Okay, here's chpt 6! I don't own any songs mentioned. "House of the Rising Sun" is by The Animals. I think. Don't ask me, my dad's the music expert. I just listen. Besides, we don't have that version, so this one will have to do. And Storm's story I kinda read in a fanfic whose title I forgot, but I've read it somewhere else too, so I think it really happened. But of course, I may be wrong. Also, "Good-night Irene" is, according to my dad's famous collection, on the CD "The Weaver's Greatest Hits." Or something like that. Yeah. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was written by Lewis Carroll. Read it! Better than the movie!
And So They Lay (In the House of the Rising Sun)
"Oh my God. Two more days until the show, and I HAVE ABSOLUTELY FRIGGIN' NOTHIN' TO PERFORM!"
"I thought you had a few rehearsals here and there?" Rogue looked up from her homework.
"I told Ms Monroe I wanted it to be a surprise," Marie said as she paced the room.
"She let you get away with it?" Kitty asked, surprised.
Marie shrugged. "Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!"
"My, stressed, aren't we?" Lucky asked.
"Unless you've got any ideas, Lykeios, I suggest you keep quiet."
"Translation: Give me any more criticism and you'll be eating it for dessert," Rogue translated.
"Dessert? What's the main course?"
"Pork!"
"No, Kitty, that's the other white meat. Beef is what's for dinner. I thought you didn't eat meat!"
"I don't. I watch too much TV."
"Oh."
Marie looked at the clock and winced. "It's late. I still have nothing!"
"I'd better be going, soon. It's almost lights out," Lucky said. He gave Marie a quick kiss, and waved to Rogue, Kitty, and Jubilee before leaving the room. "Good luck!"
Marie sat down, lost.
"How about 'At Last" by Etta James?"
"No!"
"Ummm, what about 'The Glory of Love,' Bette Midler version?"
"Are you kidding?"
Suddenly Jubilee, who had been relaxing and listening to earphones, ignoring everyone, began to sing. Or, attempted to.
"There is a house in New Orleans
they call the Rising Sun
It's been the ruin of many poor--"
Then Jubilee screamed, as Rogue threw a pillow at her. Fireworks flew throughout the room. Rogue ducked, Kitty fell off her bed, and Bernadette would've been dog chow if Marie hadn't picked her up in time.
The fireworks died down. Jubilee took off her headphones.
"I fucked up big time, didn't I?"
"Oh, yeah. Big time."
"Wait, Marie!" Marie called out to Rogue, as Rogue was reaching for Jubilee's neck. "I think I've got it!"
"Yeah, listen to Marie, Rogue!" Jubilee said.
Rogue turned to Marie. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"That song... Play it so everyone can hear!"
Jubilee shrugged and did as told. The rock music of "House of the Rising Sun" began to fill the room.
"There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
It's been the ruin of many poor girls
And me, oh God, am one.
If I had listened to what my momma said
I'd be at home today
But I was young and foolish, oh Lord
I let a gambler lead me astray
Go tell my baby sister
Don't do as I have done
That house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
I'm going back to lay my head
Beneath that rising sun
I'm going back to lay my head
Beneath that rising sun
There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
It's been the ruin of many poor girls
And me, oh God, I'm one
And me, oh God, am one."
Marie was deep in thought as the song ended.
"Could I borrow that?"
"Sure! I mean, if you're using it for the talent show..."
"I think it has a good chance. It's... relevant, but not too much that I'll cry. I mean, I *am* from New Orleans. Problem is, I don't know it."
"Then here! Listen to it all night! You'll memorize it, it's not hard."
"Hey, Jubes, those aren't the lyrics! It's way different than original version!"
"Well, what do you expect from a dollar store that's run by a guy who doesn't know English too well? Besides, it fits Marie better."
"I guess you're right... Kitty, what do you think?"
"Kitty? Where'd you go?"
"Kitty? You here?"
"Guys? HELP ME!" Kitty yelled from between the wall and her bed.
Marie fell asleep listening to 'House of the Rising Sun,' and soon she was in such a deep sleep, even the moonlight streaming through the window didn't wake her up.
But someone else did.
Bernadette crawled out from underneath Marie's bed and stretched. She went over to the window and looked out at the full moon.
Suddenly it grew very dark.
A dark shadow fell across the room. It swept over Bernadette, but the cat didn't even flinch. It continued to float over Kitty, Jubilee, Rogue, Marie... Then it floated back to Bernadette.
But Bernadette wasn't Bernadette anymore.
"Hello Émilie," Mystique said.
"Hello, Mystique..." the shadow whispered. "What have you this time?"
"I've found something that would most definitely interest you," Mystique said.
"Well... what is it?"
"You think I'm going to just hand over the information, after three years of torment as a cat in this place? I'm not that easily won. I have other duties as well."
"Right now, you serve me, Mystique. I paid for you, Darkholme-- don't forget it. I own you. Magneto thought you would suit me better, while he plays with his human pawns. Would you like to end in a stalemate, Rayven? Or would you like to personally execute the king?"
"Enough of your metaphors, Émilie."
"I have not been idle while you sacrifice your place for me. No, no. I've made my own pawns, I've made my own strategies. And I'm not going to play by the rules. I know how much you hate rules."
"Do you, now? What else do you know? Not that Irie will soon go back to the Danger Room..."
"Where did you find this?"
"Found it? I didn't find it anywhere. I made it. Your daughter will go through Exercise 61. Alone."
"Interesting... It is almost time for harvest, dear Mystique!"
"Yes, well, when will I get my feast?"
"Impatient we are, yes. And I thought you hated metaphors."
"Don't make me lose my temper!"
"Why? When the girls wake up from the noise, all they'll see is their enemy standing near their window."
"All that depends on how fast they are. Maybe all they'll see is a cat named Bernadette meowing at the moon."
"Yes, maybe. I must go now, the tides are changing. I shall see you soon, good servant."
"I serve no one."
"You serve me!"
Mystique was knocked to the ground by the shadow as it floated through the window, disappearing into the moonlit night.
Marie began to scream in her sleep.
"Woke up screaming again, didn't you?"
Marie looked up to see Lucky standing by her desk. She nodded sadly.
Lucky hugged Marie and kissed her cheek.
"Don't worry, Princess, it'll be okay. Have you found a song yet?"
Marie smiled somewhat. "Yes, actually. And one I don't know. 'House of the Rising Sun.'"
"What?! Marie, that's about a *whorehouse* for the love of Pete!"
"So what? I don't care. I'm not unfamiliar with the idea. Besides, it has New Orleans in it. That's my hometown. It's sorta fitting too, this version's different, according to Jubilee, and I *did* let a gambler lead me astray..."
"What?"
"Nevermind, just thinking out loud. Besides, do you have any other songs that I could sing?"
"You have a point. Alright, fine. Memorized it yet?"
"I'm getting there."
