The Dragon Tamer
(*Rating may change in later chapters* PG-13 for swearing and suggestive actions and words. P/OC (a little R/B) Comes into play after X:2. What are these dreams John's been having? And who is this new girl at the old mansion? (( ' Indicates thoughts))
Disclaimer: I do NOT own the original X-Men or the topic.
Chapter 15: Confrontation
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'This is just peachy...' John leaned up against a tree. They were all hiding in the woods. He knew what was coming, they all did. They could easily hear Magneto's helicopter above them a while ago. It had stopped, but suddenly, so he knew it landed. And he knew they were on their way. So now it was either run back towards Raptor's place, or run straight towards Magneto. 'Hmm... I just love the choices.' He had one arm around Amanda, and one tightly placed over his mouth to prevent too much noise to escape. The others were following this as well, since all but Merphin were out of breath. Jubilation glanced at the young child that was hugging her leg, 'Good thing she isn't real loud.'
Everyone seemed to hold their breath as the sound of walking came from one direction, and the sound of a motorcycle pounded from another. They could just run to either side, but then they would only get lost and die of something else. Amanda leaned her head on John's shoulders. If this didn't go well, then she would never see him again. He would be drug away with Magneto. Bobby, Kitty, Jubes, Devon, Merphin, F-Fly, K-Fly, and herself would be returned to Raptor and that would be that. Marie, Jake, and Allen would most likely be killed or kept prisoner. Glancing up at John, she noticed he and the others were staring wide-eyed to the left of them, or the way Magneto came from. Amanda followed their eyes and gasped. Magneto and Mystique had spotted them and were approaching very quickly. Not only that, but the motorcycle was gaining twice as fast.
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Leon raced on his cycle, he could tell he was nearing them, as he had seen where the chopper landed. Then he saw the whole gang, including Mystique and Magneto. He screeched the bike to a stop about fifteen feet from them and ran nearer.
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John groaned, Leon had come too. His arm tightened around his girlfriend, as if he alone could stop her from being taken. She too had an arm around him, fearing the same thing he was. 'This is it.' She thought, 'It's finally coming to an end.' A tear slid down her cheek as she looked over at the others. All but Devon, Merphin, and the 'Fly's were crying as well.... well... all the girls anyway. Bobby, Jake, Allen, and John all had stern, yet fearful looks planted firmly on their features. 'Great, I'm a stereotypical girl.' She looked over at Kaylin, who didn't seem the type to leak, and realized that she wasn't crying, but looked like she would at any moment.
"So, you thought you would get away so easily Mr. Allerdyce?" Magneto had his easy-going grin on. John frowned. Of course, they could all attack at once, but that would prove rather pointless. Kaylin was way too tired to create a fire for him, Rogue wasn't fast acting enough, Bobby might be of some use, but he alone wouldn't do much good. And even if Amanda joined him it would still be two against three. Jubilee could join the two of them and make it even, but he highly doubted they would be able to take them all on. Allen, Jake, Kitty, and he were pretty much useless. And there was little chance the kids would just jump in and help, seeing as how they were all so young. 'Well, except for that kid with black eyes, he seems like a teenager of 14 at least.'
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Leon now stood directly across from Magneto and Mystique; he didn't even take the time to look at the shaken teenagers and small children directly to the left of him. He had other business. If he had anything to do with it, they were going to get away from here and back to safety. Raptor blinked as he thought about this, when exactly had he turned into the 'good' guy here? He wasn't sure, but he knew there was something about that group of teens that gave him hope, maybe the future wouldn't be so bad for mutants. The only real issue here was getting the old man and the blue bitch off their backs long enough for them to reach the school. There, Magneto and Mystique would be too out-numbered to really start anything. He knew that much.
Raptor glared as Magneto began to speak. Not to him, but to the one called Pyro; at least he thought that was who 'Mr. Allerdyce' was. He couldn't be sure; it's not like he knew the boy personally. Without even giving the young teen a chance to reply he spoke up. "Leave them alone old man. You've done enough here." Magneto did a double take. Was this really his 'ally' talking to him like this? He sneered, "I thought you wanted a handful of them to become your new weapons Leon, isn't that what we agreed on? I get the flame-thrower and you get the rest?"
Leon mocked a sneer as well; "Things have changed. These kids can really change something in this hellish world we're forced to live on." Even he had to repeat that one to himself, 'Damn, I sound like something out of a bad super hero movie.' Magneto scrunched his eyes up, and messed with his ear. "I'm sorry Leon, I thought you said things had changed." Raptor smirked, "You weren't hearing things. I said that, and I meant it. Look at how far they've gotten. They made it out of my maze in record time, and almost escaped completely. These teenagers have more strength than the U.S. Military when put together. I for one am not going to be part of destroying something so great. They worked together and every single one of them got out alive."
Once again Magneto blinked and stared at him, somewhat confused. After a few moments he smiled wryly and crossed his arms over his chest in a superior way. "Very well, if they really want to go they can. But know this," He turned his mocking gaze over to John, who glared back. "Mystique has gotten into that school before, and she can, and will do it again if need be. If you leave now, imagine all the terrible things that could happen to you and your little friends for the rest of their lives. You can leave, yes, and be together. But we would find ways of ripping you apart.... we will always find a way. And the torture would continue until the day you returned to us. What do you say to that?" John snorted, "You might think you do, Magneto, but you really don't intimidate me, and I don't think you get through."
Mystique walked nonchalantly over and walked around to John's free side. Putting her mouth up to his ear, she began whispering in a voice so low that only they two could hear it. "Imagine, John. You and your bitch manage to get home." He scowled at her choice of name for Amanda, but didn't say anything. "But eventually something will slip, and when you least expect it. She WILL end up hating you, mark my words on that one." She gave him her infamous smile and walked just as easily back over to her boss. She said something to him that sounded very much like, "Let them go. I've got an idea." Magneto grinned and they walked off without another word. The remaining mutants exchanged worried glances, but shrugged it off.
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Raptor smiled after they left. "Before you go, I want to say thank you. Oh, and Emerald Aura will be returning to the school very soon, she has been under my control from about the time Ms. Orlan arrived at the school. She will have no recollection of what was going on, just like you, Basilisk, don't remember what happened while you were under my power."
"Well, can't be any worse than she was while she was under you," John smirked and chuckled a little, "Emma I mean." He added after getting a very serious look from Amanda.
With a few last thank you's to Leon, they began the very long journey back to the school, leaving their stuff behind. They had all decided that they would simply bring the four new children with them. The school would automatically accept them, and life would go on. They knew Storm and Cyclops would go and get all of it later on, right now they just wanted to get back to where they 'knew' it would be safe.... right?
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