Chapter 10 – Things Change So Fast
-- Dark and Forbidding Forest
"Mind telling us were we are going?" questions Logan, as they walk through the oppressive darkness in the forest.
"Quiet, unless of course you want to fight more wolves," whispers Chris' voice from behind Logan.
Logan snorts softly in annoyance.
After several minutes of walking the group enters another clearing, this one has a large still pond located with in it. Michael raises a hand to halt the group just outside the clearing. "Stay put," is all Michael says before stepping into the clearing. "Mye, I have come to ask for your assistance."
The water of the pond begins to bubble from the center of the pond a woman's head, with elongated ears, appears. She begins to speak in a language that seems to flow like water. Going down onto one knee Michael begins to speak in the same language. After a few minutes of speaking in the language, the Figure in the water slowly comes to the surface. The woman is clothed in a thin soft white dress, though she is coming out of the water the dress is dry. Walking sensuously the woman's perfect body and complexion draws the eyes of all the men in the group.
"Come out from your hiding places young ones I shall not bite you," Mye's voice is soft, and firm, but an amount of lust seems to be entwined with in her voice as well. Slowly the group walks from the forest, but the men walk up closer and go down to their knees.
"I am at your service, my lady," whispers Scott just audible to the people around him. Slowly and quietly rest of the men speak words much like what he just stated, While the women look completely confused about what is happening.
"What did you do to Cobal," demands Rogue, stepping up to the woman.
"I did nothing to them, they brought it on themselves. They choose to look at me I did not make them do that," Mye's voice remains soft and tender. "I don't know why you came here, but Kraken has asked that I permit you to pass my lands. I let him, and his friends to pass freely along my borders as long as they do not harm the land or the creatures that reside within them."
"OK, but what has happened to them?" asks Jean motioning to Scott and the others.
"I am a Nymph, my beauty can and will charm any man, and this is my glade that you have trespassed upon," answers Mye, "They shall return to normal when you have left this place."
"A nymph? I thought those were mythical creatures, and why didn't you charm Michael, Chris, and Rabid?" asks Scarlet Witch, from the back of the group.
"Michael, and Chris don't look at me directly, and Rabid is more wolf, than boy. In your plane of existence I may be a myth but you shall see that I am quite real," Mye seems amused by the questions.
Michael begins to speak in the soft flowing language again, and Mye answers him almost immediately. Nodding slightly Michael walks out into the pond, but instead of sinking he walks along the surface of the water. "If you ladies shall come to me, I can take us the rest of the way by air," as Michael speaks the surface of the water appears to harden. Mye speaks in the language again and the Men all begin to file onto the water, none of which sink to the ground.
"Come, come ladies no time to stand around you must be going, I wouldn't want you to walk the three miles to your new home," Mye's words seem to break the trance over the boys and as they look around the women join them on the pool of water.
Chris appears beside Mye, taking her hand he kisses it lightly, and then steps onto the pool, "good bye Mistress Mye."
"Ok everybody on? Good then let's get this movable feast into the air," states Michael his voice slightly strained.
"But you forgot, Rabid," states Jean taking a quick head count.
"No he didn't," states a brown haired boy, who is sitting at the edge of the pool.
Without a single word the top inch of the pool lifts up and moves through the branches, up into the early afternoon sky. Slowly at first then speeding up the disk of water, with all of its passengers, moves of in the direction of a small grove of trees easily twice as high as the rest of the forest.
"That like were we are going?" asks Kitty who is holding onto Lance's arm in a death grip.
The brown haired boy puts a finger up to his lips, "quiet you don't want Michael to loose his concentration."
After a few minutes the group lands inside the trees. Hundreds of logs are lashed to the trees, making several long walkways, leading to and from huts intermingled with the large branches springing out from the trees. All the walkways meet up with a central platform suspended in the air by very thick ropes extending to the trees that surround it. Landing on the central platform Chris jumps from the water 'vehicle,' followed by the other mutants, and opens a large pot. Slowly the water flows from the disk of water into the pot filling right to the brim. Chris replaces the lid, and then begins to walk towards a large fire that rests on top of the wooden platform.