"LYKEIOS! Have you noticed that the bell rang TEN MINUTES AGO?! SIT DOWN, or I'll sign you up for extra Danger Room sessions so fast Logan won't know which one to put you in first!"
Lucky winced, then winked at Marie.
"I'll see you later Princess," he managed to say before sitting in his seat across the room.
Marie didn't know what she'd do without him.
Marie sighed as the bell rang. 'Another day, another lesson to learn, another chance to die...'
Marie stepped out of the classroom, glum as ever. She didn't notice Ororo walking by her side.
"Marie? Could I talk to you for a second?"
Marie jolted as she felt Ororo's hand on her shoulder.
"Oh... Ms Monroe!"
"Don't worry, this won't take long. Please, come with me to my office. Don't worry, I'll give you a pass."
Marie followed Ororo down the hallway, her face avoiding those who stared.
Ororo smiled as she closed the door behind her pupil. "Please, sit down, Marie."
Marie sat down, and to her surprise Ororo sat down next to her, instead of behind the desk like a professional.
"So, how are your studies going?"
Marie looked down. "Not very well... I just can't seem to concentrate these days."
"I hope the talent show isn't getting in the way."
"No, it isn't... It's actually allowed me to take my mind off things for a while."
"I'm glad," Ororo smiled. "Just to let you know, you're going on after Bobby, who's right after the intermission."
"Wait a minute, Bobby signed up? What's he doing? I thought displaying your powers was against the rules!"
"Oh, it is. Bobby is... well, I think he's doing a clown act."
"As long as he doesn't burp the ABC's and yell about killer Italian pigs, we can just all tune him out until he's done."
"Marie!"
Marie laughed. "What, it's true!"
Ororo smiled. "I'm glad to see you laughing again, Marie." Ororo took a deep breath and held Marie's hand tightly. "Marie... I'm going to tell you a story."
Marie looked at her teacher, confused, weirded out, and maybe a little scared.
"Once upon a time there was a young woman. This woman had extraordinary powers."
"A mutant."
"Yes. She used her powers to fight against evil. One day, she was caught by the enemy. The sick, deranged, psycho sonuva-"
"Ms Monroe?"
"Ah, yes. Sorry. Well, the man reversed the woman's aging process, to make her a little girl again, so she couldn't pose as a threat anymore. He dumped her in a strange town, and the girl didn't know who she was, or where she was, or how to take care of herself. Suddenly a young man rescued her. He took care of her as best as he could. And the two affectionately called themselves brother and sister, even though they belonged to different races, cultures, even generations. The young man was more than twice as old as the little girl. Now, one day, the girl's powers started to manifest themselves again. The girl might hurt herself, or others, if she didn't get her powers under control. Also, the man wasn't exactly the world's best person to look after little kids-- he gambled, and was an expert thief. Many times did a group of people come after him, willing to kill for the money he owed. He also was a mutant, a powerful one. He could hurt her as well. Thinking of the girl's safety, he brought her to a safe place. It turned out that the safe place was her home, before she was youthenized. The woman was returned to normal, and she never saw her frère (brother) again. Until you came."
Marie's eyes widened. "No way. My papa... You're the young mutant."
"Yes."
"My papa's the man... the gambler, the thief, the mutant..."
"Yes, Marie."
"The Institute was your home."
"Now you've got it." Ororo smiled sadly. "I wanted to tell you this, Marie, because I don't want you to think you've got no one in the world left. You have many friends here, you know, but you also have family. I am willing to take care of you, Marie, and I hope you take advantage of the situation."
"What do you mean?"
"I won't just be your history teacher... I'll be your aunt as well."
Marie smiled. "Thank you, Aunt Ororo." She laughed as she hugged the African tight. "Thank you so much..."
"May the Goddess bless you, child..." Ororo was close to tears. "... my niece."
"Marie?"
Marie looked at Lucky and smiled. "Yes, Lykeios?" Her smiled faded when she saw how pale he was.
"Marie, you need to come with me."
"Where?" Marie asked concernedly.
Lucky paused. "You'll see."
"But lunch isn't even over with!"
"Yeah, well... They want you now. Don't worry, I'll be with you every step of the way!"
The two were too busy to notice Rogue watching them walk out of the cafeteria.
"Lykeios, what's going on?" Marie asked as Lucky held her hand tightly and led her down the hallway. "Lykeios!"
"Don't worry, Marie... I won't hurt you."
"Well, I know that, but... What's going on? Where are we going?"
Lucky dragged Marie into a small room, with several closets, but no furniture. Lucky went over to one closet and opened it. Inside were uniforms similar to the X-Men uniforms, but in various sizes.
"You need to pick an outfit that's your size. I'm going to change too." Lucky looked at the frightened Marie with sad eyes. "I just want you to know, I don't support this at all, but I can't do anything about it." Lucky squeezed Marie's hand before disappearing inside a closet.
Marie walked toward the open doors with a grin on her face.
"You ready?" Wolverine asked gruffly. Lucky nodded.
"Ready for what?"
"Sorry we gotta do this to ya, Sherrie."
"Sherrie?"
Wolverine pressed a button in the wall and stood off to the side.
"It's from what your father called ya!" Wolverine yelled down the hole that suddenly apppeared beneath Marie and Lucky's feet, sending them down... down... down...
"No! Marie, Lucky!" Rogue burst into the room, her face red with anger. Upon seeing Wolverine, she narrowed her eyes and growled so fierce even almighty Wolverine was scared.
"Fuck you, asshole!" Rogue yelled as she dived down the hole, seconds before it closed up.
"Shit," Wolverine said to himself. He looked around and whistled a tune as he walked away.
Marie woke up in a daze. They had fallen far, and hit the bottom hard. Now she realized that the whole thing was made out of dirt and rocks. No wonder they had been knocked out.
"Lykeios? Oh, my head..." Marie moaned. She tried to move, but she was crushed.
Marie opened her eyes, beginning to panic, when she stared into the face of her love.
Lykeios's eyes were closed, and his hair was dusty from the rocks. He had a dirty cut on the side of his face, and his lips were slightly opened, as if he had trouble breathing.
"Lykeios..." Marie whispered. "Lykeios, answer me... Lykeios! Oh my God. Lykeios! Lykeios answer me, answer me! Lykeios, wake up, say something! Lykeios, mon Dieu mon amour mon chevalier oh s'il te plaït dis-moi que tu vas bien, que tu m'aimes!" (My God my love my knight oh please say that you're alright, that you love me!)
"... Am I really your God?"
Marie's began to cry as Lykeios opened his blue eyes, those Marie loved so much.
"Aww, now, don't cry, Princess..."
"Oh Lykeios I love you I love you so much and I thought you were dead and I just couldn't take it anymore oh my God I'm crying like an idiot and oh mon Dieu je t'aime beaucoup, je peux mourir--" (my God I love you so much, I can die--)
"Princess, I'm okay..." Lucky winced. "I'm not exactly in the most comfortable position in the world, but..."
