Hey, This is my first X-Men fan-fic. I havent read any comics so this is strickly following the 90's series. No specific setting really, everybody is there ('cept for Morph) im going to do my best to make sure that all of the X-Men that we love are shown frequently, rahter then it being my OC with a single X-Man. No promises though I too have my favorites. Well read and review, constructive critisism is welcome, so are suggestions, flames arent. Really though, who welcomes flames? Dont forget to review ^-^
Disclaimer: I do not own the X-Men yadda yadda, blah blah.
I cant find her, do you know where she is? I've searched for so long but I still cant find her. Is she with you? Have you seen her?
Serenity walked through the dark city streets, holding herself tightly as the cool winds blew through her. Alone, again I'm alone her thoughts whisper to her in the silence. She looked around in the surrounding darkness, Jubilee - the ever so silent thought trailed off as a soft hum escaped her lips. The airy light-hearted notes marched to the laboring-like beat of the melody, through alleys and past buildings to nearby roads and avenues. Somewhere blocks away the young X-girl stirred in her sleep as the whispers of Serenity's song played in her head.
An old man passed out on the steps of a dilapidated apartment complex, roused from his drunken slumber as Serenity moved past him. His eyes followed her as she went, unable to believe that such an angelic tune could be coming from this child.
"Go back to sleep," Serenity whispered, noticing the old man in his stupor "this song's not for you." With that the man laid his head back down and went to sleep.
Wolverine's eyes snapped open, Jubilee's sent weaseled its way under his door as she moved silently through the corridors.
"Jubilee?" he called opening the bedroom door, but the hall was empty. He sniffed the air following her sent through the mansion until he reached the front of the house.
"Logan?" said Jeans voice from behind him, he turned around to see Jean poking her head out from the kitchen.
"Jeanie, did ya see Jubilee pass through here?" he asked moving closer to the red head. He wasn't sure if it was her most recent scent, they do live in the same house together it could have just been an old scent wafting through the air.
"No, but I wasn't really paying to much attention." Wolverine looked into the kitchen and saw Scott getting out of his chair at the table, and moving towards his two teammates.
"I coulda' sworn I caught 'er sent a minute ago." Wolverine said scratching his bare chest.
"You think she left the mansion?" Scott asked.
"Dunno" Wolverine looked at the front door and back at Jean "Ya think ya coul-" She had already closed her eyes and was psychically searching the grounds for Jubilee. Jean furrowed her eyebrows in annoyance, then slowly opened her eyes.
"What is it?" Scott asked placing his hand on her shoulder.
"I-I don't know," she said rubbing her head "I can sense her but…it's strange I cant hear her thoughts, I think."
"Ya think? What's that mean?" Wolverine growled "Yer not sure if she's thinkin' ?" His eyes narrowed in confusion.
"I can see where she is but the voice in her head, I don't think its hers. Its like there is somebody else in her mind…singing to her."
"Singing?" Scotts asked.
"Well, where is she then?" Wolverine grumbled.
"Just outside the main gate, wait.." Jean closed her eyes again "there is somebody else out there with her…a girl." Wolverine growled louder and stalked towards the door.
"Jean go wake the other X-Men, and get them outside, we need to figure out what's going on." Scott turned and jogged out the door as Jean hurried to the dorms above.
"Jubilee" Serenity said as she came closer to her "C'mon lets go, we'll keep looking!"
"Huh what? What's going on? What are you doing here?" Jubilee said shaking her head. "How did I get out here?"
"Don't you remember? When we met earlier.. you said you wanted to come with me…and...help?"
"You-huh? Wait…wait, I remember something…" Jubilee shook her head as the memory burst to life.
Rouge, Strom, and Jubilee had to make yet another trip to the electronics store to replace various items accidentally destroyed by Jubilee's powers.
"I'm really sorry about this guys" Jubilee said as she let out a long pitiful sigh
"It's okay darlin' we don't mind" Rouge said giving her a reassuring smile.
"Ugh!" Jubilee moaned still upset with the lack of control she had on her powers "How is anybody ever going to trust me as an X-Man if I cant even turn the TV off without blowing it up!"
"Do not fret child, you will learn control one day." Storm chimed in as Jubilee crossed her arms and started to storm off to the music store, "Jubilee…" she added but Rogue put her hand up to stop the sympathetic X-woman.
"Let 'er go sugah, she just needs to cool down some" with that Rogue and Storm hurried away to the electronics.
