"The Mage"
Writer2Bpoet
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"Stranger Than Fiction"
Disclaimer: I keep wondering if I must post this with every chapter, but what the heck. No, I own none of the original characters of this X-men series, but I will try and keep them true to themselves, no worries. Also, if I mention or briefly insert bits from various shows, nothing meant, just using some artistic licensing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
The knock on the door seemed to echo into the rest of the house, and all Allen could do what stand there. 'They couldn't possibly.', he suddenly wondered why any solicitors would be this persistent. He was immediately suspicious, but decided to look through the peephole this time. He, very quietly, went back to the door, and opened the miniature door that was hidden in front behind the knocker. It was the same three, alright, but Allen noticed something about them. They weren't like the other kids that came by periodically trying to sell things, something about them just didn't add up. 'What's the worst that can happen?'
He opened the door, again, and looked out at the three teenagers on the doorstep, looking back at him. The tall guy was the first to speak.
"Okay, before you close the door on us again, just let me tell you that we are not trying to sell you anything." He got a look from the red- head, and he cleared his throat, "Well, we sort of are, but."
The young valleygirl piped up next, "What Scott is trying to say, I think, is that we are actually here to help you."
Allen was still a bit suspicious. "Help me with what? A better question is that if you are not here to sell me stuff, what are you here for, exactly?"
The redhead spoke again. "Can we come in for this? It might take some explanation."
Allen hesitated. He knew nothing of these people, or who they were, nothing. Why would he invite them in? But something about the dream from the night before flashed into his head: a desire to know. "Okay, but can you just answer me one thing?"
"What do you want to know?" Scott asked.
"Before you tell me your names, tell me why you came here?"
Scott looked at the red-head, and they exchanged glances with the other girl. There seemed to be some sort of agreement. "Mind if I ask you a question first?"
Allen smiled sarcastically, "Why not?"
"How do you feel about.mutants?"
The question stunned him. It wasn't exactly something that was thrown at him everyday. Something dawned on him. His smile became a sort of grin. "Somehow, I thought you'd look a bit different."
The redhead smiled. "Most people do. But this is the part where things get a bit more serious. My name is Jean, this is Scott, and Kitty." She gestured to each of her companions in turn.
Allen nodded, and opened the door for them to come in. "Is that short for Katie, or Catherine?" Kitty seemed taken aback for a moment.
"Umm, Katherine, actually, but I don't like my name. Like it's totally too formal."
When everyone was finally seated in the living room, the conversation took a new turn. Jean continued speaking, although it seemed that Scott usually took the lead, for some reason. "We, and a number of others like us are a part of the Xavior Institute for Gifted Youngsters-"
"I think I heard about that place in the news once, it's a school, sort of, for mutants, right?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"So, why is it that I'm getting a feeling like this is about to get all 'Twilight Zone'-ish?"
Kitty piped in so as not to create too much of a silence. "Well, the truth of the matter is that whenever a new mutant manifests powers, Professor Xavier sends out groups of students to sort of.offer whatever support that can be offered, and many times that includes an offer of welcome to join us at the School."
Allen's eyes lit up for a moment, before he spoke again. "Somehow, I knew I wasn't going to like what today's events would bring." He paused, before rubbing his temple with his hand. "God, you guys aren't joking are you?" He looked around at each of them. "So, if you really are serious- but that would mean that.and I am.whoa!" He dropped his head into his hands, and started shaking.
Kitty, at first, got a panicked look on her face, "Is he.?"
Allen looked up after a minute; he was laughing. "Sorry," he said still grinning, "it's sort of a nervous reaction, but.you can't help but find the strange bit of humor in it. It's ironic really, you get used to life as a teenager, and just when you think life is done with you, you are given a completely different set of rules." Allen's face changed again, the more it sank in, the less funny it became. Jean, glancing over at Kitty (who blushed at the semi-tactless style she used), tried to offer some support. "It might be better if we could get into contact with your parents."
"Yeah, well, they're both sort of at work right now. And you shouldn't blame her, she did try, and I'd rather have heard what she said instead of someone being blunt." Jean looked taken aback for a moment. "No, no special power, I think, I can just kind of read people sometimes." There was another pause. "I don't mean to be blunt or anything, myself, but.what sort of manifestations are we talking about?"
