Confrontations and Revelations
That night the school gym was alive with music and the sound of teenagers enjoying themselves. The chaperones watched the kids so that they wouldn't enjoy themselves too much. For many of the students, this night was a welcome break from the recent events.
"You know you really are a good dancer," Taryn laughed.
"Well you're not that bad yourself," Paul admitted.
"Hey!" Scott and Jean bumped into them.
"Hey there!" Taryn said cheerfully. "You two having fun?"
"Yeah!" Jean laughed. "I haven't danced this much in ages!" The happy couple twirled around the dance floor.
"You're over Scott I see," Paul said.
"Well if I ever needed a lesson on jealousy and how it can hurt people Anya taught me that," Taryn sighed. "Looking at them now…I guess they really do belong together. Besides, maybe it is for the best." She grinned at him. "Wanna get some punch?"
"Love to," Paul laughed. They waved to Kurt and Amanda on the dance floor.
"You know it's nice now that someone else knows your secret," Amanda said. "See I told you people would accept you once they got to know you."
"At least she didn't scream when she saw me," Kurt sighed.
"Well I didn't," Amanda put her hands on his face. "And if people can't deal with that it's their loss!" They kissed.
"Oh brother," John grumbled as the rest of the Brotherhood watched the action from the sidelines. "Puke alert at twelve o'clock."
"It's only 9:30," Fred looked at his watch. "Aw don't worry about it man, hey at least the food is good.
"What's left of it," Pietro snickered. "Now where is Daniels? I want to see if I can steal his date away again!"
"He didn't bring a date," Wanda pointed out.
"Oh darn," Pietro snapped his fingers. "Now where's the challenge in that? However maybe we have more important targets to think about." He indicated the Joes.
"What are you gonna do?" John asked.
"Haven't decided yet," Pietro said. "But when I do, I promise it will be a blast!"
Not much further away, oblivious to his teammate's plans Lance danced with Kitty. "See," Lance said to Kitty as they danced, "Nothing bad is happening."
"What about Mystique?" Kitty asked.
"Who cares?" Lance laughed. "Besides, I have a feeling Magneto isn't gonna be too thrilled with her dropping the ball on the Joe thing. Speaking of which," He gave a glance at some of the Joes watching the students. "Man they give me the creeps!"
"Yeah I know," She sighed. "But they seem to want to help us."
"Help themselves is more like it," Lance grumbled. "I don't trust them. And you shouldn't either! For all we know, they could try and capture us like Cobra did."
"You don't know that," Kitty pointed out. The music started to slow down. "Can we not talk about this anymore?"
"Okay," Lance put his arms around her. "Let's forget about them for now."
They danced together, moving slowly to the rhythm of the music. "You know something," Kitty said. "Whatever happens, I'm glad to be with you here tonight. If you were hurt…"
"Shhh," Lance put a finger to her lips. "We promised not to talk about that. Remember?"
"Okay," She put her head on his chest."
"Kitty…I just don't want this night to end," Lance whispered in her ear as he held her tight. "I've never felt this happy before. We're together, that's all I ever cared about. I know I've made mistakes in the past, but I want to make up for them. If you'll let me."
Rogue and Remy danced nearby watching them. "They look good together," Rogue said as they danced.
"Hmmm," Remy said. "Not as good as you look. Did I tell you how beautiful you are tonight?"
"Only about a hundred times," Rogue smiled.
"You want me to stop?"
"I didn't say that!" Rogue giggled.
"Hey you two," Risty approached. "So how's my favorite couple doing?"
"Oh fine," Rogue replied sweetly. "No date for you?"
"You know me," Risty shrugged. "Single Party girl."
"Oh I know you all right," Rogue said.
"May I have your attention please!" Principal Kelly spoke using a microphone.
"No you may not!" Pietro quipped.
"It's time to announce this year's Homecoming Queen and King," Kelly said. "This is based on your votes."
"Oh really I thought it was based upon the results of a skeet shooting contest," Pietro quipped.
"And our Homecoming Queen is…Jean Grey!" The crowd cheered. Kelly read the second name. "Our king is…Duncan Matthews!"
"Oh man," Taryn groaned. "I forgot…Anya stuffed the ballot boxes!"
"Well this ought to be interesting," Risty snickered as the two glared at each other. "I can't wait until the spotlight dance."
"Hey can we talk somewhere?" Rogue said. "I have to tell you something. Excuse us please Remy."
They went out of the gym to the hallway. "Well what is it?" Risty asked. "This is about Remy right?"
Rogue swiftly pinned Risty to the lockers. "A simple no would have sufficed!" Risty said surprised.
"Did you really think I would never find out?" Rogue hissed at her. "Did you really think I was that stupid?"
"What are you talking about?"
"What do you think I'm talking about Risty? Or should I say Mystique?" Rogue shouted.
She looked at her. "You know."
"Yeah," She spat. "I always knew you were low but this is the worst thing you have ever done!"
"You don't understand," Mystique returned to her natural form. "I was only doing it to help you."
