Chapter 8: A Pony Named Demon and International Relations

The next day went off without a hitch, for the most part.

Everyone was dressed and ready by noon and the doors officially opened at 1. Within no time Mutant Manor was booked solid.

They were even able to track down 7 polo ponies-er-make that 6 polo ponies and the spawn of Satan clocking in at a whopping 11 hands (a "hand" is a unit of measure for horses), which translates to approx. 3 feet 8 inches tall from the ground to the top of the horse's shoulder blade. Although he was small his professional name had been Dante's Inferno because of the hell he would raise in miniature racing, a small circuit (sorry, it was too easy). He had been the undisputed champion of the track until that fateful day (Oh, stop you knew this was coming!)

As it happened it was raining that day, not hard enough to close the track, but hard enough to cause electrical malfunctions. Just after the shot signaling the start of the race was fired the gates were raised, rather than locking in the up right position they came crashing down again. All of the horses were unharmed except for Dante's Inferno, who being much faster than the rest of the horses already had his head out of the gate.

Needless to say the gate came down on his neck and electrocuted him. He was never the same after that-he became evil and earned the nickname, Demon.

Twice as evil as he was beautiful (I don't know why that's just how it goes- stay with me people!). His body was white except for 3 black socks the only leg that didn't have one was his front right. His mane, tale and forelock were red and his eyes were electric blue (hehe-That was evil I know, I admit it).

I know you're wondering about the whole horse interlude, it's useless character plot. It had to go somewhere, but in the long run you need to know about it).

Toad and Kurt sat on lawn watching the seven ponies in the make shift corral at a safe distance (approx. 7 yards to be exact). Demon had forced the other six ponies into one corner while he had full run of the enclosure.

"Do you think ve should be vorried about zat one?" asked Kurt.

"I don' know yo," said Toad, "but I'm not goin' over there to scratch his nose anytime soon."

"For vonce ve agree on something," said Kurt visibly wincing as Demon pawed the ground in annoyance and snorted.

"Do you really think anyone will want to play polo?" asked Toad after snapping a mosquito right out of the air.

"I hope not I don't know ze first thing about horses let alone polo!" admitted Kurt.

"Me nietha, bro," confessed Toad.

"I'm just happy mein sister decided to call Paul. I don't know what we would've done without him." said Kurt.

"Me too," agreed Toad, "Hey, I'm just thankful he decided to shut down the Mounty station for a few days and bring Zeke, Bob and Larry (Captured in Canada reference). Not to mention the 10 cases of Molson. I know some of the guests don't want mixed drinks all the time."

"Hey, vhat's he doing?" asked Kurt in horror as Demon baked up as far as he could, struck the ground twice and then charged straight at the gate.

CRACK!

NNNNAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!

Demon had broken the clear off its hinges and then reared before beginning his rampage on the Xavier Institute.

"This is not good, yo!" said Toad just hopping out the way in time before getting squished.

"You think?!" yelled Kurt sarcastically over the sound of the stampeding ponies.

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In the kitchen Rogue and Kitty were washing dishes. Correction-they had been washing dishes for past three hours-in silence.

"Alriaght Kitty what is it?!" asked Rogue finally.

"What do you mean?" asked Kitty as nonchalantly as possible.

"Ah mean," said Rogue sternly, "the last tiahme you were this quiahet you failed a math test."

"I'm just thinking!" said Kitty quickly.

"About Colossus?" asked Rogue slyly.

"What?! No!-Why did he say something about me?"

"Ha! Ah knew it," said Rogue triumphantly.

"You like fully suck!" said Kitty.

"Oh, calm down," said Rogue, "Ah happen to know for a fact that he liahkes ya."

"Really?" asked Kitty visibly brightening up, "I can't tell. He's like so quiet all the time. He barely said anything the whole time we were setting up the dining room."

"He's just shahy that's all. You should take a more diahrect approach." said Rogue.

"I don't know." said Kitty hesitantly, "I don't want to like scare him off or anything."