"Oh, that's right! You poor thing, here, I'll get up..."
Marie attempted to get up, but a weight held her down.
"What the... Oh Dieu, Marie!"
"What? Rogue? She wasn't..."
"Oh, she's hurt! Marie, wake up, wake up!"
"Rogue? Is she bleeding?"
"Yes, oh, terribly! Ugh, I can't get her off me... There's really nowhere to put her, Aunt Ororo would die if she were in this place..."
"Aunt Ororo?"
"Yes, Aunt Ororo. Ms Monroe. My father took care of her... much like me. It's a long story..."
"Really. How old are these people?"
"Oh, not old at all. I'm not really my father's daughter."
"What?"
"I'm adopted. Well, sort of, not legally or anything... But, it doesn't matter now..."
"I'm so sorry, Princess... I didn't know any of this."
"No one does, except maybe the teachers."
"Wow. Does she know you're here? Ms Monroe, I mean."
"No. No one does. Except Logan, and I don't think he'll rescue us any time soon. You pulled me out of lunch, remember? How could you do something like this to me?!"
"Now, Marie, Princess--"
"Don't Princess me!"
"Marie... I'm sorry. I didn't know it would be this bad... See, I only knew because I got into trouble in class today, remember? They weren't planning on me being with you. You were supposed to get out of this yourself."
"I thought I didn't have to do anything with the Danger Room anymore."
"That's what I thought too. I'm sure we'll find a way out... When we've rested, and Rogue wakes up... She wasn't supposed to be here, I know that for sure!"
"Poor Marie... You know, we seriously could've gotten hurt like that!"
"Hey, I don't make the rules, how can I understand them?"
"Sometimes the one making the rules doesn't understand them either."
"Are you implying that Professor Xavier doesn't know what he's doing?"
"I guess so, yes."
"Then we're doomed."
"At least until we fly away... I'm still waiting."
"One day, I promise."
"I love to watch the birds soaring high in the air...One day, I will be like them!"
"The raptors? The hawks and eagles and vultures and buzzards?"
"And falcons."
"But they're constantly going in circles..."
"And with every circle they rise closer to the clouds. Oh, I wish I were an eagle, so I could fly away..."
"What about us, Marie? Me, and Rogue, and Ms Monroe... Everyone."
"I'd visit."
Lykeios laughed, but soon coughs racked his body. Marie put her hands on Lucky's face and kissed his bloody lip.
"Let's rest now, my knight..."
"Wait... Something's been bothering me. Marie? How did you get your name?"
"My father named me! Honestly..."
"No, I mean... Who were you named after?"
"Why do you ask? Were you named after someone?"
"Yes. The doctor that delivered me. My parents happened to be in Saudi Arabia at the time, and, well..."
"Ah. I see. Lykeios. I knew it wasn't American."
"It's sad, my story, really. He had just saved my parents' lives, and then mine... Without him, I wouldn't have been here... To be with you... He died five minutes later."
"I'm sorry. But what were your parents doing in Saudi Arabia anyway?"
"My mother never stayed in the same place for more than three years, never in her whole life. It's... complicated."
"I think you understand it more than she did. Just a guess..."
"And you, Princess Marie? Why did you get the chance to have a name that nearly describes your beauty?"
"I... I was named after the song."
Lucky then felt Marie stiffen in his hold.
"Princess?" he asked, concerned.
"The song..."
"Yes, Marie, I know the song... Marie!"
Marie closed her eyes and remained silent for a moment.
"Marie!" Lucky exclaimed, worried.
"La chanson..." (The song... [as if that wasn't a duh])
"Marie, est-ce que tu vas bien?" (Marie, are you alright?)
In the darkness, Marie opened her now opaque eyes. She looked straight ahead, but without seeing a thing.
"Bonne nuit, Irene, bonne nuit... Bonne nuit, Irene, bonne nuit! Bonne nuit, Irene, bonne nuit, Irene, je vous voirai dans mes rêves!" Marie sang, hauntingly low. (Good night, Irene, good night... Good night, Irene, good night! Good night, Irene, good night, Irene, I'll see you in my dreams!)
"Marie... Marie!"
Marie looked at Lucky, a dazed look in her eyes.
"Marie?"
Marie nodded. Lucky held her tighter, burying his face into her neck.
"Oh, dear Lord above, you scared me..."
"Were you worried? I'm sorry, my dearest knight..."
"Mmm, it's long forgotten, Princess. Let's not talk any more... Are you tired, m'Lady?"
"Well... now that you mention it..."
"Come, rest. My, you're out of breath! And your heart beats like a hummingbird's wings. Are you sure you're alright?"
"I will be, my knight. Please..."
"Anything, my Princess."
"... let me rest. I... I am weary."
"Of course, m'Lady."
Lykeios closed his eyes, the pain of the rocks against his back, the awkwardness of his position forgotten as his Princess rested on top of him, her head nestled into his shoulder. Soon he felt and heard the soft, steady breathing of his Princess as sleep overcame her.
He gently wrapped his arms around Marie, and was reminded of how thin she was, how little she ate...
How worried she was... How nervous she was...
How *unhappy* she was.
'Just one brush against her cheek,' Lykeios thought, 'and she'd be happy... At least, in her dreams...'
Lucky closed his eyes as he kissed his love's face, the one that he memorized since he first laid eyes on it...
He gave as much as he could to his Princess. And he sighed, smiling, before falling asleep; exhausted, but content. He didn't get a chance to see the look of joy on Marie's face, but they both felt it.
A pair of eyes watched them from above. It stared at the scene, with the blood, the rocks, the darkness all around..
And the love.
The scene swam into a blur, and the eyes closed, mixing together with the night.
And so they lay.
Rogue groaned. She opened her eyes, but everything was so blurry, she couldn't see well into the darkness.
Rogue pulled herself into a sitting position and checked herself over. Her right glove was missing, and her clothes were torn. She found a harsh, deep cut on her back, but she couldn't tell how long it was. It had clotted up, though, so she wouldn't bleed to death.
So many questions ran through her mind. Where was she? Where were Lucky and Marie? Why did this happen? Were they hurt too?
Why the Hell did she have to jump through that hole?
She felt like Alice, gone to Wonderland. A quote ran through her mind:
'But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked.
'Oh, you can't help that,' said the cat. 'We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad.'
'How do you know I'm mad?' said Alice.
'You must be,' said the cat, 'or you wouldn't be here.'
Rogue shook her head to herself.
"Not only am I mad, little cat, I'm lost as well!"
Rogue stood up, only to sway and collapse back down again.
"Shit..."
Suddenly she heard a sound. Like water hitting a rock, or soft, quiet footsteps. Familiar footsteps...
Footsteps. The eyes, surrounded by a black mist, turned to see a cat lightly stepping into view.
"I thought cats were supposed to be silent," the shadow whispered.