"Hey guys," shouts Sam from one of the huts. Sam runs out of the hut soon followed by Ridley, and Keri.
Sam runs up and begins to explain everything he has seen, in a speed that could rival Pietro.
"Hey slow down kid you'll end up hyperventilating," laughs Michael his voice no longer strained, but looks like he had run a very great distance.
Sam takes a deep breath, and starts over, but before he can say three words he is stopped by Ridley, "Sam why don't you let them sit down and have some stew, then we can explain, what we told you, ok?"
"Fine," responds Sam looking disappointed.
"Stew? What kind of stew?" responds the brown haired bay, as he transforms into Rabid once again.
"Regular stew," states Keri as she pulls a kettle from inside the fire with her bare hands.
"Yum," Rabid begins to drool as he takes a seat at one of several benches littering the area, slowly followed by rest of the X-men, Acolytes, and Brotherhood.
"Umm...Michael I was wondering, like why did Lance hit you?" asks Kitty, "Are you really his cousin?"
Michael sits next to Kitty, "Yup he's my cousin though he doesn't like that fact. You see when we were growing up, Lance's powers formed before mine. My parents thought he was a freak of nature so they forbid me from ever seeing him again. About a half a year later my powers formed. My parents disowned me the instant they found out that I was a mutant. Well I hunted down Lance, and we lived together for a short time. Lance didn't like the fact that his powers gave him powerful headaches, while mine just tired me out. Since then we had a slight falling out, and from his earlier actions I can see that he hasn't forgotten that." Michael looks Kitty in the eyes, "I can see that you have feelings for him, so keep an eye on him for me ok?"
Blushing slightly Kitty gets up, "thanks Michael," walking over to Lance, she accepts the bowl of stew that he is holding for her.
"Hey, Water Boy, come here," shouts Wanda from where she is sitting next to Rogue and Cobal.
Michael walks over, "What can I do for you?"
"I want to know just exactly who and what Mye is," demands Wanda.
"Well she is a Nymph just like she said she was. I've seen creatures that I thought were fantasy but... Just a sec and I will be right back," Michael rushes off and greets a beautiful woman, with two children that have just exited from one of the many huts.
"Hail to you Michael," calls the woman as Michael walks up.
"Hail to you as well my Lady. I trust your children had a good nap. Is there anything else I may do for you before your departure?" Michael speaks warmly but doesn't look directly at the woman or the two children.
"No, thank you again for the lovely roasted oxen it was lovely, as always. Now as for your fee I think this is enough," The woman reaches into her bag and pulls a ruby easily the size of a large orange, and hands it to Michael.
"You are much to kind, it is always an honor to serve you and your children," pocketing the large gem Michael leads the woman and her children to the edge of the platform. Bending down Michael looks at the two children, "so would you like me to give you a helpful push?"
"No thank you Michael," states one of the children.
"Thank you for allowing use the use of your inn," states the other child.
"Any time you wish you may come here for a place to stay," Michael stands and waves good bye to the three as they step off of the platform into thin air. Michael turns when he hears Scott come running up.
"You just let them step of the edge to their doom!?" questions Scott, his face slightly flushed.
"To their doom? No I wouldn't allow them that, if you look down you will see that they are quite alright. Scott leans over the edge to see three silver colored dragons flying just above the tree line. "You see Scott they are quite alright now if you don't mind I think we should be getting back to lunch because we need to get you some new clothes." Michael begins to walk back to the congregated mutants.
"Why do we need new clothes?" asks Scott running up behind Michael.
Michael steps up onto one of the benches and calls to the group, "Ok now if everyone has a bowl let me go over a few things. Firstly, I apologize but you will need new clothes. Sorry but you will find it quite hard to walk around this world with the clothes you have on now. We are going to take you to an Elvish town no far from here, and get you outfitted with better clothes."