Jean continued with a sort of smile. "I was wondering when this part was coming up. Well, for every individual it is different. I have a blend of Telepathy, and Telekinesis, and-"
"So that's means that you're a mentalist of a sort, then, right? Mind reading, and moving things, and those sort of things."
"That's right. Kitty, here can phase through solid objects-" she stopped this time when she saw the unreal look on Allen's face. "Maybe we should show you. That way you won't think of us or yourself as crazy." Jean looked over onto the mantel above the living room's fireplace, and concentrated. A small stone carving lifted off the mantel, and floated into the middle of the room, before coming over and landing softly into her lap. She set it onto the coffee table by hand.
Allen started to shake his head, as if he couldn't quite understand what had just happened. Kitty smirked for a moment; she had obviously been waiting for this. She reached over to the coffee table, and her hand and part of her arm went straight through. She smiled at Allen, "It only sort of tingles."
"Did I just see what I thought I saw? Cause I just thought that I.that she." Allen looked from Kitty and the table, to Jean, and back again. But he saw the same thing in both faces: acknowledgement.
Allen swallowed before trying to say anything. "What happens when if you aren't.Phasing when you pass through something? Do you get stuck?"
It was apparently the wrong thing to say. Kitty shuddered for a moment with a strange look on her face. "I don't know. That's.that's never happened before."
Allen grimaced, "Sorry. I.I sometimes say things without thinking first."
"No prob." Kitty smirked again.
"What about you, Scott, what's your.ability?" He was going to have said something else, but stopped himself.
Scott only smiled slightly. "Let's just say that if I took off these glasses, and kept my eyes open, you'd either be buying a new wall, or looking into having a skylight put in."
Jean shook her head. "Scott's eyes emit a destructive optical blast. That's why he has to where those special glasses."
Allen grimaced and then grinned after a moment of thought. "No offence, but I hope that I don't start doing that."
"Don't worry, if your mutation was anything like that, you'd already have to wear a biohazard sign or something. In any case, I am sure that the Professor can take care of convincing your parents. All we need is a 'yes' from you, and we can start getting things ready."
Allen shook his head. "Doesn't look like I have many options. Hey, wait! You said that I had manifested abilities by now.but, I don't remember doing anything strange."
Jean and Scott exchanged looks. Kitty, apparently left out of the loop, spoke up, "Umm, what does this mean? You don't think the address was wrong do you?" She grimaced again.
"I don't think so," Jean began, "Cerebro has always been very accurate before, there is nothing to suggest that there is anything wrong, besides-"
Allen cleared his throat. "Don't mean to interrupt, or anything, but what's Cerebro?"
Kitty smiled at Jean and Scott. You guys handle the explanations; I'm going to go check on Rogue and Iceman. And see about calling the Professor."
"Sure," Scott nodded. "So, I take it, then that this is a 'yes'?"
Allen only hesitated a moment, before answering. "Sure. If what you say is true, then I can use all the help I can get. But just one thing," this stopped Kitty from her little celebration for a moment, "You've got to be the ones to explain all this to my parents."
About an hour later, after some more questions, some details, and a few phone calls, Allen was seeing the X-Men to the door. "I've got to tell you, though, this is all pretty strange. I mean, I know my friends will have trouble accepting this, and I know my parents are about ready to blow their tops, but I don't even think that I can accept this yet.
"I mean, heck, I don't even know what my." he looked around at the neighbors' houses', "what my special ability is, yet."
Scott nodded, "We're just going to have to figure that out, later. But if anything does happen, even if it's as simple as something that just can't be immediately explained, write it down, or something. It could provide some clues. Also, if you or any member of your family has any questions, you have our number, don't hesitate to call."
Allen nodded, "This Bayville, is it an okay place? I mean, it's not too far off is it?"
"It isn't that different from around here, actually. Smaller town, yeah, but it still has it's perks." Jean smiled, again.
Allen shook his head, "Have any of you ever had those days where nothing seems to make sense?"
Jean only nodded understandingly, "I know what you mean, but more times than often, it is the truth that is stranger then fiction."