"You're thinking of mice, dear Émilie," Mystique said, transforming into her original body.
"You said she would be alone."
"And she was. Until about five minutes before she was scheduled to go."
"Why didn't you alert me of this?"
"I wasn't aware, until too late."
"Who are these people with her?"
"Her best friend and her boyfriend."
"Ah, so she has found love? This will make it harder for me."
"I'll take care of it."
"I also left you to take care of one command, and it still has not been done."
"I have been preoccuppied."
"For three years?"
"It won't happen again."
"Make sure it doesn't."
"So how close is harvest this time?"
"The day after tomorrow."
"I'm not quite sure I understand."
"I have been listening to their conversation. I have a plan."
"What is it?"
"I haven't worked it all out yet, dear servant. Give me time, it shall be done. My, my, you are impatient."
"It comes with the package. Not completely satisfied? Want to trade me off?"
The shadow chuckled. "No, no, I still have uses for you yet. When the time comes for me to discard you, you shall see what will become of you."
"How comforting."
"Was that sarcasm?"
"Yes, Émilie."
"I see. In the meantime, I give you a gift. It is powerful, so use it wisely. The moon will only be full for one more night. I must use this time to the fullest. You must follow through with your duties, the future depends on it!"
The shadow slowly faded away. It left behind a small bottle, no bigger than a pill. Mystique smiled with recognition, looked around, scoffed, and turned into Bernadette.
Rogue sat with her back to the wall, trying to regain her breath. The conversation she just overheard made no sense to her, but she still found it to be extremely dangerous... She didn't know what was going on, but was going to get up, right then and there, and find a way to get out of this thing, find Marie and Lucky, and then go to sleep.
Sleep... yeah, sleep was good... very good... especially since she was so... sleepy...
Just then Rogue shifted, causing the rocks to scrape against her back. She yelled out loud from the pain.
'I knew I should've changed into the uniforms... Man, no time!'
"Marie? Marie, you here?" Rogue yelled aloud.
Rogue suddenly heard loud, coarse coughing. Rogue looked around, but all she could see was darkness.
"Guys? Lucky, Marie? Are you guys alright?"
"... Rogue?"
"Lucky? Fuck, where are you? I can't see a damn thing, and I lost a glove!"
"You're on top of Marie. Marie's on top of me. We're all in a cave thing of some sort."
Rogue was silent for a while.
"Is Marie still sleeping?"
"No, Marie. I'm awake, now. Are you alright? You hurt yourself--"
"I know. I'll be alright. I can't stand up, though. I fall back down."
"If you shift your left leg to the right a little, and your right leg to the left... Yes, alright, I'm free!"
Rogue then felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Careful! Mah clothes are torn, and mah right glove is missing."
"What?" Lucky wheezed a bit. "If you were coming down here, why didn't you--"
"Put on the uniform? Gee, I dunno, maybe I was concerned about mah best friend who CAN'T HANDLE DANGER ROOM SESSIONS and was going through one anyway, and was being led by the one person left on this planet who she'd follow to the ends of the universe!"
"You're mad, aren't you?"
"Don't be, Marie, your injury..."
"Marie? You alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine. A few scrapes and bruises here and there, but I'll deal. Lykeios broke my fall... and maybe a few ribs."
"Gee, when you put it like that, Princess..."
"Oh, Lykeios, I love you so much, and I know you didn't want me to get hurt! See, it's all because I'm sixteen now, and that little incident with the Danger Room happened so many years ago..."
"Two and a half."
"Yes, well, the Prof or somebody like that thought that I would be able to do better this time... Is that it, Lykeios?"
"About so, yeah, that's the story. Though I wouldn't know for sure..."
"Lykeios? Am I off you yet?"
"Yes, Princess. I need help getting up, though."
"Of course. Can you stand?"
Lykeios coughed as he tried to stand up.
"Ooh... It hurts to breathe."
"My poor knight!"
"Please, somebody spare me..."
"Weren't you ever in love once, Rogue?"
"Isn't that none of your business?"
"Umm, guys..."
"Hey, just asking, ya know, 'cause you seem so anal about relationships and stuff..."
"Hey, Lykeios? Marie?"
"Anal? You have not seen 'anal' until you see Mr Summers when he realizes Mr Logan took his motorcycle. Again."
"Guys, please..."
"Mr Summers? Anal? Well... I guess you're right."
"Oh sacré Marie, mère de Dieu, tuez-moi maintenant..."
"I love hearing those words!"
"What, 'Oh holy Mary, mother of God, kill me now?'"
"No. 'I guess you're right!'"
Marie groaned.
"People! We need to get out of here before Lykeios dies from a punctured lung, or something like that, and Marie bleeds to death! So please, stop arguing and THINK OF A WAY TO GET OUT OF HERE! I'm cranky and I want to get cleaned up!"
"Sheesh, don't need to tell us twice..."
"Sorry, Princess."
Marie sighed. "That's better. Anyone got any ideas?"
"I'm too busy focusing on the pain that's making me nauseous right now, sorry."
"Oh, Marie, do you want to trade places?"
"Wait, careful, you'll trample me!"
"That's a bad thing because..."
"Marie! I said no fighting! Come on, you two are my life, or what's left of it, so why can't you two get along?"
Silence.
"Hey! I think I see a light!"
"Where, Lykeios?"
"Hey, I see it! Oh, I knew they'd come for us eventually!"
"Meow..."
"Oh mah friggin' God. Bernadette!"
"It's Bernadette? Why would my cat..."
"I don't know, and I don't care, because this ain't gonna help us outta here."
"We're stuck, though. You're both hurt, and I can't climb this without equipment..."
"We've gotta try *something* at least."
"Meow..."
"Bernadette? Shut up."
"Meow!"
"Well, serves you right for getting our hopes all high..."
"Dammit, I don't know what to do anymore..."
"Marie, don't cry!"
"Ow! You just crashed into mah stomach!"
"Who did?"
"Marie!"
"... No I didn't."
"Yes you did, you just did!"
"She can't, Rogue. I'm holding her."
"... Meow!"
"Oh my God!"
"Bernadette, you did NOT just jump in here!"
"We're doomed."
"So now who's gonna stop me from crying?"
"Go ahead, you got every right! I just may join ya!"
"Wait a minute, what's going on?"
"Oh, I'm so tired, aren't you?"
"Marie?" Marie yawned. "Oh, yeah, you're right... We need to think, though..."
"I'm too tired to think..."
All three pairs of eyes closed. Soon all of them were fast asleep, a dreamless sleep, in which no worries would bother them.
Bernadette's eyes glowed yellow.
Soon Mystique smiled to herself. It wasn't her first try at magic, but it wasn't her hidden talent, so to speak. But all this... this was the calibre of an average full-grown witch. *She* had done this. She was good! Without anyone's help, too. Well, maybe that potion Émilie gave her helped, but hell, who cares? The potion lasts for days, and if she could use it to her advantage, maybe she could buy her freedom. Or she could bring the place down with her, either one.
