AUTHOR'S NOTE: To Tyriel: The "Grim Reaper" horseman is a "generic Death"
rather than a specific Horseman from the comics. (Since it's an Alternate
Universe, I believe that it's possible.)
11. THE WOOD OF THE WEATHER WITCH.
{The Fellowship are still seated dejectedly outside the East Gate of the Mines of Muiria. Scott at last rises to his feet.}
SCOTT: We cannot stay here. By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Morlocks. We must reach the Silver Wood. On your feet, all of you.
{The others arise, although Kurt is last, still weeping for the Professor. Scott nudges him, and he finally gets up. They head off towards the woods in the distance.
Soon they are walking beneath the eaves of the Silver Wood. Wolverine looks about him cautiously.}
WOLVERINE: Stay close, all of you! They say that there's a weather witch who lives in these woods.
STORM (v.o.): Kurt.
{Kurt looks around in alarm.}
WOLVERINE: And those who enter them are never seen again.
STORM (v.o.): Your coming to us is as the footsteps of doom. You bring great evil here, Ringbearer!
{Kurt is turning his head about in all directions, trying to figure out who is speaking to him.}
KITTY: Kurt?
WOLVERINE: Well, here's one mutant whom she won't ensnare so easily! I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!
{A group of men with bows and spears (the tribesmen from "African Storm") emerge from the trees, surrounding the Fellowship.}
WOLVERINE: Oh.
SCOTT (to the tribesmen): We come here for help. We need your protection.
FIRST TRIBESMAN: We will take you to the Lady of the Wood. She is waiting for you.
{The tribesmen escort the Fellowship into a forest clearing, where Storm is seated upon a simple but beautifully carved wooden throne, and present them to her. Storm looks over them and speaks.}
STORM: There are eight here, yet nine set out from the Institute. Tell me, where is Professor Xavier? For I much desire to speak with him.
SCOTT: The Professor has fallen into shadow.
STORM (after a troubled silence): The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the company is true.
{She looks closely at each member of the Fellowship in turn. Duncan looks uneasy under her gaze.}
STORM: Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest, for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight you will sleep in peace.
{She turns back to Kurt and speaks to him silently, in a voice that only he can hear.}
STORM: Welcome, Kurt of Bayville. One who has seen the Eyes!
{The Fellowship rest in another clearing, prepared for guests. In the distance, many of Storm's people are singing laments for Professor Xavier. While the younger mutants listen to them sadly, Scott walks over to an ill- at-ease Duncan.}
SCOTT: Take some rest. These borders are well protected.
DUNCAN: I will find no rest here. I heard her voice in my head. She spoke of my father and the fall of Claremont. She said to me even now there is hope left. But I cannot see it. It is long since we had hope. My father is a noble man, but his rule is failing. And now our people lose faith. He looks to me to make things right and I would do it. I would see the glory of Claremont restored.
{He looks as though he is about to say something more, then falls silent, though looking still uncomfortable.
The Fellowship fall asleep, one by one. Later, Storm enters the clearing. Kurt awakens and follows her to her garden. Storm walks over to a marble basin and produces a small rain cloud, which fills the basin with water.}
STORM (to Kurt): Will you look into the Mirror?
KURT: Vhat vill I see?
STORM: Even the wisest cannot tell. For the Mirror shows many things. Things that were, things that are, and some things that have not yet come to pass.
{Kurt looks into the Mirror. For a moment, he sees his own reflection, but then the images in the water change. Now he sees Bayville, looking the same way that it had done before he left it. Even as he watches, however, the scene changes again. Now the town is being set ablaze by Apocalypse's soldiers, with the locals, both humans and mutants, fleeing in terror, but to no avail. Apocalypse's forces round them up and clap them in chains, fitting the mutants among them such as Tabitha, Amara, Jamie, etc., with power-dampening collars, and lead them away. Behind them Bayville lies in ruins, surrounded by a desolate wasteland.
Kurt stares in horror at the sight, especially after seeing Amanda among the dejected slaves, being pushed along by Apocalypse's soldiers in a brutal fashion. Then the scene darkens and the eyes of Apocalypse appear, drawing ever closer as though they sense Kurt and the Ring. Kurt cries out in terror and jumps away from the Mirror.}
STORM: I know what it is you saw, for it is also in my mind. It is what will come to pass if you fail. The Fellowship is breaking. It has already begun. He will try to take the Ring. You know of whom I speak. One by one it will destroy them all.
KURT: If you ask it of me, I vill give you the One Ring.
