Chpt 8- The LAST chapter, I swear!
"Kitty?"
"Yeah, Rogue?"
"Stand riiiiiiiight.... here!"
"Huh?"
Kitty stumbled backwards as her friend pushed her underneath the doorway, nearly tripping over Katherine in the process. She cried out as she bumped against something. Everyone was ready to get to bed... but no, not Rogue!
"Ah!" Kurt cried out as Mara shoved him into something... he couldn't tell, he wasn't facing the doorway.
"Like, Rogue!"
"Mara!"
Slowly, Kurt and Kitty turned around to face each other.
"Kurt?"
"Kitty?"
Rogue smirked and looked up. Mara grinned and pointed upwards. Cautiously... and VERY slowly... Kurt and Kitty glanced up.
Above their heads, pinned to the header (the top of the doorway) was a fresh sprig of mistletoe.
Kurt and Kitty blushed.
"You know the rules!" Rogue said in a singsong tone.
"You have to kiss or you'll have bad romantic luck until next Christmas!"
"And that would be terrible!"
"Yeah- you guys probably wouldn't ever reach your first date!"
Kitty glanced downwards. "Guys-"
Kurt cut her off with a quick kiss on the lips. Rogue and Mara grinned.
Kitty closed her eyes and lingered in front of Kurt's face. When she opened her eyes, he looked at her hopefully, his cute eyes big and wide.
Kitty closed her eyes again and leaned in for another kiss, wrapping her arms around Kurt's neck. This time, he didn't pull away- he placed his hands on her waist.
"Yes..." Mara exclaimed in an excited whisper. She and Rogue exchanged high fives as they quietly walked away, and Katherine purred excietdly around Kitty's ankles; her master didn't pay her any mind.
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"Mir?"
"Mara! What are-"
"Shhh.... we have to talk."
"Oh. I see."
Mara crept quietly into her sibling's room and sat on her bed as Mir sat up.
"What are we going to do?" she whispered. Everyone had finally gone to bed... except the two sisters.
"We need to list the pros and cons of going... and then the pros and cons of staying."
"Going: Pro number one. We live with Mom."
"Well, isn't that obvious."
"Pro number two: We learn magic."
"That's obvious, too."
"You could help, ya know!"
Mir sighed. "Pro number three: We'd move back to Xanth."
"Pro number four: We could still stay in touch with the people here through e-mail. Or whatever."
"Pro number five: No more fighting."
"No more fighting... mmmm....."
"Come off, Mara! This isn't some food delicacy here!"
"Sorry! Shhh... Don't wake Rogue!"
"Any more pros?"
".... I don't think so."
"Okay: Con number one: No more snow."
"That's a con?"
"Is it?"
"I dunno."
"Let's just assume it is."
"Anyway, con number two: We'd be exposed to the dangers of magic."
"But wouldn't we-"
"Shhhhh!"
Mara shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. "Mir... this is so hard!"
"Okay, let's leave the cons alone for now. Pros for staying number one: We'd see our friends everyday."
"Pro number two: We'd develop our talents in the form of mutations."
"Pro number three: We'd stay in New York, with the snow." Mir smiled.
"Pro number four: We could keep in touch with Mom through e-mail."
"Pro number five: We'd aid the X-Men whenever they got into trouble or something like that."
"Yeah..."
"Any more?"
"I don't think so."
"Grrr! This is so frustrating!"
"Which one would you like to do, Mir? Stay or go?"
"How can you ask that?"
"Shhh!"
"Well then, which one do YOU choose? Stay or go?"
"I don't know! Mom said the decision had to unanimous and totally without regret. But that can't happen if we don't ever decide!"
"Ya know what? Keep those pros and cons in mind... we don't have to decide tonight. She's coming later on next week- we'll decide before that. Same time, same place?"
"Okay... Merry Christmas, Miracle."
"Merry Christmas, Amarantha Owen."
The two sisters smiled and hugged goodnight. Mara left (via the DOOR, people! That's what it's there for! Can't depend on Kitty and Kurt ALL the time!) as Mir settled back down and closed her eyes. It took a while for the thoughts to clear her head, but after that, she was out for the night.