She then transformed herself into Lykeios, Marie asleep in her arms, and walked away from Exercise 61, now a pile of rocks and dirt.
And So They Lay (In the House of the Rising Sun)
"Oh my God. Two more days until the show, and I HAVE ABSOLUTELY FRIGGIN' NOTHIN' TO PERFORM!"
"I thought you had a few rehearsals here and there?" Rogue looked up from her homework.
"I told Ms Monroe I wanted it to be a surprise," Marie said as she paced the room.
"She let you get away with it?" Kitty asked, surprised.
Marie shrugged. "Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!"
"My, stressed, aren't we?" Lucky asked.
"Unless you've got any ideas, Lykeios, I suggest you keep quiet."
"Translation: Give me any more criticism and you'll be eating it for dessert," Rogue translated.
"Dessert? What's the main course?"
"Pork!"
"No, Kitty, that's the other white meat. Beef is what's for dinner. I thought you didn't eat meat!"
"I don't. I watch too much TV."
"Oh."
Marie looked at the clock and winced. "It's late. I still have nothing!"
"I'd better be going, soon. It's almost lights out," Lucky said. He gave Marie a quick kiss, and waved to Rogue, Kitty, and Jubilee before leaving the room. "Good luck!"
Marie sat down, lost.
"How about 'At Last" by Etta James?"
"No!"
"Ummm, what about 'The Glory of Love,' Bette Midler version?"
"Are you kidding?"
Suddenly Jubilee, who had been relaxing and listening to earphones, ignoring everyone, began to sing. Or, attempted to.
"There is a house in New Orleans
they call the Rising Sun
It's been the ruin of many poor--"
Then Jubilee screamed, as Rogue threw a pillow at her. Fireworks flew throughout the room. Rogue ducked, Kitty fell off her bed, and Bernadette would've been dog chow if Marie hadn't picked her up in time.
The fireworks died down. Jubilee took off her headphones.
"I fucked up big time, didn't I?"
"Oh, yeah. Big time."
"Wait, Marie!" Marie called out to Rogue, as Rogue was reaching for Jubilee's neck. "I think I've got it!"
"Yeah, listen to Marie, Rogue!" Jubilee said.
Rogue turned to Marie. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"That song... Play it so everyone can hear!"
Jubilee shrugged and did as told. The rock music of "House of the Rising Sun" began to fill the room.
"There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
It's been the ruin of many poor girls
And me, oh God, am one.
If I had listened to what my momma said
I'd be at home today
But I was young and foolish, oh Lord
I let a gambler lead me astray
Go tell my baby sister
Don't do as I have done
That house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
I'm going back to lay my head
Beneath that rising sun
I'm going back to lay my head
Beneath that rising sun
There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
It's been the ruin of many poor girls
And me, oh God, I'm one
And me, oh God, am one."
Marie was deep in thought as the song ended.
"Could I borrow that?"
"Sure! I mean, if you're using it for the talent show..."
"I think it has a good chance. It's... relevant, but not too much that I'll cry. I mean, I *am* from New Orleans. Problem is, I don't know it."
"Then here! Listen to it all night! You'll memorize it, it's not hard."
"Hey, Jubes, those aren't the lyrics! It's way different than original version!"
"Well, what do you expect from a dollar store that's run by a guy who doesn't know English too well? Besides, it fits Marie better."
"I guess you're right... Kitty, what do you think?"
"Kitty? Where'd you go?"
"Kitty? You here?"
"Guys? HELP ME!" Kitty yelled from between the wall and her bed.
Marie fell asleep listening to 'House of the Rising Sun,' and soon she was in such a deep sleep, even the moonlight streaming through the window didn't wake her up.
But someone else did.
Bernadette crawled out from underneath Marie's bed and stretched. She went over to the window and looked out at the full moon.
Suddenly it grew very dark.
A dark shadow fell across the room. It swept over Bernadette, but the cat didn't even flinch. It continued to float over Kitty, Jubilee, Rogue, Marie... Then it floated back to Bernadette.
But Bernadette wasn't Bernadette anymore.
"Hello Émilie," Mystique said.
"Hello, Mystique..." the shadow whispered. "What have you this time?"
"I've found something that would most definitely interest you," Mystique said.
"Well... what is it?"
"You think I'm going to just hand over the information, after three years of torment as a cat in this place? I'm not that easily won. I have other duties as well."
"Right now, you serve me, Mystique. I paid for you, Darkholme-- don't forget it. I own you. Magneto thought you would suit me better, while he plays with his human pawns. Would you like to end in a stalemate, Rayven? Or would you like to personally execute the king?"
"Enough of your metaphors, Émilie."
"I have not been idle while you sacrifice your place for me. No, no. I've made my own pawns, I've made my own strategies. And I'm not going to play by the rules. I know how much you hate rules."
"Do you, now? What else do you know? Not that Irie will soon go back to the Danger Room..."
"Where did you find this?"
"Found it? I didn't find it anywhere. I made it. Your daughter will go through Exercise 61. Alone."
"Interesting... It is almost time for harvest, dear Mystique!"
"Yes, well, when will I get my feast?"
"Impatient we are, yes. And I thought you hated metaphors."
"Don't make me lose my temper!"
"Why? When the girls wake up from the noise, all they'll see is their enemy standing near their window."
"All that depends on how fast they are. Maybe all they'll see is a cat named Bernadette meowing at the moon."
"Yes, maybe. I must go now, the tides are changing. I shall see you soon, good servant."
"I serve no one."
"You serve me!"
Mystique was knocked to the ground by the shadow as it floated through the window, disappearing into the moonlit night.
Marie began to scream in her sleep.
"Woke up screaming again, didn't you?"
Marie looked up to see Lucky standing by her desk. She nodded sadly.
Lucky hugged Marie and kissed her cheek.
"Don't worry, Princess, it'll be okay. Have you found a song yet?"
Marie smiled somewhat. "Yes, actually. And one I don't know. 'House of the Rising Sun.'"
"What?! Marie, that's about a *whorehouse* for the love of Pete!"
"So what? I don't care. I'm not unfamiliar with the idea. Besides, it has New Orleans in it. That's my hometown. It's sorta fitting too, this version's different, according to Jubilee, and I *did* let a gambler lead me astray..."
"What?"
"Nevermind, just thinking out loud. Besides, do you have any other songs that I could sing?"
"You have a point. Alright, fine. Memorized it yet?"
"I'm getting there."
"LYKEIOS! Have you noticed that the bell rang TEN MINUTES AGO?! SIT DOWN, or I'll sign you up for extra Danger Room sessions so fast Logan won't know which one to put you in first!"
Lucky winced, then winked at Marie.
"I'll see you later Princess," he managed to say before sitting in his seat across the room.
