The Very Magical Disclaimer- NEWS FLASH: I don't own X-Men! I know this may come as a surprise to you but I don't! Lol!
Summary- In a Medieval reality, our heroes are scattered across the Kingdom of Xodus living relatively normal lives until a prophesy draws them all together to the same destiny.
Genre: Fantasy, although there is romance galore! Rogue/Gambit, Logan/Storm, Jean/Scott. It's just that falling in love is NOT the point of this fanfic, so I guess it's more fantasy than romance. It starts out rather mushily though.
Rating- PG-13 minor violence, mild, non-explicit sex, and a little language. Nothing too bad at all.
Author's Note: I'm not a huge X-Men fan, mostly because I've never gotten around to reading the comics. I enjoyed the movie ::gets flogged by the purists:: and have practically memorized the Ultimate X-Men guide published by DK that my brother owns. Also, I made sure to read other fanfics first to get a better idea of people's personalities. I think I did a pretty good job and considering this IS an otherworld fanfic, you can't flog me for too much. I just had this really great idea so sue me! Remember! I live off of feedback **HINT HINT**
Finally, without further ado:

The Fifth Oracle

--One: Beginning of a Legend--

Unblinking, the Lady Grey stepped into the candle-lit room of the oracle. The room was dome-shaped made of carved wood, accented with gold and silver lacquer. A dozen candles -twelve being the holy tempest number, surrounded the oracle, who sat, snow hair falling behind her dark shoulders, in a seeming trance on a crimson pillow of satin. She wore the silver robe of the storms, long and loose about her body, flowing like her hair as both hair and garment blew in an unseen wind. She was the storm, the one who could communicate with Lightena, the goddess of tempests. Only the oracle could bring the goddess' wishes to light and save them all. But the Lady Grey did not always know her as the Oracle of Storms; she knew the oracle once had a name, a life, a home, and friends.

"Jean," the oracle whispered.

"Hello Ororo," Lady Jean said happy to see her old friend once again. Since Ororo had become the Oracle of Storms and protector of the city of Tempest, she had not set foot into the outside world. Ororo's power of storms made the people of the kingdom believe that she had the power of communication with Tempest's patron goddess, Lightena, and therefore, she imprisoned in this tiny building so that she could concentrate on her communication with the goddess.

"Jean, how is the world outside? What has gone on?" Ororo's emotion burst forth from her trance. Oracle or not, the lack of human contact killed her inside and she longed to hear of the world she once walked freely.

"The King continues to age and there's more and more talk of whom his successor will be," Jean sighed, "although there is little doubt as to whom King Charles will choose." There was obvious sorrow and fear in her voice.

"You do not wish Scott to be King?"

"Oh! It's not that at all," Jean said quickly, "If it will make him happy, then that's what I want for him but...but..."

"You do not wish to rule, is that it?" Ororo asked knowingly.

"But what can I do? I cannot leave Scott, but I cannot be confined to a palace! I cannot take the responsibility of an entire kingdom on my shoulders!"

"You would be a wonderful Queen," the oracle assured her, "You have the sight."

Jean sighed at the mention of the gift which she was born with. It was a gift of sight into the minds of others. It was a powerful gift that could be useful in diplomacy.

"But I don't want to be Queen!"

"Don't worry, Jean, I'm sure things will all work out for the better. And besides, Goddess willing, his majesty has many more years before either you or Scott have to start worrying."

Jean nodded and hung her head, wishing she wouldn't have to worry about it ever.

"What do the families of the houses of Phoenix and Cyclops have to say about the soon-to-come union of their heirs?" Ororo tried to change the subject to happier shadows in the tangled life of the heir of the House of Phoenix, Lady Jean Grey. Ever since she was young, she had been madly in love with the heir of the Lord of the house of Cyclops, Scott Summers. As if a fairy tale come true, he had fallen for her just as hard.

"We are still not officially engaged," Jean sighed, "His parents...the Lord and Lady of Cyclops want to wait until..." she sniffed and tried to regain control, "his coronation."

"Confident, aren't they?"

"I wish they weren't."

"At least they approve of the union. Aristocracies can be so picky about their children. When Young Lady Rogue of the House of Miracles fell for that common thief...oh I can't remember his name!"

"I don't think his name was ever brought to the open. The Lord and Lady did not wish to shame their house any more. Yet, I still don't see the shame of being in love. Had Scott been a thief, he would still be Scott, would he not?"