{He holds it out to her.}
STORM: You offer it to me freely. I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired this. In place of a Dark Lord, you will have a queen! Not dark but beautiful and terrible as the dawn! Treacherous as the sea! Stronger than the foundations of the earth! All will love me and despair!
{Kurt steps back in alarm and awe as Storm rises above the ground, a strong wind rising about her. Overhead, the sky clouds over and a tremendous thunderclap booms. Storm's eyes glow white, without any pupils to be seen in them. Then she dissipates the thunderclouds and returns to the ground, her eyes back to normal.}
STORM: I pass the test. I will remain Storm.
KURT: I cannot do this alone.
STORM: You are a Ringbearer, Kurt. To bear a Ring of Power is to be alone. This task was appointed to you and if you do not find a way, no one will.
KURT: Then I know what to do. It's just - I'm afraid to do it.
{Storm bends down to look him in the eye.}
STORM: Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.
{In Magneto's castle, Magneto stands before Sabretooth in his throne room. Behind Sabretooth are a host of other mutants, his Acolytes, all bearing Magneto's badge upon their uniforms.}
MAGNETO (to Sabretooth): Whom do you serve?
SABRETOOTH: You, master.
{Magneto conjures up an image - a la "Speed and Spyke" - of the eight remaining members of the Fellowship, giving special prominence to Kurt and his three companions from Bayville. He holds it out before the Acolytes.}
MAGNETO: Hunt them down. Do not stop until they are found. You do not know pain. You do not know fear.
{He indicates the four young mutants from Bayville.}
MAGNETO: One of these four carries something of great value. Bring them to me alive and unspoiled. Kill the others!
{Sabretooth leads the Acolytes as they charge out through the gates of Magneto's castle, the hunt begun.
On the river near the Silver Wood, the Fellowship are boarding three small boats. Kurt, Kitty, and Scott are in the first one, Duncan, Bobby, and Evan in the second, and Warren and Logan in the third. Storm's people are loading them with supplies.}
TRIBESMAN: Take these wafer-cakes with you for food. One small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man.
{Bobby and Evan nod with much interest.}
BOBBY (to Evan): How many did you eat?
EVAN (looking very full): Four.
{Storm gives Kurt a small glass phial.}
STORM: Farewell, Kurt Wagner. May this be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out.
{Waving farewell, the Fellowship row down the river, leaving the Silver Wood behind them.}
11. THE WOOD OF THE WEATHER WITCH.
{The Fellowship are still seated dejectedly outside the East Gate of the Mines of Muiria. Scott at last rises to his feet.}
SCOTT: We cannot stay here. By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Morlocks. We must reach the Silver Wood. On your feet, all of you.
{The others arise, although Kurt is last, still weeping for the Professor. Scott nudges him, and he finally gets up. They head off towards the woods in the distance.
Soon they are walking beneath the eaves of the Silver Wood. Wolverine looks about him cautiously.}
WOLVERINE: Stay close, all of you! They say that there's a weather witch who lives in these woods.
STORM (v.o.): Kurt.
{Kurt looks around in alarm.}
WOLVERINE: And those who enter them are never seen again.
STORM (v.o.): Your coming to us is as the footsteps of doom. You bring great evil here, Ringbearer!
{Kurt is turning his head about in all directions, trying to figure out who is speaking to him.}
KITTY: Kurt?
WOLVERINE: Well, here's one mutant whom she won't ensnare so easily! I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!
{A group of men with bows and spears (the tribesmen from "African Storm") emerge from the trees, surrounding the Fellowship.}
WOLVERINE: Oh.
SCOTT (to the tribesmen): We come here for help. We need your protection.
FIRST TRIBESMAN: We will take you to the Lady of the Wood. She is waiting for you.
{The tribesmen escort the Fellowship into a forest clearing, where Storm is seated upon a simple but beautifully carved wooden throne, and present them to her. Storm looks over them and speaks.}
STORM: There are eight here, yet nine set out from the Institute. Tell me, where is Professor Xavier? For I much desire to speak with him.
SCOTT: The Professor has fallen into shadow.
STORM (after a troubled silence): The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the company is true.
{She looks closely at each member of the Fellowship in turn. Duncan looks uneasy under her gaze.}
STORM: Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest, for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight you will sleep in peace.
{She turns back to Kurt and speaks to him silently, in a voice that only he can hear.}
STORM: Welcome, Kurt of Bayville. One who has seen the Eyes!