Marie didn't know what she'd do without him.
Marie sighed as the bell rang. 'Another day, another lesson to learn, another chance to die...'
Marie stepped out of the classroom, glum as ever. She didn't notice Ororo walking by her side.
"Marie? Could I talk to you for a second?"
Marie jolted as she felt Ororo's hand on her shoulder.
"Oh... Ms Monroe!"
"Don't worry, this won't take long. Please, come with me to my office. Don't worry, I'll give you a pass."
Marie followed Ororo down the hallway, her face avoiding those who stared.
Ororo smiled as she closed the door behind her pupil. "Please, sit down, Marie."
Marie sat down, and to her surprise Ororo sat down next to her, instead of behind the desk like a professional.
"So, how are your studies going?"
Marie looked down. "Not very well... I just can't seem to concentrate these days."
"I hope the talent show isn't getting in the way."
"No, it isn't... It's actually allowed me to take my mind off things for a while."
"I'm glad," Ororo smiled. "Just to let you know, you're going on after Bobby, who's right after the intermission."
"Wait a minute, Bobby signed up? What's he doing? I thought displaying your powers was against the rules!"
"Oh, it is. Bobby is... well, I think he's doing a clown act."
"As long as he doesn't burp the ABC's and yell about killer Italian pigs, we can just all tune him out until he's done."
"Marie!"
Marie laughed. "What, it's true!"
Ororo smiled. "I'm glad to see you laughing again, Marie." Ororo took a deep breath and held Marie's hand tightly. "Marie... I'm going to tell you a story."
Marie looked at her teacher, confused, weirded out, and maybe a little scared.
"Once upon a time there was a young woman. This woman had extraordinary powers."
"A mutant."
"Yes. She used her powers to fight against evil. One day, she was caught by the enemy. The sick, deranged, psycho sonuva-"
"Ms Monroe?"
"Ah, yes. Sorry. Well, the man reversed the woman's aging process, to make her a little girl again, so she couldn't pose as a threat anymore. He dumped her in a strange town, and the girl didn't know who she was, or where she was, or how to take care of herself. Suddenly a young man rescued her. He took care of her as best as he could. And the two affectionately called themselves brother and sister, even though they belonged to different races, cultures, even generations. The young man was more than twice as old as the little girl. Now, one day, the girl's powers started to manifest themselves again. The girl might hurt herself, or others, if she didn't get her powers under control. Also, the man wasn't exactly the world's best person to look after little kids-- he gambled, and was an expert thief. Many times did a group of people come after him, willing to kill for the money he owed. He also was a mutant, a powerful one. He could hurt her as well. Thinking of the girl's safety, he brought her to a safe place. It turned out that the safe place was her home, before she was youthenized. The woman was returned to normal, and she never saw her frère (brother) again. Until you came."
Marie's eyes widened. "No way. My papa... You're the young mutant."
"Yes."
"My papa's the man... the gambler, the thief, the mutant..."
"Yes, Marie."
"The Institute was your home."
"Now you've got it." Ororo smiled sadly. "I wanted to tell you this, Marie, because I don't want you to think you've got no one in the world left. You have many friends here, you know, but you also have family. I am willing to take care of you, Marie, and I hope you take advantage of the situation."
"What do you mean?"
"I won't just be your history teacher... I'll be your aunt as well."
Marie smiled. "Thank you, Aunt Ororo." She laughed as she hugged the African tight. "Thank you so much..."
"May the Goddess bless you, child..." Ororo was close to tears. "... my niece."
"Marie?"
Marie looked at Lucky and smiled. "Yes, Lykeios?" Her smiled faded when she saw how pale he was.
"Marie, you need to come with me."
"Where?" Marie asked concernedly.
Lucky paused. "You'll see."
"But lunch isn't even over with!"
"Yeah, well... They want you now. Don't worry, I'll be with you every step of the way!"
The two were too busy to notice Rogue watching them walk out of the cafeteria.
"Lykeios, what's going on?" Marie asked as Lucky held her hand tightly and led her down the hallway. "Lykeios!"
"Don't worry, Marie... I won't hurt you."
"Well, I know that, but... What's going on? Where are we going?"
Lucky dragged Marie into a small room, with several closets, but no furniture. Lucky went over to one closet and opened it. Inside were uniforms similar to the X-Men uniforms, but in various sizes.
"You need to pick an outfit that's your size. I'm going to change too." Lucky looked at the frightened Marie with sad eyes. "I just want you to know, I don't support this at all, but I can't do anything about it." Lucky squeezed Marie's hand before disappearing inside a closet.
Marie walked toward the open doors with a grin on her face.
"You ready?" Wolverine asked gruffly. Lucky nodded.
"Ready for what?"
"Sorry we gotta do this to ya, Sherrie."
"Sherrie?"
Wolverine pressed a button in the wall and stood off to the side.
"It's from what your father called ya!" Wolverine yelled down the hole that suddenly apppeared beneath Marie and Lucky's feet, sending them down... down... down...
"No! Marie, Lucky!" Rogue burst into the room, her face red with anger. Upon seeing Wolverine, she narrowed her eyes and growled so fierce even almighty Wolverine was scared.
"Fuck you, asshole!" Rogue yelled as she dived down the hole, seconds before it closed up.
"Shit," Wolverine said to himself. He looked around and whistled a tune as he walked away.
Marie woke up in a daze. They had fallen far, and hit the bottom hard. Now she realized that the whole thing was made out of dirt and rocks. No wonder they had been knocked out.
"Lykeios? Oh, my head..." Marie moaned. She tried to move, but she was crushed.
Marie opened her eyes, beginning to panic, when she stared into the face of her love.
Lykeios's eyes were closed, and his hair was dusty from the rocks. He had a dirty cut on the side of his face, and his lips were slightly opened, as if he had trouble breathing.
"Lykeios..." Marie whispered. "Lykeios, answer me... Lykeios! Oh my God. Lykeios! Lykeios answer me, answer me! Lykeios, wake up, say something! Lykeios, mon Dieu mon amour mon chevalier oh s'il te plaït dis-moi que tu vas bien, que tu m'aimes!" (My God my love my knight oh please say that you're alright, that you love me!)
"... Am I really your God?"
Marie's began to cry as Lykeios opened his blue eyes, those Marie loved so much.
"Aww, now, don't cry, Princess..."
"Oh Lykeios I love you I love you so much and I thought you were dead and I just couldn't take it anymore oh my God I'm crying like an idiot and oh mon Dieu je t'aime beaucoup, je peux mourir--" (my God I love you so much, I can die--)
"Princess, I'm okay..." Lucky winced. "I'm not exactly in the most comfortable position in the world, but..."
"Oh, that's right! You poor thing, here, I'll get up..."
Marie attempted to get up, but a weight held her down.
"What the... Oh Dieu, Marie!"
"What? Rogue? She wasn't..."
