After the Battle
The following day was a day of celebration. Ororo and Xavier were not seriously harmed after their ordeal. In fact very few of the combatants had serious wounds. Which was ironic in Remy's case.
"It figures," Remy grunted as he looked down at his leg, still wrapped in bandages. "The biggest battle on Earth and I got out of it with a busted leg."
"Oh poor baby," Rogue said sarcastically. "Lifeline healed most of it and it will be fine in a few days!"
"Hey I got the crap beaten out of me by both Mystique and Apocalypse," Althea groaned. "Trust me, you didn't miss much!"
"Did you see the news?" Kitty asked. "SHEILD broadcasted a lot of our fighting to the world. They let the some of the security footage out. We're heroes!"
"Not quite," Lance showed her a paper. The headline read MUTANT MENACE FOILED, BUT FOR HOW LONG. "According to the polls there was a 37 percent increase in people wanting a mutant registration act."
"I'm shocked it's not higher," Althea grumbled.
"People saw us fighting to save their lives on the news and they still hate us?" Roberto groaned. "What is with that?"
"Yeah well considering that a mutant started the whole thing in the first place I'm not that surprised," Lance sighed.
"Hey pipe down!" Logan said. "The Professor wants to say something." They all gathered at the gazebo outside.
"Thanks to you all we have averted catastrophe," Xavier said. "It was not without it's price however. But steel is forged in fire and with it we are now ready for what the future brings. I know this because I have glimpsed into the mind of Apocalypse. Many challenges await us. But I have seen those who have been our enemies, become our friends." His face grew somber. "And with a heavy heart I have seen the dearest of friends become the most terrible of enemies."
"Who?" Pietro whispered to Lance. Lance shrugged.
"I've seen my X-Men grow and change. And of course I saw that some people never change," Xavier grinned at the Misfits.
"Was that a crack?" Todd asked.
"But whatever the future holds," Xavier said. "Whether it is wonderful or terrible, I know the X-Men will be there."
"A-hem!" Althea tapped her foot.
"And the Misfits," Xavier grinned. "Now let's celebrate."
"About time!" Fred cheered. "Let's go to the buffet!"
"Oh for crying out loud Freddy…" Lance groaned.
"Well at least maybe things will get back to normal around here soon," Kitty remarked as she held onto Lance's arm.
"Oh I think things are already normal," Todd grinned as he saw an irate Peter fuming over Lance and Kitty. While Kitty's back was turned Lance stuck his tongue out at him.
"It's party time!" Shipwreck shouted as he danced around. "CONGA!"
As the party started to go into full swing Evan and Ororo were talking in a quiet corner. "Are you sure you can't stay?" Ororo asked.
"We've been over this Auntie O, they need me back there," Evan explained. "Someone has to take care of the Morlocks."
"Then at least take some provisions," Ororo begged. "Blankets, food…whatever you need."
"All right," Evan nodded. "If it will make you feel better. We could use a few things. Maybe some medicine too…"
"Whatever you need it shall be yours Evan," Ororo touched his face. "You only have to ask."
"Storm," Scott walked over. "I know you're kind of tired but we kind of need your help."
"FOR THE LAST TIME TIN GRIN BACK OFF!" Lance shouted as the ground trembled.
"YOU BACK OFF!" Peter shouted back.
"BOTH OF YOU GROW UP WILL YOU?" Kitty shouted.
"AWK! RED ROVER RED ROVER LET POLLY COME OVER!" Polly cawed as he and Lockheed flew around erratically.
"Okay who gave them alcohol?" Jean shouted. "LOCKHEED! BAD DRAGON! DON'T SET THE ROSEBUSH ON FIRE!"
"SOMEBODY HELP ME PLEASE!" Jamie screamed as Trinity carried him away, tied up with duct tape.
"Tabitha! Bobby!" Rogue shouted. "Knock it off!"
BOOM!
"That is it!" Ray shouted. "You are so dead Tabby!"
The sound of several things breaking filled the air. "And another X-Man-Misfit get together goes up in smoke…" Scott sighed as he watched the lawn burning. "Literally."
"Hey Storm! Wanna dance?" Shipwreck shouted. "Look what I got!"
"SHIPWRECK WHERE DID YOU GET MY UNDERWEAR?" Ororo shouted as she chased after him.
"YEOW! GAMBIT SOLD IT TO ME! YEOW! NO LIGHTNING!"
"LIAR!" Remy shouted as more storm clouds rumbled overhead. "YOU STOLE THEM! YEOW! STORM! DON'T YOU BELIEVE ME?"
"BLOB STOP EATING ALL THE FOOD!" Tabitha shouted.
"Okay!" Freddy then began to throw it at her. Soon several X-Men and Misfits were having a food fight. The ones that weren't burning the lawn or trashing the backyard.
"Does this happen often?" Evan asked Scott.
"Nearly every freaking day…" Scott sighed.
"You know suddenly living in the sewers doesn't seem so bad anymore," Evan cringed.
"Can I visit you?" Scott groaned.
"Well you don't need to see visions to know that some things will never change!" Hawk chuckled as he and Xavier watched the madness unfold.
"No," Xavier grinned. Then his face became serious. "General, can we talk in private?"
"Sure," Hawk wheeled him to a secluded corner. "Okay Xavier what's on your mind?"
"I've seen visions," Xavier said softly. "Of things that will come and things that may come. But I can't tell which is which. Most of them anyway."
"I don't like the sound of that," Hawk frowned.
"I know that mutants may face even greater persecution in the future," Xavier sighed. "But that is not what disheartens me. I saw something that was…unthinkable, yet I cannot ignore it."
"Does this have something to do with the part of your speech about the best of friends becoming the most terrible of enemies?" Hawk asked. "Xavier you know Magneto…"
"This has nothing to do with Magneto," Xavier interrupted him. "I'm afraid this hits much closer to home. If for some reason this does come to pass, we will need all the help we can get."
"You saw one of our kids going rogue did you?" Hawk asked.
"Not the Misfits," Xavier said softly. "It's Jean."
"Jean?" Hawk gasped. "Okay the girl has a bit of a temper but, come on. She's the last one of us I'd think of going crazy!"
"But it may happen," Xavier said. "In three years she will gain a power…a power far beyond her abilities to control. Possibly far beyond my abilities. And if she does lose control…I fear the consequences. She may end up being an even greater threat than Apocalypse."
"You can't be serious!" Hawk gasped.
"Do you think I want this?" Xavier asked him. "Do you think I'd admit this to you…to anyone if there was even the slightest doubt in my mind? No, we must take care that this never comes to pass."
"What did you have in mind?" Hawk asked.
"I think I may know a way to contain her if what I saw happens," Xavier sighed. "But I need it done in secrecy. None of my students or yours must know. If worst comes to worst I want to be ready."
"Rest assured," Hawk nodded. "We will be. I just hope you're wrong. The future's not etched in stone you know."
"I know," Xavier sighed. "I just hope you're right."
Next up: Magneto has a bit of explaining to do about his family situation!