{The Fellowship rest in another clearing, prepared for guests. In the distance, many of Storm's people are singing laments for Professor Xavier. While the younger mutants listen to them sadly, Scott walks over to an ill- at-ease Duncan.}
SCOTT: Take some rest. These borders are well protected.
DUNCAN: I will find no rest here. I heard her voice in my head. She spoke of my father and the fall of Claremont. She said to me even now there is hope left. But I cannot see it. It is long since we had hope. My father is a noble man, but his rule is failing. And now our people lose faith. He looks to me to make things right and I would do it. I would see the glory of Claremont restored.
{He looks as though he is about to say something more, then falls silent, though looking still uncomfortable.
The Fellowship fall asleep, one by one. Later, Storm enters the clearing. Kurt awakens and follows her to her garden. Storm walks over to a marble basin and produces a small rain cloud, which fills the basin with water.}
STORM (to Kurt): Will you look into the Mirror?
KURT: Vhat vill I see?
STORM: Even the wisest cannot tell. For the Mirror shows many things. Things that were, things that are, and some things that have not yet come to pass.
{Kurt looks into the Mirror. For a moment, he sees his own reflection, but then the images in the water change. Now he sees Bayville, looking the same way that it had done before he left it. Even as he watches, however, the scene changes again. Now the town is being set ablaze by Apocalypse's soldiers, with the locals, both humans and mutants, fleeing in terror, but to no avail. Apocalypse's forces round them up and clap them in chains, fitting the mutants among them such as Tabitha, Amara, Jamie, etc., with power-dampening collars, and lead them away. Behind them Bayville lies in ruins, surrounded by a desolate wasteland.
Kurt stares in horror at the sight, especially after seeing Amanda among the dejected slaves, being pushed along by Apocalypse's soldiers in a brutal fashion. Then the scene darkens and the eyes of Apocalypse appear, drawing ever closer as though they sense Kurt and the Ring. Kurt cries out in terror and jumps away from the Mirror.}
STORM: I know what it is you saw, for it is also in my mind. It is what will come to pass if you fail. The Fellowship is breaking. It has already begun. He will try to take the Ring. You know of whom I speak. One by one it will destroy them all.
KURT: If you ask it of me, I vill give you the One Ring.
{He holds it out to her.}
STORM: You offer it to me freely. I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired this. In place of a Dark Lord, you will have a queen! Not dark but beautiful and terrible as the dawn! Treacherous as the sea! Stronger than the foundations of the earth! All will love me and despair!
{Kurt steps back in alarm and awe as Storm rises above the ground, a strong wind rising about her. Overhead, the sky clouds over and a tremendous thunderclap booms. Storm's eyes glow white, without any pupils to be seen in them. Then she dissipates the thunderclouds and returns to the ground, her eyes back to normal.}
STORM: I pass the test. I will remain Storm.
KURT: I cannot do this alone.
STORM: You are a Ringbearer, Kurt. To bear a Ring of Power is to be alone. This task was appointed to you and if you do not find a way, no one will.
KURT: Then I know what to do. It's just - I'm afraid to do it.
{Storm bends down to look him in the eye.}
STORM: Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.
{In Magneto's castle, Magneto stands before Sabretooth in his throne room. Behind Sabretooth are a host of other mutants, his Acolytes, all bearing Magneto's badge upon their uniforms.}
MAGNETO (to Sabretooth): Whom do you serve?
SABRETOOTH: You, master.
{Magneto conjures up an image - a la "Speed and Spyke" - of the eight remaining members of the Fellowship, giving special prominence to Kurt and his three companions from Bayville. He holds it out before the Acolytes.}
MAGNETO: Hunt them down. Do not stop until they are found. You do not know pain. You do not know fear.
{He indicates the four young mutants from Bayville.}
MAGNETO: One of these four carries something of great value. Bring them to me alive and unspoiled. Kill the others!
{Sabretooth leads the Acolytes as they charge out through the gates of Magneto's castle, the hunt begun.
On the river near the Silver Wood, the Fellowship are boarding three small boats. Kurt, Kitty, and Scott are in the first one, Duncan, Bobby, and Evan in the second, and Warren and Logan in the third. Storm's people are loading them with supplies.}
TRIBESMAN: Take these wafer-cakes with you for food. One small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man.
{Bobby and Evan nod with much interest.}
BOBBY (to Evan): How many did you eat?
EVAN (looking very full): Four.
{Storm gives Kurt a small glass phial.}
STORM: Farewell, Kurt Wagner. May this be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out.
{Waving farewell, the Fellowship row down the river, leaving the Silver Wood behind them.}