"He's a big boy, Kitty. Ah'm sure he can handle what evah you throw at him."

"You really think so?" asked Kitty.

"Ah know so, now go fiahnd him!"

"But the dishes-" protested Kitty.

"Ah'll handle them." said Rogue.

"Thanks Rogue you're like the best!" said Kitty practically skipping towards the door.

"Ah know," said Rogue smirking, "Ah know."

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Meanwhile Gambit was having the same problem with Piotr as he was attempting to balance the books for that day.

"I do not know what do, comrade." said Piotr in misery, "She is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen and whenever she comes near I lose my voice and cannot tell her."

"Relax, Petey," said Remy as he punched a series of numbers into a calculator, "Gambit know for a fact de fili likes you jus' as much as you like her."

"Really?" asked Piotr.

"Oui," said Remy trying to concentrate on the numbers in front of him.

"She has never said anything before," said Colossus.

Gambit looked up, "Neither 'ave you, mon ami."

"What should I say?" asked Piotr, "I always fear it will come out wrong."

"Whoa, whoa, Petey," said Gambit, "lighten up yo so serious all de time Gambit surprised de fili 'asn't run de oth' way."

"Then how do I show her I am not always serious?" asked Piotr.

"Be spontaneous," Gambit offered, "now go find her an' sort de whole t'ing out. Remy 'as ta finish de accountin'."

"I will, thank you," said Colossus heading towards the door.

"Oh one more t'ing!" said Gambit opening a drawer of the desk he was sitting at, "'ere, no point in takin' de risk." With that the Cajun threw the Russian a Trojan (hehe-I love that sentence).

Piotr stared at in shock as he started to turn pink.

"Mon ami, if anyone be needin' ta get laid it be you. Now go on already de night ain't gone stay young forever!"

Colossus shoved the little packet into his pocket, took a deep breath, then headed out the door and down the hall.

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In the meantime Kitty had given up her search for Colossus, picked up a book and settled into an armchair in one of the smaller parlors. There was a fire in the fireplace, which made the atmosphere all that more cozy.

Piotr, after conducting a rather detailed search of the first floor gave up after he couldn't find Kitty. So he went and grabbed his sketch book, then headed in search of a quiet spot to draw.

Kitty had hardly settled in and started reading when who should appear in the threshold, but the Colossus himself (Tell me you saw this coming!).

Both, once again, froze.

After a few seconds Piotr was finally able to find his voice, "Do you mind if I join you?"

"Yes!-I mean no-I don't mind if you like join me," said Kitty motioning to the chair opposite her.

Piotr lowered himself into the chair slowly. Then opened his sketch pad and pretended to draw, sneaking glances at Kitty when she wasn't looking (Aww, isn't that cute, author turns green, covers mouth with hand and runs from the room).

(Author returns!)

It wasn't long before Kitty noticed what Piotr was doing.

"It's awfully hot in here-with the fire and everything-can I get you a drink?" asked Kitty as she jumped to her feet.

"Of course," said Piotr.

"Great, what do you want?"

As Colossus was about to answer when he remembered what Gambit had said about being spontaneous, "Surprise me,"

"Um, ok," said Kitty as she walked out of the room.

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In the kitchen Rogue had finished the dishes and was now having some tea with Wanda at the table.

"I can't believe that idiot!" grumbled Wanda.

"Yer brother?" asked Rogue.

"No, the first guy this morning. He wanted me to call a cab so he could go to the movies. Right after I get off the phone his wife walks by and says, 'Honey, I thought we were going shopping today'. So after I call the cab company his two little brats walk by after going for a swim and insist that they were supposed to go to a theme park today. After 20 minutes of arguing they went separate ways. The father to the cabana bar, the mother to the sauna and the kids went back to the pool. I'm telling you, Rogue their morons!"

"Who the parents or the kids?" asked Rogue.

"Humans in general! Now I think I'm actually looking forward to Magneto conquering human kind." exclaimed Wanda, "I don't know how I'm going through the next three days." Wanda looked down into her tea cup miserably.