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Christmas Day came and went, and soon the Christmas trees were gone, and the decorations were replaced with New Years' streamers and balloons. Mara and Mir continued their discussion during the nights, alternating the rooms so their roommates wouldn't throw any various objects at their heads, trying to get some sleep.
Finally, during one long nightly conversation, they had finally come to their conclusion. Just like their mother had said, it had been unanimous and without regret, and no one had forced anyone to do anything. It had been tough, but they managed it.
That day, mostly everyone was inside, spare Mara and Mir. The never had made those snow mutants. They giggled as the packed snow fell off of one ear. Anything to get their minds off of the decision in the meantime.
"Hello, girls!" Meos smiled as she appeared nearby, Min and Toby on her shoulder.
"Mom!" The girls paused and faced their mother, half smiles on their faces.
"My darlings," Meos said, and kissed both girls on the cheek. "What are you doing out here all alone?"
"We're making 'snow mutants,'" Mara said proudly.
"Speaking of mutants..." Meos looked at the huge estate. "Maybe we should go inside for now, to talk."
"Alright." Mir looked at their pathetic snow mutant, sighed, fighting the urge to chop it's half formed head off, and followed her family inside.
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"Now, girls... before you tell me your decision..." Meos took a sip of her hot chocolate and looked across the table at the Prof. "The Professor and I would like to say, we accept your conclusion without question."
"We know..." Mir looked at Mara out of the corner of her eye and took a deep breath. "Should I explain, or..."
"I think they'd understand it better if they heard it in your voice." Mara said quietly.
"Obiekabie." Mir looked at her mother and her professor and took a deep breath. "Just hear us out. There is a point to what I'm about to say." She glanced back and forth from Meos to Charles. "We know you both love us very much... yes, you too Professor! And we love you both as well, more than you'll ever know. We have encountered many obstacles in deciding whom exactly we should stay with. Here, we could explore the ranges of our talents, as well as aid the X-Men. We wouldn't have to change schools in the midst of high school, and we wouldn't have to leave our friends. And- we'd see snow in the winter." Mir blushed. "Ehh... heh heh.. anyway. If we went with you, Mom, we'd learn all about witchcraft and our heritage, and we'd be with you. We wouldn't have to fight anymore. And we could always get an education with you. And, we'd see Xanth once more! ... I guess, we could learn to live without snow... again..." Mir glanced outside at the blanket of snowflakes that blessed the ground outside with a look of doubt on her face. "Plus, I might be living with Rogue WAY too long! I think I'm beginning to have a Southern accent. I mean, Logan yelled at me to hurry up to dinner, and I said that I was brushing my hair, only it came out, 'I'm brushin' mah hair!' in that way Rogue talks. I totally freaked, and silently whimpered to myself and nibbled on my thumbnail for the remainder of the night.... oh, sorry Professor." She laughed as the Prof's glare abated.
"By the way-" Mara cut in. "I think I'm developing Kitty's habits as well. I sometimes find myself saying the words 'like,''so,' and 'totally' in the same sentence ALOT! If I ever say the word 'icksome' again, lock me up and throw away the key." She blushed as her mom and Charles glared at her. "Well, it's kinda true! I said it once to Evan and he got, like, so weirded out!" She blinked rapidly. "See?"
Mir then shook her head. "Anyway, after much debate, we've finally reached a conclusion... our conclusion. In fact, both of us thought it up at the exact same time, that was kinda weird, ya know, we did the same thing with our Christmas presents-"
"Miracle!"
"Eeek! Sorry, Mom. Anyway, our decision is..."
Mir glanced at her sister, who drew a deep breath.
"... to have both of you." Mara finished her sister's sentence.
Meos looked at her children with confusement, then at Charles skeptically. He raised an eyebrow.
"What we mean is, we choose both sides. Or rather, no sides at all. We'd still attend Bayville High, and we'd still train with the Prof... every other day. The other days, we'd practive with Mom, and we... meaning, Amarantha, Mom and I would live nearby. Maybe in an apartment. That is..." Mara looked at her mother, "if you'll stay?" she asked hopefully.
