"I believe it is time to send news of our visitor to his sister and brethren."

"I agree, my lady. I shall be ready at dawn."

"No. Send Lady Paca. If she takes her wolf, she will be there by noon tomorrow."

"As my lady wishes."

***

It was a regular day at the Xavier Mansion. Well, perhaps not so regular. Pietro Maximoff had gone missing a few weeks ago, and Wanda was worried sick. Every few minutes she rushed to the window to see whether her brother's familiar blurred form was racing down the path.

"Good riddance." Scott had muttered under his breath. His girlfriend then punched him in the arm.

"Be nice!" said Jean. "Pietro's not too bad!"

"I still don't trust them."

"Well, do you think we have any other choice?" That had silenced him.

Until the day that a strange woman had appeared at the door of the Mansion. Kitty had answered the door. Once she had seen who was there she had gone racing towards the Professor's study, not caring who or what got in her way. After the Professor had come down she had reopened the door to show a gray-haired, light-brown skinned woman with one green eye and the other blue.

"I seek a young woman named Wanda Rose Maximoff, as well as the Brotherhood of Bayville. Are they here? I have news of her kinsman."

"Pietro?" All three people turned to see the Scarlet Witch leaning out over the railing of the grand staircase. "She knows about Pietro?"

"Are you Wanda Rose?" Wanda nodded. "Is the Brotherhood here? I have heard that they are his only family left." Wanda looked stunned for a moment, as did Kitty and the Professor. After a pause, she said,

"Hang on. I'll get them." Wanda ran down the hall calling for her friends. In the meantime, Professor Xavier invited the stranger in. Kitty froze a bit when she saw what was behind the older woman.

"Do you mind if my wolf borrows your fireplace for a short while? I'm afraid she finds your New England weather rather harsh."

"No, not at all, Madam. My I ask where you are from?" The Professor led the pair into his study, where he started a fire and moved away so that the stranger's wolf could lie down.

"I am from another world, much different then your own, and still very much the same. It is called Crossroads, and I, myself, am Lady Paca Ootaru, royal messenger of her majesty Jivana Anuerinne Spring." Wanda and the Brotherhood appeared in the doorway. The Professor nodded for them to come in and sit down. Lady Paca sat as well and took the tea that Professor Xavier offered her. "As I was saying I have news of a young man named Pietro Maximoff. Her Majesty was told that he had friends and family here on Earth. I was charged with bringing the news of your brother's state, and hopefully, setting your minds at ease."

"What happened to Pietro?" asked Lance. His face was bunched in concern, as was the rest of the Brotherhood.

"I'm... afraid that he took quite a beating. How long ago was it that your brother vanished?"

"Three weeks."

"Ah. That fits the time line that your brother gave us." seeing Wanda's heightened interest, she added. "Don't worry, he's healing up fine. Although he will have a few scars once we get him back to you."

"How'd he end up with you guys?"

"A telepathic friend of her Majesty felt his presence in our homeland. We sent our a party to rescue him."

"Where the hell are you from?" Todd demanded. Wanda gave him an odd look; this was not normal behavior for Todd to be this forthright.

"As I told the Professor, I am from another world, much different then your own, and still very much the same. It is called Crossroads, and my name is Lady Paca Ootaru. I'm a messenger for the queen of Crossroads. If you wish, I can petition her Majesty for you to visit him on Crossroads. However, he is very weak. You... you may not like what you find."

"We ain't scared!" Freddie's face was now that of grim determination. "He's our friend, and I say we go visit 'im!" Lady Paca smiled amusingly, and Wanda now noticed that her face was covered in strange, red symbols. Spirals flourished on each cheek, and what looked like the tops of triangles graced either side of her wizened forehead. Three straight lines came up on her chin, much like the war paint of American Indians.

"What are those symbols on your face?" she asked curiously. Lance gave her a glare, as if to say How can you be thinking of her tattoos at a time like this?!? Wanda glared right back as if to say, Just trying to be polite, you big buffoon! Lady Paca noticed this silent exchange and had too hold back a chuckle.

"I used to be in the army. These are a general's markings. But then, I grew too old to fight. Time waits for no one, I suppose." She crinkled her eyes in laughter. Then she stood up and set down her teacup on the coffee table. "I really must be going. If her Majesty agrees, I shall send for you all within a fortnight. Goddess bless, my dears." With that, the stranger left the study, motioning to her wolf-mount to follow.

And that was it. The Brotherhood debated whether what the woman said was true. Wanda, of course, was about ready to chase after Lady Paca to force her to take her to Crossroads. Wherever that was. But in the end, Lance managed to calm Wanda down somewhat and had convinced her to wait and see if the messenger came back.

Two days later, Lady Paca did come back. But she wasn't alone.

End Part One