"Whay don't just go 'relax' with John?" asked Rogue.

"Don't you think I want to?" asked Wanda beginning to sound desperate, "He was so tired from waiting tables, keeping the pool clean and acting as the resident masseuse he fell asleep when I was rubbing his shoulders. He didn't even have to take care of the pool all day because Zeke took over the bar and Pietro completely took over cleaning the pool! And I'm in such a bad mood as it is the last thing I need is John crapping out on me right in the middle of something."

Rogue couldn't help but chuckle, "Well then let 'im sleep now and tomorrow during yer lunch break whay don't you invite John back to yer room fer lunch and then fer 'dessert'?"

"That's not a bad idea!" said Wanda happily.

"Don't Ah know it. What did ya think me an' Gambit were doin' from niahne ta noon?"

Wanda laughed, "I wondered what was taking so long to clear the dining room!"

Kitty burst into the room, "Rogue, HELP!"

"What is it now Kitty?" asked Rogue, "Don't tell me you still haven't found Colossus!"

"That's just it!" said an exasperated Kitty, "I did."

"So what's the problem?" asked Wanda.

"I offered to get him a drink and he said 'surprise me'. What do I do?"

"Bring him a beer," suggested Rogue, "all men like beer."

"Well that takes care of the drink, but what about a surprise?! Beer isn't all that exciting!" insisted Kitty.

"It is if yer a man," persisted Rogue.

Wanda rolled her eyes at Rogue then looked a Kitty, "If you want to surprise him that badly then why don't you just serve it to him naked?"

"Wanda you're a genius!" squealed Kitty as she grabbed to cans of Molson's (God knows they had plenty of it) from the frig and ran back the way she came.

"That was-" Wanda trailed off as she watched Kitty leave.

"Bizarre" ventured Rogue.

"Yes," said Wanda as she took another sip of tea.

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In the meantime Piotr was beginning to wonder what was taking Kitty so long. His fears of her just using that as an excuse to get away from him were forgotten when he heard the doorknob to the parlor door turn.

"Katherine (is it an 'a' or an 'e'?) is that you?" asked Colossus closing his sketchbook.

"Yes, it's me," said Kitty closing the door and locking it behind her.

Needless to say Colossus was a little confused, "Katherine, is everything well?"

"Everything's like fine," said Kitty coming up along side the chair Piotr was sitting in, "here," she held out one of the beer bottles to him.

Colossus put his hand around hers as a way of mild flirtation, "Than-" he stopped mid word when he saw the only thing she was wearing was a scrunchy (one of those elastic hair ties-I don't know if I spelled it right).

"Is something like wrong?" asked Kitty innocently.

Colossus leaned forward and their lips met softly.

THUD!

They toppled on to the floor and it was on!

After about a good five minutes of frantic making-out like doom's day would be upon them shortly Piotr finally went for hid fly (the zipper of his jeans).

"Wait," said Kitty gasping for air.

Piotr paused, "Da (yes)?"

"Can I see it? I like assume when you transform you transform all over. I just want to make sure you won't hurt me." said Kitty a little nervously.

"Do not worry Katherine I would never hurt you-see?" said Piotr.

Kitty's eyes nearly popped out of her head as it turned out Piotr gave a whole new meaning to the phrase 'hung like a horse'.

"Would you be like terribly offended if I started to sing 'sweet mystery of life at last I've found you'?"

Piotr just chuckled and kissed Kitty as he rolled her onto her back on the carpeted floor of the parlor.

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Well there you have it. I know some of you have been asking me for a Kiotr scene and there it was I hope you enjoyed it. And don't worry not only is there more to come with Kitty and Colossus, but Rogue and Remy as well as John and Wanda-MWHAHAHAHA! : damn there I go again, oh well-next chapter up soon.

Oh and by the by Demon will become a larger part of the story soon along with the Mounties and the mutants who went to investigate Apocalypse whereabouts-just in case you were wondering ;}