Ok just a reminder: telepathic speech or thought is in italics. Natura's past will be revealed though not until the next two chapters.
Enjoy!
Washington DC some time later. Police squads have secured the perimeter where Magneto and the Brotherhood were threatening the Congress building. The Blackbird has landed and immediately, Rogue and Storm flew out. Cyclops behind with the rest of the team walked out and shouted his orders.
"All right everyone, spread out! Magneto and the rest must not approach the building until the act is voted. Natura, stay with Rogue and you'll be ok."
The X-Men had spread out ready for action. Natura followed Rogue and Storm who flew off to fight Pyro as he was approaching the building, raging fire surrounding him. Rogue dived down and hit Pyro with a punch making him fly back from the building. She was quickly over taken though by the Blob who grabbed her from behind. Storm had left to help Cyclops battle with Magneto and so Natura was left by herself, watching from a distance Rogue battle herself free of the Blob's grip.
Great, just stick with Rogue huh? Ok - so what do I do now, do I help her?
Natura felt like asking Rogue if she needed some help but apparently the Southern girl could handle herself very well being literally invulnerable. Something else caught Natura's eye though, it was Pyro. He was back on his feet and heading for her.
"Hey Sheila, you're new, aren't ya?"
Not expecting an Aussie accent around her, Natura burst into laughter hearing St. John Allerdyce's voice. It was more nervous than she truly knew but it was too late, he had already been offended.
"You're not making fun o' me, I hope?"
He sent her galloping rolls of horse-like fires, which Natura avoided surprisingly enough by leaping to one side. Pyro had missed her by an inch or so.
Funny, we've got the same kind of power! Seeing pyrokinetic was his one and only power, she turned to face Pyro.
"Yeah, you're right, I'm new. They called me Natura."
Pyro hearing her codename laughed right back at her.
"Natura, eh? Why'd they call you that for?"
Natura stretched out her arms quickly, revealing her palms, smiling smugly.
"'Cause I can do this!"
Instantly she sent the Aussie boy twirls of water, which put out his fire blasts and soaked his clothes, skin and drenched his fiery red hair. Pyro seeing himself soaked wet and defenceless until he dried off, turned back to Natura.
"Hey that's no fair."
A strong wind then can from above them, blowing green curls in Sidney's face. Pyro was lifted up and tossed away, far from the Congress building and Natura looked up at Storm, mistress of the weather.
"I never liked him anyway." The goddess said amused as she landed by Natura's side.
"Thanks Storm. Didn't think I'd meet a mutant with the same powers as me. He seemed -"
But before the French girl could answer her leader, out of nowhere came Sabretooth, charging straight at her. He picked her up and knocked her to the ground with a thump in a nearby cluster of trees.
Wolverine not far behind them, jumped on Sabretooth, claws extended ready to strike, whereas Storm had flown off to Rogue's side to help. They battled fiercely as Natura slowly got up on her knees and hands.
Her head was banging, ready to burst with pain. Her back had gone numb after having been thrusted against a tree trunk. She had felt her bones crack against the hard core of the tree. Her curly hair fell in her face as she rested her head on the ground, breathing heavily.
I can't - get up - fuck, it's too painful -
She tried once again to stand up on her feet but failed.
She looked up through streaks of green and chestnut hair and saw Wolverine having a tough time with Sabretooth. The hairy monster had also thrown her team mate against a tree trunk several times and punched him hard in the face.
Coming back at him fiercely with his claws, Sabretooth had managed to brush him aside and Wolverine's head hit once again the tree. This time Natura did not see him get up; Wolverine was knocked out. Blood trickled along his forehead and his claws automatically sunk back into his hands.
Get up and help him! - I can't, it hurts too much! - But you have to help him, hurry!
With an inhuman effort, Natura stood up clinging to the tree for support as her knees wobbled. Wolverine was unconscious right in front of her and Sabretooth tried to crush him with his giant foot.
My God, he's going to kill him!
Before Sabretooth reached him, Natura stood up straight, her blood-streaked left hand stretched out towards him as the other arm still clung to the tree. What happened next seemed to pass in slow motion.