"Stranger Than Fiction"
Disclaimer: I keep wondering if I must post this with every chapter, but what the heck. No, I own none of the original characters of this X-men series, but I will try and keep them true to themselves, no worries. Also, if I mention or briefly insert bits from various shows, nothing meant, just using some artistic licensing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
The knock on the door seemed to echo into the rest of the house, and all Allen could do what stand there. 'They couldn't possibly.', he suddenly wondered why any solicitors would be this persistent. He was immediately suspicious, but decided to look through the peephole this time. He, very quietly, went back to the door, and opened the miniature door that was hidden in front behind the knocker. It was the same three, alright, but Allen noticed something about them. They weren't like the other kids that came by periodically trying to sell things, something about them just didn't add up. 'What's the worst that can happen?'
He opened the door, again, and looked out at the three teenagers on the doorstep, looking back at him. The tall guy was the first to speak.
"Okay, before you close the door on us again, just let me tell you that we are not trying to sell you anything." He got a look from the red- head, and he cleared his throat, "Well, we sort of are, but."
The young valleygirl piped up next, "What Scott is trying to say, I think, is that we are actually here to help you."
Allen was still a bit suspicious. "Help me with what? A better question is that if you are not here to sell me stuff, what are you here for, exactly?"
The redhead spoke again. "Can we come in for this? It might take some explanation."
Allen hesitated. He knew nothing of these people, or who they were, nothing. Why would he invite them in? But something about the dream from the night before flashed into his head: a desire to know. "Okay, but can you just answer me one thing?"
"What do you want to know?" Scott asked.
"Before you tell me your names, tell me why you came here?"
Scott looked at the red-head, and they exchanged glances with the other girl. There seemed to be some sort of agreement. "Mind if I ask you a question first?"
Allen smiled sarcastically, "Why not?"
"How do you feel about.mutants?"
The question stunned him. It wasn't exactly something that was thrown at him everyday. Something dawned on him. His smile became a sort of grin. "Somehow, I thought you'd look a bit different."
The redhead smiled. "Most people do. But this is the part where things get a bit more serious. My name is Jean, this is Scott, and Kitty." She gestured to each of her companions in turn.
Allen nodded, and opened the door for them to come in. "Is that short for Katie, or Catherine?" Kitty seemed taken aback for a moment.
"Umm, Katherine, actually, but I don't like my name. Like it's totally too formal."
When everyone was finally seated in the living room, the conversation took a new turn. Jean continued speaking, although it seemed that Scott usually took the lead, for some reason. "We, and a number of others like us are a part of the Xavior Institute for Gifted Youngsters-"
"I think I heard about that place in the news once, it's a school, sort of, for mutants, right?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"So, why is it that I'm getting a feeling like this is about to get all 'Twilight Zone'-ish?"
Kitty piped in so as not to create too much of a silence. "Well, the truth of the matter is that whenever a new mutant manifests powers, Professor Xavier sends out groups of students to sort of.offer whatever support that can be offered, and many times that includes an offer of welcome to join us at the School."
Allen's eyes lit up for a moment, before he spoke again. "Somehow, I knew I wasn't going to like what today's events would bring." He paused, before rubbing his temple with his hand. "God, you guys aren't joking are you?" He looked around at each of them. "So, if you really are serious- but that would mean that.and I am.whoa!" He dropped his head into his hands, and started shaking.
Kitty, at first, got a panicked look on her face, "Is he.?"
Allen looked up after a minute; he was laughing. "Sorry," he said still grinning, "it's sort of a nervous reaction, but.you can't help but find the strange bit of humor in it. It's ironic really, you get used to life as a teenager, and just when you think life is done with you, you are given a completely different set of rules." Allen's face changed again, the more it sank in, the less funny it became. Jean, glancing over at Kitty (who blushed at the semi-tactless style she used), tried to offer some support. "It might be better if we could get into contact with your parents."
"Yeah, well, they're both sort of at work right now. And you shouldn't blame her, she did try, and I'd rather have heard what she said instead of someone being blunt." Jean looked taken aback for a moment. "No, no special power, I think, I can just kind of read people sometimes." There was another pause. "I don't mean to be blunt or anything, myself, but.what sort of manifestations are we talking about?"