Ororo nodded her head, "They do not understand, do they? Speaking of which, how has young Rogue faired lately?"

"Worse than ever. The touch is strong with her, and it kills her inside."

Ororo shook her head with sorrow. Out of all the magic charms to be born with, the touch was by far the worst. One with the touch would suck the essence of whomever their skin came in contact with.

Jean continued, "It is even worse now. As you know, five of the five cities of Xodus have their sovereign oracles to speak with the gods and goddesses. There is the Oracle of Time, the Oracle of Beasts, the Oracle of Light and you, the Oracle of Storms. For a while, in fact, not since the prophecy made long ago, there has been no fifth oracle. The oracle of change. Surely you know the legend."

Ororo had heard it more times than she wished.

Long ago, when the Kingdom of Xodus was created, it was full of danger. There was the constant struggle of two: the commons and those born different. There could be no peace until the five oracles came. The oracles brought the X. No one was quite sure what X was exactly, but they were pretty sure that it was a group of warriors whom set everything right. Soon, after, four of the oracles were destroyed, but the fifth lived on, to give the final prophesy for eons. She had been beautiful, auburn-haired, green eyed, and extremely intelligent. Her last words of prophecy were as follows:

THE X WILL RETURN TO STOP THE DARK ONE. THEY THINK THEY KNOW THEMSELVES, BUT NEVER WILL UNTIL THEY ARE TOGETHER. WILL WE KNOW. WHEN THE FIFTH IS DISCOVERED, DISASTER AND LIGHT WILL CLASH IN A FIREY FLAME OF X.

With those words, the fifth died and with that began a new era. An era of piece and prosperity. But this was not to last. The Dark One was coming...his presence being felt more and more every day with the increasing tension between the commons and those born different. The X's would soon resurface. That is why for years now; the position of the stars on the birth of every girl had been examined. To find the four oracles who would start the battle again, to find the catalyst who would initiate the change: the fifth oracle.
Ororo stammered, "They don't think Lady Rogue is the..."

Jean nodded solemnly.

"But she can't be! She'd destroy herself in the process. She's lived in the outside world for too long and is too independent to be confined to a single room," Ororo burst out. That is what they had done to her too, caught her too late when her claustrophobia had developed. She had gone through hell getting used to her new surroundings, finding her only safety when she went into a trance to find an answer from the goddess.

"But it's so dangerous! We don't know what will happen if the fifth oracle is returned to her temple!"

Jean nodded sadly. She was just as worried about Rogue as Ororo.

"Where is Rogue now?" the oracle asked returning to her usual calm self.

Jean sighed, "Where do you think she'd go?"

"You don't mean..."

"Yes, she ran."

****

A rooster crowed in the distance, awaking the man with the morning sun, copper hair covering his eyes. He blinked and then panicked momentarily as his body was bumped upward and then landed back in the pile of straw he had been sleeping in. It only took him a moment to realize that the cart of straw, which he had chosen as his bed for the night, was moving. Probably being driven by some poor drunken farmer who didn't note the prescience of the man. No matter. The man sat up, facing the back of the cart and noticed immediately that the sun was behind him. His crimson eyes twinkled in delight.

"Luck be wit' de Gambit thief aujourd'hui, non?" he laughed. The cart was heading east, just the way he needed to go. Judging by the road, it would only be a few more hours until they reached the City of Miracles.

He was known as The Gambit Thief, as charming and mysterious as he was dangerous. Often, he bragged of having the ability to rob any duke or pompous lord not only of their wealth, but their lady as well! And quite possibly, he wasn't exaggerating. Muscular, trim and skilled, the Gambit Thief was no man to mess with. At a young age, he had been adopted by a master thief and raised in the art of trickery. Since then, he had traveled around, been a nowhere man, stole whatever he pleased, and rather enjoyed it. There were many women he had called ma chère, and then left them in their beds, lonely, in the morning. But something had changed in him, and drew him to the east. Now, he was making his way to what he hoped was his destiny.

He leaned back in the straw, placing his hands behind his head and closing his eyes, enjoying the warm caress of the sunlight on his face and stomach. It was not far to the City of Miracles. It was not far until he saw her again.

***

He waited in the shadow for news of the outside world. Known only as The Dark One, his plans to restore the once unbearable chaos to Xodus. Slowly, a figure with flowing white hair strolled into his underground chamber. He grinned as she melted into blue, glistening flesh and then stood up again, a beautiful woman with glistening sapphire skin.