The soil trembled underneath the two hairy, beastly mutants and with a terrible, painful cry, Natura opened a rift in the earth.
The tremble caused Sabretooth to lose his balance and fall in the newly opened crack. His cry faded out slowly as he fell deeper and deeper.
Natura fell back against the tree, no longer feeling her body and panting out of breath by the huge effort her fourth power had taken. Her arms were numb, her head was still throbbing with pain and before she felt herself faint she cried out to Wolverine who slowly recovered from his unconsciousness. The cut on his forehead was slowly closing up. He then looked at the rift where Sabretooth had fallen and then at Natura who looked incredibly pale.
Suddenly guilt over took her as she saw Logan's bewildered face and she approached the rift to look down, where Sabretooth had disappeared. She yelled out.
"I'm sorry! Are you ok? - I hope you're not hurt too much, I didn't - "
"Kid forget it!" Wolverine was now fully recovered thanks to his healing power and looked into the rift growling. "We don't give if he's hurt or not! I sure hope that scumbag is though!"
"Yeah but the crack is pretty deep!" Natura continued as Wolverine walked over to her and helped her up on her feet. He rolled his eyes at her words but took her arm and pulled it over his shoulders.
Gently they walked back to the Blackbird where Cyclops stood battling Magneto himself.
"It's the first time I'm in your arms and that you're not trying to strangle me!" Natura laughed but quickly stopped as pain throbbed through her ribs. "Ooooh - "
"Yeah well ya better not get too comfy 'bout it!" Wolverine words were harsh but his grip remained gentle. "And stop speaking, ya need medical attention."
Natura followed his orders because her headache came back with a stinging pain which thrashed along her back. Cyclops suddenly appeared behind them.
"They passed the act, it's over. Stay in the blackbird, I'll get the others."
But as he went, Magneto also appeared above him, flying. He had also heard the news and with a stern and imposing voice, he called out to his team.
"My fellow mutant fighters, retreat back to base immediately." He then looked down to Cyclops and Wolverine holding Natura. "We have only lost the battle this time X-Men!"
He stared to Cyclops who faced him, looking back angrily.
"This isn't over Magneto!"
Wolverine had also turned around to look up at Magneto, still supporting Natura. It was the first time she was seeing the mutant terrorist, which she had heard about so many times on the news.
Forgetting her pain and smiling happily she rejoiced to see the feared mutant retreat so quickly. Magneto, on the other hand, looked down at her confused. This girl was surely a new X-Men but somehow her face was familiar.
He had spotted her right from the start of the battle and she seemed to have incredible powers. She interested the master of magnetism and he wasn't about to forget her. She stared back at him, without fear for several minutes as Magneto continued to observe her.
She is young. Magneto thought to himself. But her powers could be of great use. Mystique may know more about her.
He then flew off with the rest of the Brotherhood. Journalists waiting around the police perimeter line looked up rapidly photographing the terrorist and taking notes.
Natura turned around concerned. Why did Magneto look so intensely at her? Had he recognised? But how could he possibly know her?
The other team members arrived slowly, tired from the battle. Cyclops stared at her wide- eyed and so did Iceman.
Wolverine looked at her shaking his head while the others just blankly stared at her. They had all seen Magneto stop to look at their new team mate although they had all believed Magneto to be too condescending and stuck up to do that.
Finally, they all entered the Blackbird and Jean and Iceman took care of Natura's wounds as Beast was still with Professor X in the Congress.
The jet took off with Storm and Cyclops in command but the latter turned around and spoke up at last. An eerie silence had fallen among the team odd enough since Magneto had left.
"Sidney, I don't think it's a good thing what happened back there. It's not a great idea to have Magneto against you, personally."
Wolverine grunted at Cyclops approvingly. Iceman though spoke up to defend his team mate.
"Maybe he was hit by her charm and tried to seduce her with his magnetic look. "
Rogue and him broke up in a laugh as Bobby imitated Magneto, followed by Jean and Storm. The whole team finally broke up in fits of laughter, taking out all the stress accumulated during the battle.
"I don't recall seeing Magneto so confused in a long time." Storm added to Cyclops as the jet soared across the clear blue sky, back to the mansion.