"Stupid powers, stupid TV, stupid CD!" Jubilee mumbled as she dropped the CD in her hand onto the floor, before she could bend down to pick it up a young girl already had it in her hands and was holding out to Jubilee.
"Here ya' go." She said, her hair was a light red-brown color that fell a little past her shoulders, she was average height for a, 14? 15? year old girl. She had big, muddy brown eyes, and pale skin.
"Thanks" Jubilee grumbled.
"I'm Serenity," said the other girl
"Jubilee…"
"You seem to be having a bad day?" Serenity commented on the scowl on Jubilees face.
"Yea," she said a little defeated "you ever have one of those days where is feels like you just cant do anything right?" Serenity nodded.
"So you like music?" she asked looking around the store
"Ya!" Jubilee said more excitedly, eager to start a long squealing conversation on the latest boy bands, she held up the CD that she had just dropped and started babbling about the lead singer being "sooo cute." Serenity nodded along and laughed at the right moments. "So what kind of music do you listen too Serenity?" Jubilee asked after she had laughed when she told her that the drummer nearly died in a car accident. Clearly that wasn't a joke…?
"Oh well, I like more classical music…" Serenity blushed a little, not many teenagers like the orchestra or opera, but when that's all you can hear playing in your head you develop a fondness for it.
"Oh well, I should have guessed with a name like Serenity you probably grew up listening to fancy music huh?" Serenity blushed again "well I don't mean to say that you're a ritzy snob or anything, not that you are…wait…I..ugh, this just isn't coming out right…"
"That's ok, I know what you mean," Serenity cut in. "My parents weren't really rich, well I think they were at some point but not that I can remember. They use to love classical music, and orchestra, my mom would play it every night as she read to me. She even taught me to play the cello."
"Used to?" Jubilee prodded noticing the past tense.
"That was before my dad died, he got really sick…" Serenity hung her head,
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to pry.."
"That's ok, I don't mind talking about it, it's part of the reason im here." Jubilee gave her a puzzled look. "After my dad died my mom kind of clung to me, I was all she had left, and then one day she disappeared after… well she just disappeared"
"Disappeared? what do you mean?"
"I don't know, I was at school one day, it was three years ago, and when I got home she was gone….I waited for her but she never came home…and I have been looking for her ever since"
"Wow…" Jubilee muttered, "three years? I want to help!" her face suddenly lit up, this was just the thing Jubilee needed to lift her spirits, a mission.
"What?" Serenity asked, that was the first time anybody had ever offered to help her look for her mom before, most of the time they just told her how sorry they were for her, that was if she bothered to tell them her sad tale, which she rarely did…its not something that come up in normal conversation.
"I'll help you look for her! I can do it! Me and the X-…. me and my friends do this sort of thing all the time, find people, help people!" Serenity smiled,
"Okay!" she said enthusiastically, -maybe I wont be alone anymore- her thoughts whispered. "I'll come get you guys later then?"
"No," Jubilees eyes widened "no, no, just me. I mean….hey I'm no kid, me and you can handle this ourselves…we don't need them!" she said as she remembered that mornings attempts to get into the Danger Room.
"Sorry petite, maybe next time" Gambit said
"This aint' no place for kids." Wolverine growled slamming the door in her face.
"Jubilee?" Storms voice called.
"Gotta go Serenity, I'll see you later ok?" Jubilee said as she turned to run towards Storm and Rogue who were searching the store.
"Call me Ren!" Serenity called back, listening to the soft marching tune Jubilee left.
"What took ya' so long sugah?" Rogue asked.
"Sorry, I uh had headphones on…" Jubilee lied.
"Hey, did you hear it?" said a little girl, about 12 years old, as she passed, she had blonde hair and light green eyes
"Yea you were so right!" said her brunette friend "she came for me last night! The Lullaby came and nobody believes me!"
"I heard that Becky Reyner went out with it an-" the conversation trailed off as the women left the mall.
"The Lullaby?" Storm asked, the others shrugged and they continued on their way back to the mansion
"Ren!" Jubilee screeched "I remember now! We have to look for your mom! I didn't think you meant now though!" she looked around the dark lawn, "what time is it?"
"A little past two I think." Ren said offhandedly "now come on!" she reached out and grabbed her hand but Jubilee resisted.
"Wait, I know I said that I would help, but it's really late…I cant just leave." Jubilee looked a little scared.
"You said you wanted to help though" Ren cried, betrayed. They all leave… her whispering thoughts taunted why would she ever want to stay with you? You're a filthy mutant. They all go back.