"Oh I understand perfectly," Rogue growled as she let go. "You did it because you needed to use me for your own purposes! Tell me, how exactly were you helping me when you caused that chaos at the mansion the time we threw a party and Arcade nearly made shish kabob out of us? How were you helping me when you lied to my face every day about our friendship? How were you helping me when you reported on our activities to Magneto? How were you helping me when you left me behind in that lab of Trask's? Thank god we got out before they really did any damage! No thanks to you!"
"Rogue I can explain…"
"Save it!" Rogue snapped. "I've heard it before! You claim you care about me but the only person you really care about is yourself! You've done nothing but lie and hurt me, Kurt and all my friends! I should take you out once and for all!" She took off her glove and made a fist.
"Don't!" Remy put his hand on her shoulder, stopping her. "You do that chere, you'll sink to her level! Is that what you want?"
Rogue glared at her. "Go," She snarled. "Get out of here. I never want to see you or Risty or anyone else you pretend to be again. If you do, next time the gloves will come off! Understand?"
"And I won't stop her next time," Remy growled. "And I think it's time we tell Lance and Kitty just how you know all about them getting together. Oh yes I think the Brotherhood will be very interested in that little piece of information. As well as you having a liaison with Monsieur Zartan."
"How did you…?" Mystique went pale.
"I had a little talk with one of the Joes yesterday," Remy smirked. "They're better at spying than you. You're finished Mystique. I'd get out of town if I were you. I don't think Magneto will be too happy to hear about this, cause you know Pietro's gonna blab to his daddy after he hears about it!"
"Get out," Rogue hissed. Mystique frowned and shapeshifted back to Risty. Then walked away.
"I'm proud of you chere," Remy said. "I know how hard that must have been on you."
"I can't believe I trusted her," Rogue held back her tears.
"That one is a sick woman," Remy hugged her. "But don't let that one bad experience with her let you not trust anybody in the future. You're better than that. You're better than she is. You just proved it. Now let's go back into the dance and find Lance and Kitty."
"Right," Rogue and Remy went into the dance.
As soon as they went back in Guyrich and Trask appeared. They walked briskly down the corridors. "If you want something done right you have to do it yourself," Guyrich snapped checking his pistol.
"That's right," Trask nodded. Holding his. "It's time those mutants are exposed once and for all. I can't believe how easy it was to knock out that one Joe guard."
"They've gone complacent in their victory yesterday," Guyrich headed for his office. "Well they are in for a surprise! Come in here." He opened the door to his office. And came face to face with Principal Kelly making out with Dorothy on top of his desk. "Oh for crying out loud!" Guyrich rolled his eyes. "You're worse than the students!"
"Um…" Kelly rearranged his clothing. "Henry…where have you been all day?"
"Trying to save idiots like you from themselves," Guyrich held up his weapon. "Hands up!"
"Henry what's going on?" Kelly gasped.
"I'll tell you what's going on you imbecile!" Trask spat. "You allowed this school to become a haven of disease and impurity! You allowed innocent children to wallow in corruption and the filth of your incompetence!"
"What Dorothy and I do is no one's business but our own!" Kelly spat.
"Not that!" Guyrich said. "He means mutants! You have to be a little more concise with him Trask. His small mind has trouble grasping simple concepts."
"Mutants?" Kelly's voice was shaking.
"A whole herd of them," Trask snapped. "Right under your nose! Didn't you ever wonder what kind of Institute takes students that claim to be gifted but obviously aren't! In the academic sense anyway!"
"Are you saying that there are mutants at that Institute?" Kelly went pale.
"Catches on quick doesn't he?" Dorothy groaned.
"Let me guess," Guyrich said to Dorothy. "He's a good kisser right?"
"Among other things," She shrugged.
"Come on!" Guyrich ushered Kelly and Dorothy back inside the gym. "It's time to show you exactly what kind of students are at Bayville High."
"Look don't hurt Dorothy," Kelly whispered.
"Don't worry," Guyrich spat. "We're not interested in you two. We just want to make sure you stick around for the show." He concealed the weapon. "Now we are going up to the podium to make a little announcement.
All the students were watching Duncan and Jean being crowned king and queen as Trask and Guyrich ushered their hostages in. All of them except for Fred. He was munching on the food and was looking for some more potato chips when he happened to see them enter. He noticed Guyrich was standing close to Kelly and Dorothy and that they had worried looks on their faces. Then he got a glimpse of Trask.
It is said that everyone in his or her life has at least one moment of genius. One epiphany that makes everything clear. Unfortunately Fred happened to have his at that very moment. It only lasted thirty seconds, but it was enough for him to put two and two together. However it ended just before Fred opened his mouth.
"HEY GUYS!" Fred shouted. "GUYRICH MUST REALLY WORK FOR TRASK! HE'S NOT A VICE-PRINCIPAL! HE'S REALLY A SPY!" Fred shouted. "AND HE'S GOT PRINCIPAL KELLY AND HIS SECRETARY HOSTAGE!"