Chris appears next to Michael, "The horses are ready,"
"I will take a group of mutants with me, as will Chris, Ridley, and Keri. So if you will stand by one of us, we can get going," as Michael finishes the mutants begin to form groups. Looking around Michael notices that the Brotherhood has joined Chris, the Acolytes are going with Ridley, and the X-men with Keri, only Rogue and Cobal joined himself. "Ok I think I see a slight pattern growing here," Michael jumps down from the bench. "Ok everybody, line up behind Lance."
Everyone save Michael, Chris, Keri, Ridley, and Rabid line up. "Well at least they can do that," growls Rabid, his white teeth shine slightly in the light.
"Well now we are going to try this again, but this time we are going to choose who goes with who." Michael walks along the line, pulling out Cobal, Rogue, Remy, Lance, and Kitty, and Logan, "Ok you're with me."
"Let me see," Ridley walks lightly along the line, with every other step her hair changes. Ridley lightly touches Scott, Jean, Freddy, Todd, Pyro, and Piotr, "I think I will like you."
Chris disappears, but his foot steps can be heard slightly. Kurt, Pietro, Sam, and Ray are suddenly pulled from the line, "Follow me if you can," Chris's voice emanates from a ways off causing his selected mutants to bumble after him.
"I think I'll go with Chris," chuckles Keri, as she walks over and throws her arm up around what appears to be thin air, slowly Chris appears wrapped in Keri's headlock.
"What about me?" asks Wolfsbane slightly confused. Suddenly Rabid appears behind Rahne.
"We shall get there long before them," chuckles Rabid.
"Right, now that that is settled let's be off," Ridley, again takes on the form of an angel, and takes flight.
"Umm... and how are we supposed to follow you?" questions Freddy from the ground.
"Such little faith," Ridley changes once again but this time a massive red dragon appears.
All of the congregated mutants cover their ears as the dragon bellows loudly.
"She said hop on her back," translates Keri.
Slowly Ridley's selected mutants crawl up onto her back and hold on for dear life as Ridley takes off into the air, and begins to move off into the horizon.
Chris pulls himself from Keri's headlock, "Keri if you will do the honors."
Nodding slightly Keri is once again surrounded by fire, that takes the form of a flying beast. Turning the Beast reaches out and grasps Chris's selected mutants and takes to the air.
"Um...shouldn't they get burned by the flames?" asks Logan, as he watches the flaming creature disappear from view.
"Nope, it might feel a bit warm but that entire creature is quite cool," slowly Michael leans over the side and looks over. "Ah here come our rides," Standing Michael ushers the remaining mutants away from the edge just in time for six large, white winged horses to land, their hooves clattering loudly on the wood floor.
From one of the winged horses a woman climbs down. Her body is slightly thin, pale red armor covers her lower arms, and shins, a single piece if armor covers her upper torso tightly, the bottom of which runs along the crest of her ribcage. What appears at first to be a bikini bottom is actually the same kind of metal; hanging from her thigh is a single dagger.
The woman walks up, wraps her arms around Michael's neck and kisses him passionately for a moment. Pulling back Michael wraps an arm around her waist, "This is Ketar."
"It is a pleasure to meet you," states Ketar as she slips from Michael's arm and rubs one of the pegasi's necks.
"Umm...I feel like an idiot asking this but, I am not seeing things right?" asks Lance, rubbing his eyes.
"I don't know that depends on what you are seeing now doesn't it?" inquires Ketar, causing a soft laugh from Kitty.
"Now my dear you know just as well I that they have never seen half of what we have seen. Go easy on them," Michael walks over to the horses and also begins to stroke its back. "Ok guys, time for you to get on their backs so we can go."
Rogue slowly approaches one of the pegasi and begins to admire the great white wings protruding from its shoulders, "how am I supposed to ride this horse it doesn't have a saddle."
Suddenly the winged horse rears up flapping its wings, just before the horse comes down Ketar knocks Rogue out of the way to avoid a hoof that comes crashing down where Rogue was standing a few moments before. Ketar begins to stroke the Pegasus slowly calming it down.
Michael reaches down and helps Rogue up from the ground, "please don't do that again."
"Do what?" asks Rogue slightly confused.
"These Pegasi are wild, they are here by their choice. As you have seen they don't like being considered pets," replies Michael.