The mansion in the evening. Having the night off Beast headed into town after having attended to all the X-Men in the infirmary. In the rec room though, the others stayed behind, enjoying a break from nocturnal danger room sessions.
Natura was the last to exit the infirmary and headed to the rec room to join the others. She spotted Jean in the corridor walking with crutches as her ankle was twisted during the fight. Sidney herself was all right now except for a few cuts and bruises along her back and arms. She caught up with Jean and helped her in the rec room.
"Beast is such an extraordinary doctor. I've never known someone so devoted. But I guess things aren't always as easy as today!" Sidney looked down at Jean's foot and then lifted her newly cleaned black shirt revealing the lower half of her back, and showing several bruises and cuts.
Jean laughed as she saw Sidney grin, proud of her first battle scars. "No I guess not! But you were pretty good today! I'm glad you joined us, I just really would like to have seen your fourth power. Sophie would have been so proud of you Sidney."
Sidney nodded at her words and walked in the rec room. She didn't feel like talking about Sophie, well especially not with Jean. Having telepathic powers, Jean might have felt Sidney's interior and destructive pain, which always came back when her cousin was talked of.
They had entered the room where stood most team members either eating or watching the evening news reporting the Congress successful vote. Sidney looked over at Logan who seemed very eager to read yesterday's newspaper and didn't look up at her.
"Don't let him get to you. Logan is the pretty unsociable type of guy and now that he's indebted to you, it won't get better!"
Jean patted Sidney on the shoulder gently and sat down on the couch next to Bobby who was mocking the TV journalist. Sidney was still decided to talk with Logan. She walked over to his side, anxious of his reaction.
"Hey Logan, what are you reading?"
"None o'ya business!" Sidney hadn't expected him to be indifferent with her.
"I saved your life today!" She blurted out suddenly.
"No ya didn't!" He pulled the newspaper up closer to his face, hiding himself from Sidney's stare.
So even after today's events, he's still gonna be like that. Suspicious and nasty! Just great!
She turned her heels, ready to join the others in their fun but as she did, Logan put his newspaper down and whispered with a discreet but firm voice.
"Hey kid - nice earthquake!"
Sidney turned to face him amused and gave him a smile. "Thanks."
Logan only grunted back, returning to his paper.
I guess that's his way of saying thank you for helping me out!
She nodded her head, laughing to herself and looked around the rec room, searching for Rogue.
However, Rogue was not there and no one seemed to take notice of Sidney's presence for a while until she saw Gambit. He was staring right back at her in an eerie way sitting down at the only table in the room. She had never seen him look so dead serious before even though he was just shuffling a pack of cards in his hands.
He must be frustrated that he can't read me like a book with his empathy. Serves him right!
Suddenly, a devilish smile broke upon Gambit's face and he summoned her.
"Hey chere! Y'wanna play a card game? How 'bout some poker?"
Sidney turned around still looking for the absent Rogue and then turned back to Gambit smiling also. "Sure."
Ok ok, I guess this chapter wasn't action packed but still now you know all four powers of Natura, revolving around the four natural elements, you know (earth, wind, fire and water). happy sigh, it's finally starting, I mean the real story, these chapters were only introduction really, so now things get serious -
Next chapter: Poker game revealing more about Sidney and you'll see.
Sad year: merci pour Wolverine parceke je pense ke c le plus dure a rendre sur papier. Enfin, fo avoir une image tres claire de lui. G bcp de mal avec Gambit malgré tt les fanfics ecrit sur lui donc n'hesite pas a me dire si ya des choses k'il ne ferait pas ou dirait pas a ton avis. Pour le passé de Natura, je te promets ke tt sera revelé ds le deux prochains chapitre (normalement) or seul un X-Men le connaitra - je te laisse deviner - Pour Rogue tt cela sera aussi expliker mais peut etre plus tard, on verra. C vrai k'l n'a pas un grand role ds cette histoire mais c fait expres, je voulais un nouvo personnage ou l'on peut imaginer pleins de nouvelles choses et situations ke les fans de R&R ne peuvent pas ecrire -Bref, a bientot et j'espere ke tu vas apprecier ce chapitre et les suivants.