Several students screamed. "Wonderful," Guyrich whipped out his pistol. "Our cover blown by the village idiot! Everyone freeze! Nobody move!"
"Oh brother!" Falcon swore. "How did they get in here?"
"I told you we should have had more people guarding the entrance!" Jinx snapped.
"Put down your weapons!" Falcon drew out his own gun. "We don't want you hurting any innocent kids."
"Our intention isn't to hurt any kids," Trask spat. "Well any human kids."
"We've come to warn you about the creatures posing as your friends!" Guyrich snarled, pointing his weapon in the direction of several Institute students. Instinctively Lance stood in front of Kitty in order to protect her. "Do you know who, or what these Institute students are?"
"Hey don't hurt us man!" One Jock blubbered.
"I'm here to save you!" Guyrich grabbed Kurt. "See for yourselves what these people really are!" He grabbed Kurt's watch and yanked it off, revealing his true form to his horror. Several people screamed. They screamed louder when Kurt teleported away from Guyrich.
"That's nothing!" Trask shot off a bullet at Jean. Instinctively she used her powers to stop the bullet in mid flight. She let it drop harmlessly to the ground.
"You're that freak from the TV months ago!" Duncan shouted backing away. "Get away from me!"
Meanwhile Trask had been tackled and disarmed by several Joes. "You're so called Queen and her friends are freaks!" Trask spat as he was wrestled to the ground. "And so are all the Institute and Brotherhood kids! Look at them! They're not even human!"
"Shut up!" Wanda snapped using her powers to tip the punch bowl onto Trask's head.
"You shut up!" Guyrich started to fire his pistol, only to see it wasn't there anymore.
"Looking for this?" Pietro quipped as he held the pistol. He gave it to Fred.
"Don't you know that guns are very dangerous?" Fred snapped as he crumpled up the weapon as if it was made of paper. "And bringing guns to school is bad. Very bad!" He loomed over Guyrich.
"I say we teach him a lesson," Tabitha threw a time bomb down his pants, revealing his underwear.
"Save me!" Guyrich screamed.
"Oh yeah now he wants our help," Sgt. Slaughter grumbled as he grabbed Guyrich.
"Get them out of here!" Falcon snapped. The two men were dragged away by some of the Joes.
Too late, the damage was done. Jean knew she couldn't erase all those minds. And by the thoughts she was receiving, most of them weren't too pleased at being deceived. They were staring at all the mutants in shock. Then they started to talk among themselves.
"This is not good," Paul muttered.
"Look at Kurt," One person said.
"Looks like some kind of rat," Someone else said.
"He does not!" Amanda stomped her foot.
"No wonder all our dances end up in disaster!" One teacher said.
Kelly just stood there in shock. "You're the principal!" Another teacher said to him. "Do something!"
"Like what?" Kelly yelped.
"Listen," Scott said. "I know this is a shock to a lot of you, but we're not what you think we are. We're not here to hurt anybody. Really."
"Oh yeah?" One person pointed to the Brotherhood. "What about them?"
"Yeah you guys are always causing trouble around here!" Another person snapped.
"That's why everything goes wrong around here? Because of you isn't it!" Another person shouted.
"I knew there was something wrong with those weirdoes at the Institute," Another shouted out. "We don't want your kind around here! All you do is cause trouble!"
"Why don't you freaks just go back where you came from?" Duncan snapped.
"Why don't you shut up?" Pietro snapped.
"Make us," A cheerleader shouted.
"Look nobody wants any trouble," Jean said. Trying to calm her down.
"Don't touch me!" The cheerleader jerked her hand away from Jean. "Lousy mutant!"
"How much you wanna bet she used her powers to score all those goals?" Another cheerleader said.
"Yeah they lied about everything else!" A Jock shouted. "Who knows what else they're hiding!"
"I'll bet they had something to do with the gym being on fire!" Another student shouted. "And those monsters at the Sadie Hawkins dance!"
"Get outta here you freaks!" Another jock snarled.
"You wanna start something?" Lance snarled, slightly shaking the building.
"Lance no!" Kitty pulled at his arm. "Don't start a fight. We should just go!"
"No way!" Lance spat. "We have just as much right to be here as anyone else! No close minded retards are gonna scare me away!"
"Me neither," Fred flexed his muscles.
"Okay that's enough!" Gung Ho shouted. "Nobody wants a fight to break out!"
"Wanna bet?" John sneered.
"Bring it on freak!" A jock snarled. Already some people were looking for the exits while others were getting ready for a fight. The Brotherhood was getting ready for a fight. Half the X-Men looked like they were getting ready to fight the Brotherhood, the other half were confused as what they should do. And the Joes were trying to get them to stop the fight before it began.
"It's really gonna get ugly in a few seconds," Alpine groaned.
"This cannot get any worse," Falcon groaned.
Just then the doors burst open, revealing the Baroness and a whole troop of Cobra soldiers with weapons. "GET THE MUTANTS!" She screamed. "COBRAAAAAA!"