Meos cleared her throat. "I don't see why I couldn't move to New York. There's nothing keeping me tied down anywhere else, and we could visit Xanth, your aunt, and Selene during the holidays. I'm sure they wouldn't mind."
"As as for an apartment..." the Prof smiled. "I think that could be easily arranged."
Mara and Mir beamed. "You mean... you guys accept?"
Meos shrugged. "We hold no objections."
The following actions consisted of the two sisters jumping from their chairs, bouncing up and down excitedly, clapping their hands with amusement, and lots of hugging. Err... yeah.
"They said yes!" they cried together. Meos and Charles watched, laughing to themselves.
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And so, the sisters began their busy schedule the next day. Every other day they would join their mother in magic lessons and family history. Xanthian courses were given, and of course, French. Also, self-defense and martial arts classes- for when magic couldn't be used. And in the Institute, Professor Xavier trained them just as hard in their talents/mutations.
Meos, Miracle, and Amarantha, as well as Tobias and Minuit, made themselves comfortable in that "apartment" the Prof had promised to "take care of..." Oh, please, the estate was pratically a mansion in itself! It had four floors, including an attic and basement, five bedrooms, 2 for guests, a huge kitchen, a dining hall, a living room, 2 rec rooms, 3 full baths, a porch, both front AND back yards, a four-car garage... It was a house! And according to most people in the world, apartments are not houses! But the family wasn't complaining- just surprised.
Things somehow returned to "normal" at the Institute- Rogue moved to Kitty's room... (they couldn't stand being in a room to themselves), it was neater, and a lot bigger than what they had originally. Mir and Mara let them have the mini-diskettes that had all their mother's lullabies; they reassured them that they had the authentic thing, now. Katherine continued prancing about the mansion, and warmed up to Mir and Mara whenever they came to train. They all resumed classes after the holidays, and all in all, things were going great!
Except, for....
*Geez, this sucks,* Colleen thought, and she curled her hands into angry fists as the flames of Hell surrounded her.
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End!
"Kitty?"
"Yeah, Rogue?"
"Stand riiiiiiiight.... here!"
"Huh?"
Kitty stumbled backwards as her friend pushed her underneath the doorway, nearly tripping over Katherine in the process. She cried out as she bumped against something. Everyone was ready to get to bed... but no, not Rogue!
"Ah!" Kurt cried out as Mara shoved him into something... he couldn't tell, he wasn't facing the doorway.
"Like, Rogue!"
"Mara!"
Slowly, Kurt and Kitty turned around to face each other.
"Kurt?"
"Kitty?"
Rogue smirked and looked up. Mara grinned and pointed upwards. Cautiously... and VERY slowly... Kurt and Kitty glanced up.
Above their heads, pinned to the header (the top of the doorway) was a fresh sprig of mistletoe.
Kurt and Kitty blushed.
"You know the rules!" Rogue said in a singsong tone.
"You have to kiss or you'll have bad romantic luck until next Christmas!"
"And that would be terrible!"
"Yeah- you guys probably wouldn't ever reach your first date!"
Kitty glanced downwards. "Guys-"
Kurt cut her off with a quick kiss on the lips. Rogue and Mara grinned.
Kitty closed her eyes and lingered in front of Kurt's face. When she opened her eyes, he looked at her hopefully, his cute eyes big and wide.
Kitty closed her eyes again and leaned in for another kiss, wrapping her arms around Kurt's neck. This time, he didn't pull away- he placed his hands on her waist.
"Yes..." Mara exclaimed in an excited whisper. She and Rogue exchanged high fives as they quietly walked away, and Katherine purred excietdly around Kitty's ankles; her master didn't pay her any mind.
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"Mir?"
"Mara! What are-"
"Shhh.... we have to talk."
"Oh. I see."
Mara crept quietly into her sibling's room and sat on her bed as Mir sat up.
"What are we going to do?" she whispered. Everyone had finally gone to bed... except the two sisters.
"We need to list the pros and cons of going... and then the pros and cons of staying."