Ketar calms the one winged horse down enough for Rogue to get close to it, "Ok let's try this again, this time nobody make any really comments about them as possessions. OK?"
Quickly every one but Rabid, Rahne, Michael, and Ketar mount a horse, "What are you two like going to be riding?" asks Kitty as she tries to get comfortable sitting bare back.
"We will not be riding them. We hold the pegasi in high regard so we will fly ourselves," states Michael, as he leads the horses around the benches to an open area.
"And how pre tell are you going to fly?" asks Logan from his mount.
Ketar's eyes begin to glow bright green. Slowly she floats off the ground and then back down. "Not a problem," laughs Ketar.
Suddenly the six pegasi charge and leap over the edge, spreading their wings they take off in the same direction as everyone one else has gone leaving Michael, Ketar, Rabid, and Rahne behind.
"I guess they didn't want to wait any longer," states Michael as he watches the flying horses begin to disappear in the darkness, "should go after them huh?"
Rahne taps Rabid lightly to get his attention, "um...how are we going to get to this town, and get their before everyone else?"
Rabid looks over at Rahne, "we'll be off soon but first you have to transform, into a werewolf."
"Why is that?" asks Rahne right before she transforms into her hybrid form.
"You'll see in a moment," a small smile forms on Rabid's wolfish face. Taking Rahne's hand Rabid leads her to a small hut in the distance, disappearing inside.
Michael walks over to a small bucket of water, and pours it out but before it hits the ground it forms a small disc of water floating about six inches above the wooden floor.
"Michael are you done goofing off so we can go?" inquires Ketar, who is floating above him.
"Ok, ok let's go," Michael steps onto the disc and the two mutants rapidly move after the now near invisible shapes of the flying horses.
Ok, kinda long for one of my chapters uh? But guess what, I am giving you the next chapter with this one. So have fun and let me know what you think of what happens to the x-men, the acolytes, and the brotherhood.
Chapter 11 – Welcome To Tree Town
-- Dark dank cave
The stillness of the cave is disturbed by an electrical like zap, as a large bluish portal appears lighting the room. Just as suddenly as it appeared the portal immediately closes revealing Rabid and Rahne.
"Well that was a trip, and just think we traveled nearly fifty miles, in about 5 seconds," Rabid looks around the near pitch black chamber, "Well guess we should go topside and start shopping." Grasping Rahne's clawed hand Rabid begins to lead them though the winding tunnels. Occasionally Rahne gives a soft whine as she hears a growl or snarl echoing though the tunnel. Eventually they reach a large heavy wooden door, making a fist Rabid slams his hand against the wooden door three times.
A wooden slot opens near the top of the door, and a pair of eyes peer though at them. "What is it that you want?" asks the pair of eyes.
"We desire admittance to Tree Town," states Rabid strongly.
"Then you may enter," the door slowly opens to reveal that the cave they were in continues for some distance. Standing at the door with a large sword is a man with pointed ears, his blue eyes watch them suspiciously. "Welcome to tree town, you will leave all weapons that you are carrying here to be picked up when you leave."
"We do not need weapons; therefore we have no need to leave any here. Now if you will excuse us good sir we shall be on our way." Again Rabid takes Rahne's hand and leads her along, until they exit the cave.
Stepping from the cave Rahne stares at the wonder around her. They are standing at the edge of a large town with buildings on the ground as well as in the trees of the forest they are in. several fair skinned men and women walk here and there.
"You can change back if you wish," states Rabid as he watches her.
Rahne's body changes slightly, "I think I will stay like this."
"As you wish," Rabid begins to lead her through the town.
"Rabid, why don't you change back to a human?" inquires Rahne, as they pass through a crowd of people.
"Oh...that is a long story. About three months ago Kraken and I were on a mission for an elven lord. The mission was to stop a group of werewolves that were killing people near his home. We tracked them for several days until we found a large cave that they used as a lair. We snuck in and tried to take them peacefully, but they were not cooperating, and we ended up fighting them. We won, barely, but I was bitten and infected with lycanthropy. Since then it has become hard for me to change back to a full human, but as a plus I can be healed by a full moon."
