eat now?" a strange voice piped up from the back.
Todd. He received a few glares from my students, along with a hex-bolt from Wanda.
"Trust you to ruin the moment, Froggy." Tabitha said laughingly. He grimaced at the nickname, and at the bump forming on his head-the result of being hexed into a nearby tree.
"Ja, but he does have a point." Kurt added, rubbing his free hand across his stomach, his other still linking with Rogue's. It was nice to see those two acting as family, despite the deranged acts of their mother.
That, I smiled at.
"Yes, I believe he does, Kurt. If you would all make your way to the dining hall." Most of the younger mutants turned and ran. The older ones and the adults walked with more composure, but I could see they were just as eager. Yes, I suppose they would be hungry. All the energy they expended yesterday, fighting Apocalypse…
Fighting me.
I was relieved from my thoughts when I heard a deep, awkward voice behind me.
"Excuse me, Professor?"
I turned and smiled at the young man. "Yes, Peter?" The look on his face could only be described as pure shock. My smile only grew. "I didn't probe your mind, Mr. Rasputin. Jean told me." He nodded slowly, not sure if he could believe me. Trust me. He looked at the ground before him, the color in his cheeks flaring. Such a serious boy…
"I would like to join the X-Men."
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I sat at the head of the table. It had been extended for this special occasion, now seating over twenty mutants.
"Kurt! I had my eyes on that!" Kitty squealed, reaching across the table to grapple for the last croissant. Before she could even get a hand on him, Kurt teleported to the light above the table and shoved it in his mouth.
"Sorry Keety, finders keepers!" he replied, chewing the fatty bread slowly. The girl scoffed and folded her arms.
"You are like, impossible." she huffed. Lance put a hand on her arm and smiled, holding up his own croissant.
"Here Kitty, you can have mine." he offered in a syrupy voice. A few gags ran down the length of the table. The lovers blushed and I could barely suppress a chuckle. I remember when I was once that way. Gabrielle…
"God, I wish you two would go-get-a-room." Pietro said quickly. Obviously.
"Tell me about it," Ray whined from further down. "I think I've lost my apetite." He pushed away his plate, and the table was almost knocked over when Fred stood up in eager excitement.
"I'll have it!" he cried.
"Not if I get there first." Kurt said threateningly from his position on the swinging light-shade. Their eyes met in challenge, and both raced for Ray's plate. Several mutants had to abandon their places as Fred forced his way down the line, and as Kurt scrambled across the table, kicking up plates and cutlery in his wake. The cries of offended mutants followed them.
"Whoa, watch out-" Bobby yelled, ducking under the table as he saw the elf bounding towards him.
"Man, could ya' at least have a little decency?!" Rogue seethed after being thrown from her chair.
Finally the hungry teenagers reached Ray's spot which had wisely been abandoned. Each got a hand on one side of the plate which was still filled with food. Their eyes narrowed again. I cleared my throat, and they jumped. They looked down the table, and saw everyone watching them.
Good, maybe this will remind them they all fought together.
Fred mumbled something, to which Kurt nodded. Reluctantly, the larger boy grabbed half of the treats left on the new mutants' plate while the fuzzy blue one took what was left.
Who knew peer pressure could teach teenagers to do the right thing?
To my left, Piotr fidgeted nervously. Yes, it must be hard for him. I can feel the uneasiness ebbing off the young man. Ororo laid a comforting hand on his arm, ever the mother.
"Everyone," she said calmly. All eyes returned to our end of the table. "I think now is a good as time as any to announce that Peter, known to you as 'Colossus' will be joining us here at the institute."
Shocked faces stared back at us, and the boy tried to sink into his seat. It wouldn't work, however, his frame is much too large for that. So instead he sat there looking like he wanted to disappear. I could see the unsettled look on Warren's face as well. Yes, he was thinking of joining also…
Jean smiled brightly at the large, Russian boy.
"I knew you would make the right choice. Welcome to the X-Men." There was a snort a few seats down from Pietro.
"I can't believe the geek-squad is getting one-of-Magneto's rejects." he scoffed. I suppose we should have realised such a thing would happen, all the unresolved issues he has with his father. Pietro stood up quickly (as always) and sped out of room, out of the mansion. His sister looked to us, almost apologetic under the harsh face she wore, and followed him.
"Guess that's our queue, yo," Todd muttered. Next to him, Fred nodded solemnly.
"It was good while it lasted." he replied, pushing the last of Ray's food into his mouth. The two got out of their seats and walked slowly out of the hall, followed by a lot of awkward goodbyes from my students. Suddenly Todd stopped in his tracks and turned.
"Lance, you ain't coming?" The boy in question sighed and pulled his arm away from Kitty. He pat her shoulder awkwardly, aware of the eyes following him. She looked away, disappointed.
Sighs of relief ran the length of the table when all traces of the Brotherhood had disappeared.
"It is so weird them being here." Amara said quietly, running a hand through her hair. My youngest charge nodded eagerly.
"Yeah," Jamie agreed, "They're like our enemy." Tabitha's face hardened.
"They're not thatbad. I mean, they smell pretty rank, but they're good guys." She was met with disbelieving stares.
"They did come through for us, in the end. For all of us." I said sternly. It was amazing how fast these children could forget things. The students quickly broke off into their own conversation, short-attention-spanned as they are. Logan growled.
"Ain't you pups forgettin' your manners? We just got a new addition to the team, you're meant ta' welcome him." I think most of the students didn't know how to react. I could feel they trusted my decision, however. Some of them fought alongside the boy, had conversations (albeit strained conversations) with him. Kitty was the first to speak up.
"Sorry for the lack of manners," she said, obviously resisting the urge to poke out her tongue at Logan. "But, y'know, Pietro has a real talent for stealing the spotlight." She flashed him a smile at the end of the sentence. Piotr blushed, the red standing out like a sore thumb against his pale skin.
"Da. I know." he said softly. "I had to live vith him for a month."
"Well anyone who can come outta' that without being psychologically damaged gets mah' vote." Rogue said, almost supportively. Like Piotr, she had also come from an 'opposing side'. A few laughed, and most nodded. Good. Acceptance.
Above all else, what Piotr Rasputin needed was acceptance.
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It feels so good to be behind my desk again. The wonderful feel of the smooth oak beneath my hands is somehow… Comforting. To be alone is also good. I love my students dearly, but they can be so demanding. I put Piotr in Scott's capable hands for a tour of the mansion.
Amazing really, how much Scott had progressed in the last three years. When the boy first came to me, he was so shy. He is a confident, optimistic young man, so mature now.
And Jean, of course. As close to my own heart as Scott is. My children. What a cruel twist of fate it is, that my biological son is out there somewhere right now, creating havoc. Because of me. Because of Gabrielle never telling me I had a son.
It makes me so angry just thinking of it. It is truly a good thing that I had spent so much time with Logan and Rogue, helping them to keep their emotions under control. But, I suppose it is as much my fault as it is Gabrielle's. I promised her I would keep in contact. The years pass by so quickly sometimes…
There was a knock on my door. Without having to scan the mind outside it, I knew well who it was.
"Come in."
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Can you guess who it is? Even if you can't, review!