"Going: Pro number one. We live with Mom."
"Well, isn't that obvious."
"Pro number two: We learn magic."
"That's obvious, too."
"You could help, ya know!"
Mir sighed. "Pro number three: We'd move back to Xanth."
"Pro number four: We could still stay in touch with the people here through e-mail. Or whatever."
"Pro number five: No more fighting."
"No more fighting... mmmm....."
"Come off, Mara! This isn't some food delicacy here!"
"Sorry! Shhh... Don't wake Rogue!"
"Any more pros?"
".... I don't think so."
"Okay: Con number one: No more snow."
"That's a con?"
"Is it?"
"I dunno."
"Let's just assume it is."
"Anyway, con number two: We'd be exposed to the dangers of magic."
"But wouldn't we-"
"Shhhhh!"
Mara shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. "Mir... this is so hard!"
"Okay, let's leave the cons alone for now. Pros for staying number one: We'd see our friends everyday."
"Pro number two: We'd develop our talents in the form of mutations."
"Pro number three: We'd stay in New York, with the snow." Mir smiled.
"Pro number four: We could keep in touch with Mom through e-mail."
"Pro number five: We'd aid the X-Men whenever they got into trouble or something like that."
"Yeah..."
"Any more?"
"I don't think so."
"Grrr! This is so frustrating!"
"Which one would you like to do, Mir? Stay or go?"
"How can you ask that?"
"Shhh!"
"Well then, which one do YOU choose? Stay or go?"
"I don't know! Mom said the decision had to unanimous and totally without regret. But that can't happen if we don't ever decide!"
"Ya know what? Keep those pros and cons in mind... we don't have to decide tonight. She's coming later on next week- we'll decide before that. Same time, same place?"
"Okay... Merry Christmas, Miracle."
"Merry Christmas, Amarantha Owen."
The two sisters smiled and hugged goodnight. Mara left (via the DOOR, people! That's what it's there for! Can't depend on Kitty and Kurt ALL the time!) as Mir settled back down and closed her eyes. It took a while for the thoughts to clear her head, but after that, she was out for the night.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Christmas Day came and went, and soon the Christmas trees were gone, and the decorations were replaced with New Years' streamers and balloons. Mara and Mir continued their discussion during the nights, alternating the rooms so their roommates wouldn't throw any various objects at their heads, trying to get some sleep.
Finally, during one long nightly conversation, they had finally come to their conclusion. Just like their mother had said, it had been unanimous and without regret, and no one had forced anyone to do anything. It had been tough, but they managed it.
That day, mostly everyone was inside, spare Mara and Mir. The never had made those snow mutants. They giggled as the packed snow fell off of one ear. Anything to get their minds off of the decision in the meantime.
"Hello, girls!" Meos smiled as she appeared nearby, Min and Toby on her shoulder.
"Mom!" The girls paused and faced their mother, half smiles on their faces.
"My darlings," Meos said, and kissed both girls on the cheek. "What are you doing out here all alone?"
"We're making 'snow mutants,'" Mara said proudly.
"Speaking of mutants..." Meos looked at the huge estate. "Maybe we should go inside for now, to talk."
"Alright." Mir looked at their pathetic snow mutant, sighed, fighting the urge to chop it's half formed head off, and followed her family inside.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Now, girls... before you tell me your decision..." Meos took a sip of her hot chocolate and looked across the table at the Prof. "The Professor and I would like to say, we accept your conclusion without question."
"We know..." Mir looked at Mara out of the corner of her eye and took a deep breath. "Should I explain, or..."
"I think they'd understand it better if they heard it in your voice." Mara said quietly.
