Chapter One: A new world

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step"-Laozi

Nicole cursed. She cursed at anything and everything. Coppery sparks flew off of her body. This wasn't supposed to happen at all. She's stuck with a bookish Asian named Yi. When they got in their situation Nicole realize that Yi was a mutant like her. A psychic to boot. Nicole decided to chew her out for not doing more. A good hit from Yi made Nicole rethink of accusing her again. Yi told her that the mutant that did this must have a good psychic shield to prevent her from reading his mind.

But Nicole didn't run away to be stuck here in these woods. She wanted to go to Xavier's School for the Gifted. Something told her to go there and she'll be safe. Sure, she wasn't gifted or as talented like her older sisters, Dani or Vivi. Or even crazy awesome as her older brother Constantine. Her true talent lies with sports and now being a mutant. Though her talent as a mutant is rather lackluster at the moment.

Right now, they need a plan to return home. Yet making plans wasn't her strength. Nicole does better by playing by ear or thinking on her feet. She can follow gameplay but at times one must change it if another team works around it. Her only hope is Yi.

"Yi," she turned to the Asian. "You're a fucking Asian, think of something."

Yi, Eun-Kyung, closed her book. While Nicole cursed at the heavens, she was trying to figure out where they were. The mutant who pushed them in had the ability to create portals but what kind. He might've sent them to another part of the U.S. but it might be the Balkans or the Caucasus region judging by the forest. But the time doesn't match and it doesn't feel right. Worse if he sent them into another universe. Eun-Kyung knew of parallel universes and some mutants are able to travel to another. It won't be good if they are stuck in another universe. Or a different dimension that plays on different rules.

"What do you think I'm doing?" she asked Nicole. "This isn't a simple answer since I don't know where we are."

"No shit," Nicole responded. "Fucking Sherlock."

Eun-Kyung chewed on her tongue before biting her thumb. The situation is delicate. Not because they don't know where they are but it appears that Nicole gained her mutant powers recently. It didn't bode well with her because of that.

"What now fucking genius," Nicole crossed her arms.

"What makes you think I've got all the answers," Eun-Kyung responded. "I'm Korean but I don't have all the answers."

"That's fucking great. We can't wait here."

Eun-Kyung agreed. Waiting was bad enough but having an untrained mutant was worse. They need to find some civilization to know where they are. Eun-Kyung hoped that they were somewhere on Earth even if they were in a different time. But something told her that wasn't a case. Something told her that they weren't in New York anymore. That does unnerve her to no end.

"Let's go that way," Nicole pointed true north.

This broke her focus and was curious about Nicole's decision. With no other options, she agreed to follow. Both girls picked up their bags and headed in that direction. For the moment it was a good idea to figure out where they were. They can see if they can get help from somebody Eun-Kyung knew. Even if it meant ringing up the Avengers. That's if they were in their timeline of Earth. If they weren't in their universe or timeline than Eun-Kyung was the one to train Nicole.

While Eun-Kyung thought about this Nicole was talking about herself and why she was at New Salem. When she mentioned Xavier's School for the Gift that took her out of her thought process. Eun-Kyung informed her that the school was a safe haven for people like them. Mutants were trained to use their powers and do great things with them. She often visits when she's on break. And the X-Men were the first class at the school.

"Bitchin," Nicole smiled as she heard the news. "I always had a feeling about that."

Nicole told Eun-Kyung that she always wanted to join. Since the first time she saw them on T.V., she knew she wanted to join. She thought that they were better somehow. Less exclusive than the Avengers. Filled with mutants like them. A bunch of outcasts that bonded over it.

"You need to train," Eun-Kyung pointed out. "And you might be on another team for a while or place you on a brand-new team."

Nicole huffed and blew a kinky look out of her face. She didn't want to be on another team. The X-Men would be her team. They will see the value she had. They must see it. Oh, she will train until she passes out. Nicole would develop her powers to the point they have to ask her to join. The young mutant began to daydream about being the X-Men. This let Eun-Kyung think of ways to get back home with the non-existence information.

They walked for some time before they heard something. It sounded like a struggle of some kind. Nicole bolted to the spot in thinking and hoping she'll be a hero. She wanted to get those brownie points and get a spot with the X-Men. Eun-Kyung sighed and have a mental facepalm moment. The idiot didn't know what was happening and might get herself killed.

"What the fuck is going on?!" Nicole demanded with sparks flying from her hands.

"It has nothing to do with you bitch," one man said.

It was a gang of five men surrounded a lone man and his cart. The well-armed men were ready for an easy payday from this man. But fighting a little weak girl would be easy as well. They might have some fun with her before killing her. The leader would, of course, get first dibs on the girl's body. All of them smiled wickedly at the thought. It didn't matter that the girl appeared to be mixed blood. They will enjoy pleasuring themselves to her body.

Nicole lunged at the guy at full speed and sparks flying off of her. She landed a good punch with the added bonus of her powers. This did cause her nearly lose her head since he didn't drop his short sword. Eun-Kyung forcefully removed the guy's short sword with her telekinesis.

He and his group stunned at the action which left him open for another punch. Nicole hit hard at his gut and sparks from her hands caused his diaphragm to spaz out for several moments. The leader found himself unable to breathe and took several steps back. Nicole threw several more punches before he fell down with his body convulsing hard. The whole scene made his gang stupid and slow.

Nicole elbow another guy in the ribs hard. She didn't realize that her powers were going wild and causing more damage. The guy she hit stumble for a bit and made an attempt to back off. He knew this girl wasn't trained but it wasn't a good idea to continue. An untrained fighter was more dangerous than a trained one.

He made a motion to the others to get away. One of the underlines grabbed the leader and fled with the gang fled. Eun-Kyung stopped Nicole from giving chase since it was useless. It was better to call it quits when the enemy is fleeing. The enemy might have back up and fight back.

"Thank the Valar," the man exclaimed as he got off his cart. "I should have known better. If my wife had a bad feeling about something I should listen to."

"Excuse you?" Nicole snapped out of her anger to looked at him.

"I hired those men to be my guards for this trip. But they demanded more and more and did less and less. But would they come back? Please, would you protect me? I'm sure the Valar had sent you to protect me."

Eun-Kyung never heard of the Valar pantheon. She didn't know who they were. Her fears that they weren't on Earth only increase. The stress of trying to find a way back home and training a new mutant won't be easy for her. But if the Valar pantheon was like that of the Viking or Greek pantheon there might be a good chance of going home.

"Who the fu…?"

"Sorry for my poor manners," the man said. "I'm Ezar son of Enki. May I ask your names?"

Without much second thought, Nicole gave her name as Cole Delacroix. Eun-Kyung thought she heard right. Delacroix? Was she one of the Delacroix siblings? She gave a mental sigh at the thought of dealing with another Delacroix. Nicole didn't give her family name to her and didn't mention any siblings. Though this could be a random pick from her.

Though it was a good idea not to use their birth names. Eun-Kyung was pleased that Nicole picked a different but similar given name. Now Ezar looked at her for a name. She used one of many allies she used over the years.

"I am Park Ji-Min."

A/N: I'm redoing this story from the beginning and giving it a facelift. But I would still like to hear some feedback. And I will be changing a few things. Such as this is going to be set six years before the events of Lord of the Rings. But Please R&R