"Ok I was just wondering."
"Ah, hear we are," Rabid and Rahne are standing before a large wooden building; a simple sign with a shirt on it hangs, above the door.
Rabid opens the door for Rahne allowing her to go first. Entering the shop Rahne is first surprised by the great quantity of clothing folded about the room. Standing behind a simple counter is a slender woman, her pointed ears covered in multiple earings. Smiling she greets the two wolfish creatures, "Welcome to my shop. If there is anything I can do for you just let me know."
"Pick out anything you like," states Rabid smiling slightly at Rahne, "you find many things that you will like."
Rahne begins to walk about the store while Rabid walks up to the woman.
"Hey Jasmine, Michael will be round in a bit to pay ok?" asks Rabid as he leans over the counter.
"Not a problem, just as long as Chris isn't coming."
"You know he hasn't stolen anything from here, so relax he doesn't steal all the time."
"Yea well, this is my livelihood; I got rights to be paranoid of him."
"Well if I see him, I'll tell him to stay out of trouble, ok?"
"Thanks."
Rahne's human head appears behind a large stack of clothes, "Do you have a changing room around here?"
Jasmine pushes herself from the counter and points to a curtain near a wall, "behind the curtain, my dear."
Rahne quickly disappears behind the curtain, were the sounds of changing cloths can be heard.
After a few moments Rahne reappears, instead of her x-men uniform she is wearing a somewhat tight tan tank top that stops above her belly button, and a pair of baggy brown pants that shop mid-shin.
"How do I look?" inquires Rahne as she turns around.
"Very lovely," states Jasmine as she walks around the counter to get a better look.
"Cute," states Rabid from the counter.
"It even goes with my other form," states Rahne happily as she changes back into a werewolf.
"Now that I like," states Rabid as he watches her intently.
Rahne hands a bundle of clothes to Rabid, and walks around a few more stacks of clothes. Reappearing Rahne places some more sets of clothes on the counter. "Ok I'm done. What now?"
Jasmine begins to look through the clothes, "all of this will be 15 gold."
Rahne's becomes blank as the words register, "gold, I don't have any gold." Rahne glances at Rabid her eyes questioning.
"Jasmine will put it on a tab that Michael will pay when he comes, don't worry," Rabid grins, pulls a large canvas backpack from a rack and places the clothes in it. Swinging the backpack onto his back Rabid ushers Rahne through the door back out into the loud and crowded street.
"Where to now, Rabid?"
"Well we can wait and meet up with the other groups, or we can wonder around the town and I can show you the sights."
"I'm sure that everyone else will be able take care of themselves let's go."
"Good enough then follow me and I'll show you one heck of a view."
Rabid begins to climb a nearby rope ladder followed closely by a Rahne.
-- Ten Minutes Later –
"Are you sure you know where your going?" asks Scott as he pushes through a crowd of people trying to stay close to Ridley, who is walking slowly, talking with her group learning about them.
"Will you relax Scott, I know were we are going,"
"yea well lets hurry it up so you can give me back my flame throwers," demands Pyro were he walks next to Piotr.
"I don't have your flamethrowers; I dropped them into the forest along the way," states Ridley matter-of-factly.
"You WHAT?!" bellows Pyro causing more elves and other creatures to look their way. Pyro lunges at Ridley, but Piotr catches him in mid air.
"Calm down comrade or I will need to take drastic measures," drawls Piotr as he puts Pyro down.
"But she threw my babies away," Pyro slowly begins to sob into Piotr's massive shoulder.
"Would you grow up already?" inquires Jean as she walks by the two men.
John slowly pulls himself together, "at least I got my precious," John begins to stroke his lighter lovingly.
"Ok kinda freaky if I say so," mutters Ridley as she keeps going.
"So were we going?" asks Todd as he hops after Ridley.
"You'll see," is all Ridley says as she enters the same shop that Rabid had been to.
"Hey Ridley, long time no see," states Jasmine from behind a stack of clothes.
"Hey Jas, Rabid been by already?"