"I know, but I didn't think you meant in the middle of the night, how did you find me?"
"I thought you were different, I thought you would stay." I was wrong.
"Well, maybe the professor can help?" Jubilee looked nervous, there was something about Ren that wasn't normal, not human anyway.
"No, nobody will help." Im alone again. Ren hung her head and turned to leave but walked right into something hard.
"Jubilee," it growled. What's talking? Ren thought, she shook her head and looked up, hovering above her was the shape of a short, hairy man. He was breathing heavily and three long metal knives? were shooting out of each hand.
"Oh.." Ren gasped, the mans eyes were wild, they scared her she jumped up to run but a taller man with a weird red visor grabbed her.
"Hold on," Cyclops said, Ren's lip quivered, she had trouble getting any note out.
"Jubilee, ya better start explainin'" Wolverine growled.
"Well…I uh…" Jubilee stammered, a lofty hum filled their ears, it was peaceful and serene.
"What's that?" Wolverine grumbled, the song was fading as Ren cowered in Scotts arms.
"It's coming from the girl." Jeans voice broke the confusion, she floated down in front followed by Rogue, Storm, and Gambit. To scared to do anything else Serenity concentrated and continued her song.
"That song…" Scott said
"Gambit tink he gunna' rest his eyes for a second…" he lowered his staff as Rogue and Storm landed on the ground and laid down.
"Sleeep" Ren whispered,
"What are ya' doin' to 'um?" Wolverine growled, he was resisting her. He sliced at Ren with his claws and she fell backwards barely dodging the razor sharp blades.
"Sleep!" she screeched starting the soft hum again.
"Noo" Wolverine protested throwing his hands over his ears "stay out of my head!" he lunged at Ren again but she easily side-stepped him, he was much slower now concentrating only on the melody in his head.
"Don't hurt her Wolverine!" Jean said, she was the only one other then Wolverine who seemed to be able to fight the hypnotic song. He ignored her, dead to anything but the thought of making the entrancing song go away.
"Listen to me Ren, we want to help you" Jeans voice rang in Ren's head, "let us- UGH!" she to was feeling the affects and was finding it hard to block the mind control.
"Jean!" Wolverine roared again as she fell to her knees overwhelmed by the sudden tiredness.
"Im fine Logan, I-," she yawned "I'm afraid that even with my telepathy I'm not strong enough to….resist…. That…beautiful…" Jean slumped the rest of the way to the floor and closed her eyes.
"Nooo!" Wolverine snarled glaring at Ren who had gotten to her feet and was starting to back away. She ran away as fast as she could, straight into the darkness.
Why do I always have to be alone? Alone in the dark…nobody loves me, nobody searches for me, never. Mommy where are you her thoughts torment her with images of mother as they whisper the one thing she will never speak aloud, will I ever find you? Are you even still alive?
Wolverines furious growls started to subside the farther Ren ran. The other X-Men slowly sat up dazed.
"Ugh, what 'appened mon amie?" Gambit asked rubbing the back of his neck.
"I do not know, I remember feeling so tired." Storm said helping Scott to his feet.
"Should we go aftah her?" Rogue asked.
"No.." Professor Xavier rolled out followed closely by Beast.
"Professor?" Jubilee questioned.
"Let her go,"
"We cant just let her roam around the city luring kids from their beds professor." Scott said.
"We wont, she's confused and scared, we need her to trust us and hunting her down wont help us gain her trust."
"This is all my fault" Jubilee groaned "I met her today in the mall, I didn't know she was a mutant."
"It's not your fault sugah" Rogue put her hand around Jubilees neck.
"But it is! She told me that she was looking for her mom, that she abandoned her. I wanted to help, I told her I would help, I just wanted to have my own mission."
"The poor child, she must be so lonely" Storm said.
"Storm, I want you and Rogue to follow her, we don't want her to manipulate anymore kids, I have heard rumors about a witch who kidnaps children for a night." Professor Xavier thought silently for a moment.
"Let me go with them professor!" Jubilee said.
"I don't know about that Jubilee" Scott warned.
"She's my friend!" Jubilee whined.
"She's right, Rogue take her with you, if you find her contact the mansion immediately." Storm leapt into the air and Rogue grabbed Jubilee who wrapped her arms around her neck.
"Woah!" she yelled.
"Hold on sugah!"
"Why Gambit get 'da feeling 'dat 'dis is gunna be a long night?" Gambit said as he walked back though the gates into the mansion.