Jean continued with a sort of smile. "I was wondering when this part was coming up. Well, for every individual it is different. I have a blend of Telepathy, and Telekinesis, and-"
"So that's means that you're a mentalist of a sort, then, right? Mind reading, and moving things, and those sort of things."
"That's right. Kitty, here can phase through solid objects-" she stopped this time when she saw the unreal look on Allen's face. "Maybe we should show you. That way you won't think of us or yourself as crazy." Jean looked over onto the mantel above the living room's fireplace, and concentrated. A small stone carving lifted off the mantel, and floated into the middle of the room, before coming over and landing softly into her lap. She set it onto the coffee table by hand.
Allen started to shake his head, as if he couldn't quite understand what had just happened. Kitty smirked for a moment; she had obviously been waiting for this. She reached over to the coffee table, and her hand and part of her arm went straight through. She smiled at Allen, "It only sort of tingles."
"Did I just see what I thought I saw? Cause I just thought that I.that she." Allen looked from Kitty and the table, to Jean, and back again. But he saw the same thing in both faces: acknowledgement.
Allen swallowed before trying to say anything. "What happens when if you aren't.Phasing when you pass through something? Do you get stuck?"
It was apparently the wrong thing to say. Kitty shuddered for a moment with a strange look on her face. "I don't know. That's.that's never happened before."
Allen grimaced, "Sorry. I.I sometimes say things without thinking first."
"No prob." Kitty smirked again.
"What about you, Scott, what's your.ability?" He was going to have said something else, but stopped himself.
Scott only smiled slightly. "Let's just say that if I took off these glasses, and kept my eyes open, you'd either be buying a new wall, or looking into having a skylight put in."
Jean shook her head. "Scott's eyes emit a destructive optical blast. That's why he has to where those special glasses."
Allen grimaced and then grinned after a moment of thought. "No offence, but I hope that I don't start doing that."
"Don't worry, if your mutation was anything like that, you'd already have to wear a biohazard sign or something. In any case, I am sure that the Professor can take care of convincing your parents. All we need is a 'yes' from you, and we can start getting things ready."
Allen shook his head. "Doesn't look like I have many options. Hey, wait! You said that I had manifested abilities by now.but, I don't remember doing anything strange."
Jean and Scott exchanged looks. Kitty, apparently left out of the loop, spoke up, "Umm, what does this mean? You don't think the address was wrong do you?" She grimaced again.
"I don't think so," Jean began, "Cerebro has always been very accurate before, there is nothing to suggest that there is anything wrong, besides-"
Allen cleared his throat. "Don't mean to interrupt, or anything, but what's Cerebro?"
Kitty smiled at Jean and Scott. You guys handle the explanations; I'm going to go check on Rogue and Iceman. And see about calling the Professor."
"Sure," Scott nodded. "So, I take it, then that this is a 'yes'?"
Allen only hesitated a moment, before answering. "Sure. If what you say is true, then I can use all the help I can get. But just one thing," this stopped Kitty from her little celebration for a moment, "You've got to be the ones to explain all this to my parents."
About an hour later, after some more questions, some details, and a few phone calls, Allen was seeing the X-Men to the door. "I've got to tell you, though, this is all pretty strange. I mean, I know my friends will have trouble accepting this, and I know my parents are about ready to blow their tops, but I don't even think that I can accept this yet.
"I mean, heck, I don't even know what my." he looked around at the neighbors' houses', "what my special ability is, yet."
Scott nodded, "We're just going to have to figure that out, later. But if anything does happen, even if it's as simple as something that just can't be immediately explained, write it down, or something. It could provide some clues. Also, if you or any member of your family has any questions, you have our number, don't hesitate to call."
Allen nodded, "This Bayville, is it an okay place? I mean, it's not too far off is it?"
"It isn't that different from around here, actually. Smaller town, yeah, but it still has it's perks." Jean smiled, again.
Allen shook his head, "Have any of you ever had those days where nothing seems to make sense?"
Jean only nodded understandingly, "I know what you mean, but more times than often, it is the truth that is stranger then fiction."