Chapter 1

Ororo Munroe floated serenely above the grounds of Xavier's School for the Gifted in Salem Center, New York. She sighed as the wind whipped her flowing white lock about her face. Smiling to herself she closed her eyes and raised her face to the sun letting it warm her cheeks. This was one of her favorite past times; simply gliding around the institute feeling the atmospheric changes and the air currents around her. She had been at it for nearly an hour yet could not return to the earth…not just yet.

"One more time around the grounds," she told herself and began to glide back towards the main gate. She allowed herself to dip low enough to the great ornate fountain in the driveway and the water splashed over her bare feet. She prepared to head east around the mansion when something caught her attention. Something was out of place. The air currents that were moving across the lawn were distorted and she could see no cause for it. As quick as lightning she pressed her com link.

"Intruder alert!" she bellowed. "Intruders on the-", she was cut off because suddenly her world turned on end. She looked up to see the ground rushing towards her and she grunted as she slammed into the soft earth. Ororo blinked away the lights in her eyes and struggled to regain the wind that was knocked from her. She looked around but still saw no one.

"Who is there? Show yourselves!" Storm demanded rising to her feet. Her eyes had already frosted over in a cloudy white haze. Then a man appeared about twenty yards away. He was dressed in old English attire, complete with pantaloons, a ruffled shirt and crushed velvet vest. His hands were folded politely behind him and his barrel chest was large and proud. "Shaw!" Storm spat angrily. Still she did not move or strike. Obviously some sort of illusion was in play here which explain her graceful landing. Reagan Wyngard was the first person that came to her mind, so she opted to bide her time till reinforcements arrived…which she hoped would be soon.

"Hello Ms. Munroe," Sebastian Shaw drawled. He smirked at her with obvious contempt. "Beautiful day isn't it?"

"Why are you here Shaw?" Storm demanded once more rising to her full height. She continued to read the air currents to asses her situation. There were at least two others there, shrouded in illusion.

"Just came to say hello and-" before Shaw could finish his sentence a loud 'Bamf!' sounded behind him. Kurt Wagner materialized in a cloud of swirling brimstone and kicked a three-toed foot at seeming empty space. Storm heard a woman grunt then saw Lady Mastermind appear and collapse onto the lawn beside Kurt. A large man also appeared behind him.

"Look out Kurt!" Storm yelled but she was too late Donald Pierce struck Nightcrawler with a bone-crushing punch and sent him reeling. Storm struck the ground near pierce with a bolt of lightning and took to the sky again. She tried to reach Nightcrawler but Shaw was faster. He grabbed the unconscious mutant around the head and Storm stopped her advance.

"Do not move or I will pop his head like a pomegranate," he threatened. Pierce smiled wickedly from behind Shaw and looked down at Wyngard unsympathetically. A roar sounded as Hank McCoy came bounding across the lawn towards them but he stopped short when he saw that Nightcrawler was down. "Too bad for you only three of you stayed home, but perfect for us. While I am here I may as well take one of you out for good," Shaw said lifting Kurt off of the ground.

"No!" Storm screamed but there was another 'bamf!' and Nightcrawler vanished leaving Shaw chocking on brimstone. Before the smoke even began to clear Beast had launched himself at Shaw. He landed on Black King's shoulders and flipped him backwards at Pierce. Pierce dodged the human projectile and prepared to attack Hank, but a bolt of lightning struck his cybernetic arm and he wailed in pain.

"You witch!" He screamed up at Storm. She ignored him and soared over to Shaw who had picked himself up and was dusting himself off nonchalantly. He regarded her as a person may look at a bug. As Nightcrawler reappeared next to Hank the three of them looked at their three unwelcome guests expectantly. Storm's eyes flashed and her body sizzled with electrical energy. Shaw's powers may allow him to absorb physical attacks, but she doubted he could withstand a direct hit from a bolt of lightning. Still Shaw remained motionless and aloof. Fed up, Storm summoned a barrage of forked lighting at the trio. A light flashed brighter than lightning and when their eyes had refocused Beast, Storm and Nightcrawler saw that their enemies had vanished.

Author's Notes

This is my first time doing fan fiction so bear with me. These events take place before the events of Decimation.