CHAPTER 5

X-Men At The Circus

The sun shined down across the canopy of luridly coloured tents and wagons. The circus was in town and all of Bayville had come to see. Everywhere you turned someone was doing something, clowns made fools of themselves for the delight of children while magicians entertained the older customers with slight of hand. Vendors shouted from their stalls showing pastry's and soda to whoever passed by, tumblers rolled and flipped across the wooden stages erected for them and all the while men and women, young and old waited with baited breath for the opening of the 'big top' where they had been promised a show they would never forget.

'Oh man this is like so cool' Kitty grinned as she watched 'The Living Mountain' lift up a huge weight and spin it effortlessly across his arms and shoulders. Kitty wasn't the only one smiling; there was an infectious happiness in the air, a feeling of camaraderie that made everyone want to pack as much fun as they could into the day. Even Logan would have been fighting to keep his trademark scowl on his face had he came.

'Like what's up with this place Professor?' Kitty asked. 'It's like they're all one big family.'

'The Romany don't view blood as necessary to be related so their tribe can be classified as an extended family.' The professor replied looking at a selection of large crullers.

'The Romany?' Kitty asked

'The good herr Xavier means gypsies fraulein,' the vendor answered

'Oh, um professor how do they all know you?' Kitty inquired, since from the moment they had arrived the entire circus folk had known who the professor was and seemed to hold him in the highest esteem.

'They are from a village in the black forest of Germany called Heirelgart,' Charles said turning his wheelchair towards the big top. 'Three years ago I did them a great service.'

'One the Romany will never forget herr professor.' A deep bass voice boomed from behind them. Kitty turned and gasped, standing right in front of them was something right out of a fantasy novel. His upper body was built like a younger Arnold Schwartznegger with long blonde hair rolling down his back. But it was his lower body that Kitty stared because it was the body of an extremely large horse, roughly the size of a Clydesdale and a beautiful golden colour, Kitty was looking at a real life Centaur.

'Good day Andrei,' Xavier greeted the giant.

'Guten morgen herr professor,' Andrei replied. 'Who is the little filly?' he asked looking down at Kitty who immediately blushed and looked away.

'This is Kitty Pride, one of my students.'

'Ah I see,' Andrei said 'come to ask cheeseweight to join again.'

'Yes.' The professor answered 'is he around?'

'Nein, he's getting ready in the big top. By the way is that your only student?'

Xavier laughed 'No Andrei my other pupils are looking around the circus.'

'How many?' the young centaur asked

'Apart from myself and Kitty fourteen.'

'Perfekt I'll get you good seats auf Wiedersehen.' Andrei called as he turned and galloped away.

'Um professor.' Kitty said quietly

'Yes Kitty?'

'Um that was some kind of trick right, I mean he's not really a centaur is he?'

'I'm afraid it was no trick Kitty,' the professor smiled. 'Andrei is a living centaur. Now come along the show is about to start and we don't want to miss it.

'Oh yeah that Nightcrawler guy huh.'

'Yes.'

'Man it's a shame Mr McCoy didn't feel like coming.' Kitty sighed

'He's still getting used to the change he underwent,' the professor said looking down at his watch. 'Ah it's time for the show come along Kitty.'

'Okay professor.' Kitty grinned at him. The professor had apparently contacted the rest of the group through the power of his mind because by the time they reached the tent the others were already waiting. 'Man Prof, this place rocks!' Evan practically shouted

'Yeah' Scott said with mild enthusiasm 'it's a shame Beast didn't want to come.'

'So is this where we'll meet Nightcrawler professor?' Jean asked almost right over Scott. There was a bandage across her head wound now.

'Scott, Hank as I have told Kitty is still adjusting to his recent change, once he has accepted it he will join us in these activities. And yes Jean this is the place. Xavier said with a slight scowl.

'Um professor are you still upset with us?' Amara hazarded.

'Disappointed might be a better word Amara, I thought you had learned from the last time.'

'We're sorry professor,' Rogue said quietly 'we just wanted to help that girl.'

'I know Rogue and that is a noble quality but it could of ended with worse than a split head on Jean's part. He said with a pointed look at Kitty. 'But that is the past now so all of you inside, we don't want to miss the show.'

One by one the X-Men minus two walked inside the massive tent. As soon as they were all inside a tall middle aged man with steel grey hair walked over and shook the professor's hand talking quietly to him. They were then lead to a row of seats that gave a perfect view of the ring. Somehow Kitty found herself between the professor and Storm, She would of asked to change seats but there was a charge in the air, an electric atmosphere that could be destroyed with a single voice. No one in the audience spoke, there was no need to. Suddenly fireworks shot out from the sawdust ring exploding in a cascade of light, and then the show began the tumblers, magicians and clowns along with trained animals and acts that no one had ever seen before put on an unforgettable show just as they had promised.

 Kitty sat down gasping; an hour and a half of clapping and cheering as loud as she could was tiring but defiantly worth it she decided as the last act cleared the stage. Kitty watched as two people a man and a woman in beautifully designed costumes walked out, it was the man who had talked to the professor earlier. The man picked up a microphone and said in a strong German accent.

'We would like to thank all of you who gave up their time to watch our acts.' He paused as the crowd roared. 'Unfortunately it is almost time for us to say goodbye,' he continued as the audience went quiet again. 'But before we do the Heilgert Circus would like to present our main attraction The Flying Amazements and The Amazing Nightcrawler!'

'This is it' Kitty thought to herself as she clapped. 'I'll finally see him the guy who saved my life.' There was a brilliant flash of yellow light and four people appeared on a high wire platform. Kitty almost screamed in frustration, he was still wearing that robe. The audience went deadly quiet again as the four acrobats took up positions, Kitty squinted at the three girls, the only way she could identify the one they saved was by height, otherwise they were completely identical. 'I don't get it,' She thought 'they're all blonde but when Nightcrawler saved me his hair looked…blue.' Suddenly the crowd roared Kitty looked up in shock, the act had started. Their skill was incredible; they leapt and flipped between wire and trapeze usually with only an inch separating them from a thirty-foot drop. Then it happened Nightcrawler grabbed onto a trapeze and threw himself into the air pulling a very slow backflip, as he reached the top of the jump he spun three-sixty degrees and threw the robe to the floor, caught another trapeze and swung to a platform landing on one knee arms outstretched. The audience went wild. Kitty however stared frozen, looking at the body of her saviour. She barely even heard the professor's voice in her head. 'Meet Kurt Ignatius Wagner, the Amazing Nightcrawler.'