"Obiekabie." Mir looked at her mother and her professor and took a deep breath. "Just hear us out. There is a point to what I'm about to say." She glanced back and forth from Meos to Charles. "We know you both love us very much... yes, you too Professor! And we love you both as well, more than you'll ever know. We have encountered many obstacles in deciding whom exactly we should stay with. Here, we could explore the ranges of our talents, as well as aid the X-Men. We wouldn't have to change schools in the midst of high school, and we wouldn't have to leave our friends. And- we'd see snow in the winter." Mir blushed. "Ehh... heh heh.. anyway. If we went with you, Mom, we'd learn all about witchcraft and our heritage, and we'd be with you. We wouldn't have to fight anymore. And we could always get an education with you. And, we'd see Xanth once more! ... I guess, we could learn to live without snow... again..." Mir glanced outside at the blanket of snowflakes that blessed the ground outside with a look of doubt on her face. "Plus, I might be living with Rogue WAY too long! I think I'm beginning to have a Southern accent. I mean, Logan yelled at me to hurry up to dinner, and I said that I was brushing my hair, only it came out, 'I'm brushin' mah hair!' in that way Rogue talks. I totally freaked, and silently whimpered to myself and nibbled on my thumbnail for the remainder of the night.... oh, sorry Professor." She laughed as the Prof's glare abated.
"By the way-" Mara cut in. "I think I'm developing Kitty's habits as well. I sometimes find myself saying the words 'like,''so,' and 'totally' in the same sentence ALOT! If I ever say the word 'icksome' again, lock me up and throw away the key." She blushed as her mom and Charles glared at her. "Well, it's kinda true! I said it once to Evan and he got, like, so weirded out!" She blinked rapidly. "See?"
Mir then shook her head. "Anyway, after much debate, we've finally reached a conclusion... our conclusion. In fact, both of us thought it up at the exact same time, that was kinda weird, ya know, we did the same thing with our Christmas presents-"
"Miracle!"
"Eeek! Sorry, Mom. Anyway, our decision is..."
Mir glanced at her sister, who drew a deep breath.
"... to have both of you." Mara finished her sister's sentence.
Meos looked at her children with confusement, then at Charles skeptically. He raised an eyebrow.
"What we mean is, we choose both sides. Or rather, no sides at all. We'd still attend Bayville High, and we'd still train with the Prof... every other day. The other days, we'd practive with Mom, and we... meaning, Amarantha, Mom and I would live nearby. Maybe in an apartment. That is..." Mara looked at her mother, "if you'll stay?" she asked hopefully.
Meos cleared her throat. "I don't see why I couldn't move to New York. There's nothing keeping me tied down anywhere else, and we could visit Xanth, your aunt, and Selene during the holidays. I'm sure they wouldn't mind."
"As as for an apartment..." the Prof smiled. "I think that could be easily arranged."
Mara and Mir beamed. "You mean... you guys accept?"
Meos shrugged. "We hold no objections."
The following actions consisted of the two sisters jumping from their chairs, bouncing up and down excitedly, clapping their hands with amusement, and lots of hugging. Err... yeah.
"They said yes!" they cried together. Meos and Charles watched, laughing to themselves.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
And so, the sisters began their busy schedule the next day. Every other day they would join their mother in magic lessons and family history. Xanthian courses were given, and of course, French. Also, self-defense and martial arts classes- for when magic couldn't be used. And in the Institute, Professor Xavier trained them just as hard in their talents/mutations.
Meos, Miracle, and Amarantha, as well as Tobias and Minuit, made themselves comfortable in that "apartment" the Prof had promised to "take care of..." Oh, please, the estate was pratically a mansion in itself! It had four floors, including an attic and basement, five bedrooms, 2 for guests, a huge kitchen, a dining hall, a living room, 2 rec rooms, 3 full baths, a porch, both front AND back yards, a four-car garage... It was a house! And according to most people in the world, apartments are not houses! But the family wasn't complaining- just surprised.
Things somehow returned to "normal" at the Institute- Rogue moved to Kitty's room... (they couldn't stand being in a room to themselves), it was neater, and a lot bigger than what they had originally. Mir and Mara let them have the mini-diskettes that had all their mother's lullabies; they reassured them that they had the authentic thing, now. Katherine continued prancing about the mansion, and warmed up to Mir and Mara whenever they came to train. They all resumed classes after the holidays, and all in all, things were going great!
Except, for....
*Geez, this sucks,* Colleen thought, and she curled her hands into angry fists as the flames of Hell surrounded her.
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End!