Scene 05

"That's the last of them," Scott announced with a sigh, looking along the length of table with an air of pride. That sure was a lot of food. Bowls of potato chips nestled alongside cocktail sausages, triangular sandwiches, and cubes of cheese and pineapple on little sticks. Iced cupcakes vied for space next to hunks of fresh bread and slices of cold pizza. Someone had optimistically prepared a bowl of salad, whilst a more realistic person had provided nachos, dips and bottles of soda. There was chocolate everything, buckets of popcorn and heaps of multi-coloured candy. Central to it all was the birthday cake, a chocolate-and-cream extravagance with Kitty's name iced in blue and pink on the top. Jean placed her plate of snacks down next to Scott's and put her hands on her hips.

"Now all we need is Blaze to hurry up and bring Kitty home," the telekinetic said with a touch of disapproval in her voice that made Ilehana smile. Absently the animorph hoped Blaze would keep Kitty away a while longer, just to irritate Ilehana's old rival Jean a little more. Ilehana had left Bayville to go travelling just as her father started to form his Institute. The mutual dislike between Ilehana and Jean had played no small part in the blonde's decision. Now Ilehana was back, Jean's presence at the mansion prevented Vixen from living in her family home. For the sake of peace amongst the X-Men, Ilehana had decided to rent an apartment in Bayville with her friend Blaze.

"Bobby!" Rogue exclaimed, as Iceman froze with his hand two inches from a particularly scrumptious looking cupcake. "Don't you dare even think about eatin' any of this 'til Kitty gets back!" Bobby dropped his hand back to his side with a sheepish look on his face, turned and walked away whistling.

"Question is," Logan retorted as he ignored the outraged expressions on Jean and Rogue's faces and helped himself to a sandwich. "How long are they gonna be?"

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"Don't look like nobody's home," Toad offered as he waved a hand in front of Blaze's face. With a sudden reflex reaction Blaze's hand reached out and grabbed Toad's wrist. "Oops, I was wrong!" Toad exclaimed pulling free as Blaze tried to remember where she was. She blinked, waiting for her vision to clear as sparks danced before her eyes.

"How you feelin' Cherie," Gambit asked, kneeling besides the X-Man and taking her hand to help her to sit up. Besides them Lance was offering the same support to Kitty as Shadowcat coughed and spluttered. At the door Wanda waved her hands frantically trying to use her extraordinary powers to disperse whatever it was that had zapped the X-Men, as Pietro and Blob watched.

"Like I've been hit by a train," the English girl replied hoarsely. "What happened?"

"Don't know," Toad shrugged. "One minute you're runnin' away, next you're flat on your backs seein' stars." Blaze ignored the Brotherhood member and accepted Gambit's help to get back to her feet.

"There's somet'ing blockin' the door," Magneto's henchman filled in. "The Scarlet Witch is tryin' to get rid of it, but no luck so far."

"You checked for other ways out?" Blaze asked, walking over to Kitty and helping her friend to stand up. The brunette looked more than a little dazed.

"How we gonna do that without gettin' zapped like you?" Lance asked sensibly. Leaving Kitty's side Blaze walked over to where Wanda stood by the exit. The Scarlet Witch stepped back scowling to allow the X-Man a better look at the doorway. The way looked clear enough but something was tingling in the air, making the hairs on the back of Blaze's neck stand on end. The redhead called on her power, launching a fireball as if to pass through the doorway. The fireball slammed into the invisible barrier, for a moment illuminating it with orange flames before it went out. "Oh," Lance commented, feeling a little stupid.

"I'm on it." Quicksilver was bored of standing still anyway. He headed off in one direction as Toad hopped off in the opposite one. Blaze looked around, noting how busy the mall was and wondering what on earth they were going to do if they really were all trapped here. But now was not the time to panic, they needed a plan.

"Kitty, can you phase through it, or through the wall maybe? Whatever it is, it might only be blocking the door." She asked hopefully. Kitty tried to stand a little straighter, still feeling a little worse for wear.

"I think so," she replied, taking a step towards the door.

"What if it zaps her again?" Lance asked, more worried than he'd admit.

"Guess it's a risk I've got to take," Kitty answered herself, lifting a hand to push it through the barrier with her power. She exclaimed wordlessly as she came into contact with the force-field, pulling her hand away quickly. "It didn't work!"

"Try the wall," Blaze was unrelenting. She did not want to be stuck in here. Kitty turned to the wall a few paces from the door and tried again to phase through. This time she didn't cry out as sharp electric pain raced through her arm. Instead she dropped to her knees cradling her arm in her other hand.

"It's a no go," Quicksilver was back, a dazed looking Toad by his side. Gambit supposed Toad had run out of things to throw at doorways and thought he'd try throwing himself instead. "Every door and window in the place is blocked."

"Great," Kitty pouted. "It figures you know. This is just the birthday I wanted, really." Blaze shot her friend a sympathetic look and fished a cell phone out of her jeans' pocket.

"Anybody got a clue what could be doin' this?" Gambit asked, approaching the doorway with an intrigued look on his face.

"No," Wanda grumbled as the other Brotherhood members shook their heads. "I've never seen anything like this."

"Phone's dead too," Blaze grumbled and re-pocketed the gadget, "so no calling for back up."

"Maybe we can bust our ways out," Gambit mused.

"My fireball didn't get far before but I'll try anything twice," Blaze offered, standing besides him as he too readied his mutant power, ace of spades glowing orange in his hand. Just as they were about to unleash their attacks an authoritative voice rang out behind them.

"Drop the card, mutant!"