"Oh, she's hurt! Marie, wake up, wake up!"
"Rogue? Is she bleeding?"
"Yes, oh, terribly! Ugh, I can't get her off me... There's really nowhere to put her, Aunt Ororo would die if she were in this place..."
"Aunt Ororo?"
"Yes, Aunt Ororo. Ms Monroe. My father took care of her... much like me. It's a long story..."
"Really. How old are these people?"
"Oh, not old at all. I'm not really my father's daughter."
"What?"
"I'm adopted. Well, sort of, not legally or anything... But, it doesn't matter now..."
"I'm so sorry, Princess... I didn't know any of this."
"No one does, except maybe the teachers."
"Wow. Does she know you're here? Ms Monroe, I mean."
"No. No one does. Except Logan, and I don't think he'll rescue us any time soon. You pulled me out of lunch, remember? How could you do something like this to me?!"
"Now, Marie, Princess--"
"Don't Princess me!"
"Marie... I'm sorry. I didn't know it would be this bad... See, I only knew because I got into trouble in class today, remember? They weren't planning on me being with you. You were supposed to get out of this yourself."
"I thought I didn't have to do anything with the Danger Room anymore."
"That's what I thought too. I'm sure we'll find a way out... When we've rested, and Rogue wakes up... She wasn't supposed to be here, I know that for sure!"
"Poor Marie... You know, we seriously could've gotten hurt like that!"
"Hey, I don't make the rules, how can I understand them?"
"Sometimes the one making the rules doesn't understand them either."
"Are you implying that Professor Xavier doesn't know what he's doing?"
"I guess so, yes."
"Then we're doomed."
"At least until we fly away... I'm still waiting."
"One day, I promise."
"I love to watch the birds soaring high in the air...One day, I will be like them!"
"The raptors? The hawks and eagles and vultures and buzzards?"
"And falcons."
"But they're constantly going in circles..."
"And with every circle they rise closer to the clouds. Oh, I wish I were an eagle, so I could fly away..."
"What about us, Marie? Me, and Rogue, and Ms Monroe... Everyone."
"I'd visit."
Lykeios laughed, but soon coughs racked his body. Marie put her hands on Lucky's face and kissed his bloody lip.
"Let's rest now, my knight..."
"Wait... Something's been bothering me. Marie? How did you get your name?"
"My father named me! Honestly..."
"No, I mean... Who were you named after?"
"Why do you ask? Were you named after someone?"
"Yes. The doctor that delivered me. My parents happened to be in Saudi Arabia at the time, and, well..."
"Ah. I see. Lykeios. I knew it wasn't American."
"It's sad, my story, really. He had just saved my parents' lives, and then mine... Without him, I wouldn't have been here... To be with you... He died five minutes later."
"I'm sorry. But what were your parents doing in Saudi Arabia anyway?"
"My mother never stayed in the same place for more than three years, never in her whole life. It's... complicated."
"I think you understand it more than she did. Just a guess..."
"And you, Princess Marie? Why did you get the chance to have a name that nearly describes your beauty?"
"I... I was named after the song."
Lucky then felt Marie stiffen in his hold.
"Princess?" he asked, concerned.
"The song..."
"Yes, Marie, I know the song... Marie!"
Marie closed her eyes and remained silent for a moment.
"Marie!" Lucky exclaimed, worried.
"La chanson..." (The song... [as if that wasn't a duh])
"Marie, est-ce que tu vas bien?" (Marie, are you alright?)
In the darkness, Marie opened her now opaque eyes. She looked straight ahead, but without seeing a thing.
"Bonne nuit, Irene, bonne nuit... Bonne nuit, Irene, bonne nuit! Bonne nuit, Irene, bonne nuit, Irene, je vous voirai dans mes rêves!" Marie sang, hauntingly low. (Good night, Irene, good night... Good night, Irene, good night! Good night, Irene, good night, Irene, I'll see you in my dreams!)
"Marie... Marie!"
Marie looked at Lucky, a dazed look in her eyes.
"Marie?"
Marie nodded. Lucky held her tighter, burying his face into her neck.
"Oh, dear Lord above, you scared me..."
"Were you worried? I'm sorry, my dearest knight..."
"Mmm, it's long forgotten, Princess. Let's not talk any more... Are you tired, m'Lady?"
"Well... now that you mention it..."
"Come, rest. My, you're out of breath! And your heart beats like a hummingbird's wings. Are you sure you're alright?"
"I will be, my knight. Please..."
"Anything, my Princess."
"... let me rest. I... I am weary."
"Of course, m'Lady."
Lykeios closed his eyes, the pain of the rocks against his back, the awkwardness of his position forgotten as his Princess rested on top of him, her head nestled into his shoulder. Soon he felt and heard the soft, steady breathing of his Princess as sleep overcame her.
He gently wrapped his arms around Marie, and was reminded of how thin she was, how little she ate...
How worried she was... How nervous she was...
How *unhappy* she was.
'Just one brush against her cheek,' Lykeios thought, 'and she'd be happy... At least, in her dreams...'
Lucky closed his eyes as he kissed his love's face, the one that he memorized since he first laid eyes on it...
He gave as much as he could to his Princess. And he sighed, smiling, before falling asleep; exhausted, but content. He didn't get a chance to see the look of joy on Marie's face, but they both felt it.
A pair of eyes watched them from above. It stared at the scene, with the blood, the rocks, the darkness all around..
And the love.
The scene swam into a blur, and the eyes closed, mixing together with the night.
And so they lay.
Rogue groaned. She opened her eyes, but everything was so blurry, she couldn't see well into the darkness.
Rogue pulled herself into a sitting position and checked herself over. Her right glove was missing, and her clothes were torn. She found a harsh, deep cut on her back, but she couldn't tell how long it was. It had clotted up, though, so she wouldn't bleed to death.
So many questions ran through her mind. Where was she? Where were Lucky and Marie? Why did this happen? Were they hurt too?
Why the Hell did she have to jump through that hole?
She felt like Alice, gone to Wonderland. A quote ran through her mind:
'But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked.
'Oh, you can't help that,' said the cat. 'We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad.'
'How do you know I'm mad?' said Alice.
'You must be,' said the cat, 'or you wouldn't be here.'
Rogue shook her head to herself.
"Not only am I mad, little cat, I'm lost as well!"
Rogue stood up, only to sway and collapse back down again.
"Shit..."
Suddenly she heard a sound. Like water hitting a rock, or soft, quiet footsteps. Familiar footsteps...
Footsteps. The eyes, surrounded by a black mist, turned to see a cat lightly stepping into view.
"I thought cats were supposed to be silent," the shadow whispered.
"You're thinking of mice, dear Émilie," Mystique said, transforming into her original body.
"You said she would be alone."
"And she was. Until about five minutes before she was scheduled to go."
"Why didn't you alert me of this?"
"I wasn't aware, until too late."