"Tell me, Mystique," said the Dark One. It was not a request, "Tell me everything."

***

A handsome black stallion being rode by an even more handsome young man overtook Lady Jean Grey's chestnut mare.

"Scott!" she said with surprise.

"Jean! Where have you been? You simply vanished this morning!"

"I was visiting Ororo," she explained.

"Tell me about it," he requested.

"Soon. Come riding with me first!"

"But it's nearly noon time, and our parents will expect us home!"

"Scott! You talk of being the next king and then worry about returning home for midday meal! You're not a child anymore! I'm not a child any more!"

He pensive smile crossed his lips.

"Come!" urged Lady Jean, "Ride with me to the pond we used to play in when we were children!"

"But we are supposed to dine with the king himself!"

"He'll understand! Please Scott! I have not spent time alone with you since there was all this talk of you being King Charles' successor. I miss you Scott," she pleaded.

"Well..."

Jean winked, "We could always go for swimming."

Scott smiled.

"I'll race you!" she said in a burst of girlish laughter and started her mare, Tigue, up at a full gallop.

Scott started up after her, grinning with mirth. His horse, Star slash, was one of the fastest in the land, and he prided himself on being one of the finest horsemen in the country. He was determined to win. However, most women did not ride as well as Lady Jean Grey. They darted off in the distance, giggling like school children and playfully hurling insults at each other.

"Can't you ride any faster than that, one eye?!" Jean called back at Scott as she reached the small grassy knoll above Midsummer Pond, a treasured place for the both of them, as it was the place they had met at the age of six.

Scott grinned at her, and playfully pushed Jean. She used the momentum he gave her, and exaggerated it, purposely falling off her horse. In midair, she grabbed his hand and dragged him down with her. Giggling they rolled together down the knoll and fell into the pond with a splash so large the horses reared with shock as they were showered, and with fear for their masters. But the happy couple surfaced, entangled in each other's arms as they made their way to the bank of the pond. Scott pulled them both up and they lay there on the bank for a moment catching their breath. He sat up and leaned over her. She blinked at him with her alluring emerald eyes.

"You're all wet," he whispered.

"So are you. We can't possibly dine at the king's court in sopping wet clothes."

"I guess we're just going to have to hang them up to dry then."

Jean leaned up and answered him with a kiss. The couple fell into each other's arms, embracing.

***

"Ah can't let them find me now," Lady Rogue thought as she rode her white stallion, Sugah, toward the royal palace. She needed help, desperately, and there was only one person whom she felt could help her now, the captain of the royal guard. Though it may seem his duty to turn her in, Rogue knew him better then that. Or at least she hoped she did.

It was the heir of the House of Miracle's second time away from their estate, and she was terrified out of her wits. What if she were to be robbed? The first time she had left home to spend a day in the market place, she had been attacked by a thief. He had robbed her of something more important then her money or jewelry. He had stolen her heart away.

***

The couple lay together on the bank, enjoying the heat of the sun and each other. It was a beautiful afternoon with azure skies and just a few pillow-soft clouds that did not threaten to rain. The pond was secluding and calm, a secret spot known only to a select few. Jean wished they could lay there forever.

Scott kissed her neck, "We really should go."

She sighed, "I guess we can't keep the king waiting much longer."

"It's been bad enough keeping him waiting this long, not that I can say I regret it." Scott began to rise but then lay down again and looked into Jean's eyes. "Jean," he whispered her name.

"Yes?"

"Promise me that you'll never leave me."

"I've promised you that many times, Scott."

"Promise me again."

"Alright then, I promise you for now and always."

"Even if you don't wish to be queen?" he asked.

Jean sighed. Her sight should have told her what brought on his sudden question.

*Scott* she used the sight to whisper words in his head *I love you and that's all that matters whether I wish to rule or not. I love you Scott, and I'll follow you anywhere you wish to go*

Scott smiled and extended a hand to help her stand. They dressed and mounted their horses, making their way to the king's court for the noontime meal they were already late for.

***

What may seem a serene day even now had the overtones of desperation. Ororo's fear, Jean's dreaded thoughts of her future as queen, Rogue's desperate escape all laced serenity and new beginnings with fear. But the most terrible of all was the Dark One, waiting and waiting. Whom did he seek? How did he wish to restore the chaos? All in time, this would be revealed with the occurrence of a single happening: the return of the fifth oracle.