"Who are these people with her?"
"Her best friend and her boyfriend."
"Ah, so she has found love? This will make it harder for me."
"I'll take care of it."
"I also left you to take care of one command, and it still has not been done."
"I have been preoccuppied."
"For three years?"
"It won't happen again."
"Make sure it doesn't."
"So how close is harvest this time?"
"The day after tomorrow."
"I'm not quite sure I understand."
"I have been listening to their conversation. I have a plan."
"What is it?"
"I haven't worked it all out yet, dear servant. Give me time, it shall be done. My, my, you are impatient."
"It comes with the package. Not completely satisfied? Want to trade me off?"
The shadow chuckled. "No, no, I still have uses for you yet. When the time comes for me to discard you, you shall see what will become of you."
"How comforting."
"Was that sarcasm?"
"Yes, Émilie."
"I see. In the meantime, I give you a gift. It is powerful, so use it wisely. The moon will only be full for one more night. I must use this time to the fullest. You must follow through with your duties, the future depends on it!"
The shadow slowly faded away. It left behind a small bottle, no bigger than a pill. Mystique smiled with recognition, looked around, scoffed, and turned into Bernadette.
Rogue sat with her back to the wall, trying to regain her breath. The conversation she just overheard made no sense to her, but she still found it to be extremely dangerous... She didn't know what was going on, but was going to get up, right then and there, and find a way to get out of this thing, find Marie and Lucky, and then go to sleep.
Sleep... yeah, sleep was good... very good... especially since she was so... sleepy...
Just then Rogue shifted, causing the rocks to scrape against her back. She yelled out loud from the pain.
'I knew I should've changed into the uniforms... Man, no time!'
"Marie? Marie, you here?" Rogue yelled aloud.
Rogue suddenly heard loud, coarse coughing. Rogue looked around, but all she could see was darkness.
"Guys? Lucky, Marie? Are you guys alright?"
"... Rogue?"
"Lucky? Fuck, where are you? I can't see a damn thing, and I lost a glove!"
"You're on top of Marie. Marie's on top of me. We're all in a cave thing of some sort."
Rogue was silent for a while.
"Is Marie still sleeping?"
"No, Marie. I'm awake, now. Are you alright? You hurt yourself--"
"I know. I'll be alright. I can't stand up, though. I fall back down."
"If you shift your left leg to the right a little, and your right leg to the left... Yes, alright, I'm free!"
Rogue then felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Careful! Mah clothes are torn, and mah right glove is missing."
"What?" Lucky wheezed a bit. "If you were coming down here, why didn't you--"
"Put on the uniform? Gee, I dunno, maybe I was concerned about mah best friend who CAN'T HANDLE DANGER ROOM SESSIONS and was going through one anyway, and was being led by the one person left on this planet who she'd follow to the ends of the universe!"
"You're mad, aren't you?"
"Don't be, Marie, your injury..."
"Marie? You alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine. A few scrapes and bruises here and there, but I'll deal. Lykeios broke my fall... and maybe a few ribs."
"Gee, when you put it like that, Princess..."
"Oh, Lykeios, I love you so much, and I know you didn't want me to get hurt! See, it's all because I'm sixteen now, and that little incident with the Danger Room happened so many years ago..."
"Two and a half."
"Yes, well, the Prof or somebody like that thought that I would be able to do better this time... Is that it, Lykeios?"
"About so, yeah, that's the story. Though I wouldn't know for sure..."
"Lykeios? Am I off you yet?"
"Yes, Princess. I need help getting up, though."
"Of course. Can you stand?"
Lykeios coughed as he tried to stand up.
"Ooh... It hurts to breathe."
"My poor knight!"
"Please, somebody spare me..."
"Weren't you ever in love once, Rogue?"
"Isn't that none of your business?"
"Umm, guys..."
"Hey, just asking, ya know, 'cause you seem so anal about relationships and stuff..."
"Hey, Lykeios? Marie?"
"Anal? You have not seen 'anal' until you see Mr Summers when he realizes Mr Logan took his motorcycle. Again."
"Guys, please..."
"Mr Summers? Anal? Well... I guess you're right."
"Oh sacré Marie, mère de Dieu, tuez-moi maintenant..."
"I love hearing those words!"
"What, 'Oh holy Mary, mother of God, kill me now?'"
"No. 'I guess you're right!'"
Marie groaned.
"People! We need to get out of here before Lykeios dies from a punctured lung, or something like that, and Marie bleeds to death! So please, stop arguing and THINK OF A WAY TO GET OUT OF HERE! I'm cranky and I want to get cleaned up!"
"Sheesh, don't need to tell us twice..."
"Sorry, Princess."
Marie sighed. "That's better. Anyone got any ideas?"
"I'm too busy focusing on the pain that's making me nauseous right now, sorry."
"Oh, Marie, do you want to trade places?"
"Wait, careful, you'll trample me!"
"That's a bad thing because..."
"Marie! I said no fighting! Come on, you two are my life, or what's left of it, so why can't you two get along?"
Silence.
"Hey! I think I see a light!"
"Where, Lykeios?"
"Hey, I see it! Oh, I knew they'd come for us eventually!"
"Meow..."
"Oh mah friggin' God. Bernadette!"
"It's Bernadette? Why would my cat..."
"I don't know, and I don't care, because this ain't gonna help us outta here."
"We're stuck, though. You're both hurt, and I can't climb this without equipment..."
"We've gotta try *something* at least."
"Meow..."
"Bernadette? Shut up."
"Meow!"
"Well, serves you right for getting our hopes all high..."
"Dammit, I don't know what to do anymore..."
"Marie, don't cry!"
"Ow! You just crashed into mah stomach!"
"Who did?"
"Marie!"
"... No I didn't."
"Yes you did, you just did!"
"She can't, Rogue. I'm holding her."
"... Meow!"
"Oh my God!"
"Bernadette, you did NOT just jump in here!"
"We're doomed."
"So now who's gonna stop me from crying?"
"Go ahead, you got every right! I just may join ya!"
"Wait a minute, what's going on?"
"Oh, I'm so tired, aren't you?"
"Marie?" Marie yawned. "Oh, yeah, you're right... We need to think, though..."
"I'm too tired to think..."
All three pairs of eyes closed. Soon all of them were fast asleep, a dreamless sleep, in which no worries would bother them.
Bernadette's eyes glowed yellow.
Soon Mystique smiled to herself. It wasn't her first try at magic, but it wasn't her hidden talent, so to speak. But all this... this was the calibre of an average full-grown witch. *She* had done this. She was good! Without anyone's help, too. Well, maybe that potion Émilie gave her helped, but hell, who cares? The potion lasts for days, and if she could use it to her advantage, maybe she could buy her freedom. Or she could bring the place down with her, either one.
She then transformed herself into Lykeios, Marie asleep in her arms, and walked away from Exercise 61, now a pile of rocks and dirt.