"Yea," Jasmine comes out from behind the stack of clothes, "He said Michael would pay for what you guys buy from me so pick out what you like and I'll add it to your tab."
"You heard her guys pick out some clothes."
Jean instantly plows through the store and begins picking up clothes, left and right.
"I see you got an experienced shopper in the group," states Jasmine as she watches Jean fly into the changing room. The guys being a little more at ease slowly walk around the store looking at the piles of clothes.
"So what is up with the glasses?" inquires Jasmine as leans against the counter.
"He's from our plane of existence," explains Ridley, as she moves up next to Jasmine.
"Oh, so that helps him with his ability?"
"Yea."
"So what is the reason for all of them all needing more clothes? I mean I know your clothes are a lot higher quality than what I sell so why the new clothes?"
"Well the main reason is because three teams have come, and they were enemies in our home plane. So to try and get them to cooperate we are removing their unity as three groups and making it into one."
"Oh, well that explains a few things."
"So anyway where is Rabid I thought he was going to wait for us."
"I heard him say he was going to take the girl that was with him, to see the city."
"Cool, well I think I need to get jean out of the changing room so that others can use it."
Jasmine looks over at the changing room to see that a line has formed for the use of the room. Ridley walks over and walks behind the curtain, revealing for a split moment Jean's naked front. Jean blushes and covers herself quickly with her hands.
"Jean would mind speeding up, others are waiting, unless you would like others in there with you," states Ridley, giggling slightly she lets the curtain drop again. All the boys in the room are staring where Jean's body was a moment ago. "Quit staring or I will be forced to do the same to you," snarls Ridley as she suddenly changes into a creature that looks like a cross between a dragon and a human, and then she changes back almost as quick.
Jean finally pulls back the curtain and comes out with the stack of clothes she took in. Walking up to the counter she drops the load of cloth, "do you take plastic?"
Jasmine looks at Jean for a moment her eyebrow raising slightly, Jasmine then looks at Ridley for an explanation.
"Plastic is a form of money at her home," Ridley walks over to Jean who now just as bewildered as Jasmine just did.
"Are you saying they don't have a credit card reader here? Cause I can go to an ATM and get some cash."
"Jean don't worry about paying Michael will be paying. But your money is worthless here so might as well get rid of it. The currency here is copper, silver, gold, and platinum pieces. So you are dead broke at the moment," Ridley smiles when Jean's face drains of all color, "relax you will pay Michael back in full. How much is this stuff, Jas?"
"Well I am not going to add it all up since that would take forever. So how about thirty gold for her stuff, ten for the guys' stuff, and I'll throw in a backpack so she can haul all those clothes with her."
"Deal," Ridley grabs a pack and hands it to Jean, who quickly packs all the clothes into it. "Well let's go and see if the bar is open yet shall we?" Ridley walks out the door closely followed by the other mutants.
"So why do you want to go to the bar? It can't be much after two in the afternoon," inquires Freddy from the back of the group as they pass in between the large trees.
"Cause that is where we are going to meet up with everyone else and I got nothing else to do with you guys," states Ridley over her shoulder as she climbs a set of stairs and enters another building, several loud voices emanate from inside.
"Hey Ridley," calls an elf from behind the bar, "your usual?"
"Nah, Michael been here today?" asks Ridley.
"Yea, in the back corner," the elf points to a curtain.
"Thanks," Ridley points her companions towards the curtain, "go through there I'll be there in a sec," Ridley turns back to the elf behind the bar and begins to talk quietly to him.
Scott and the others make their way to the curtain. Bushing the curtain aside they find Michael, Ketar and rest of the mutants sitting around several tables, talking and laughing. Upon seeing the new arrivals Michael lifts a glass filled with a purple liquid to them, then downs the entire glass in one gulp.
"Come in and have a chair, no reason to stand on the doorstep," laughs Ketar from her chair next to Michael.
Scott walks over and sits beside Kurt who is wearing a black monk's robe.
"Scott mein friend, where have you been?" inquires Kurt.
"Been shopping with Jean, it took forever."
"Hmm...I thought so."
"Hey who's the girl next to Michael? She looks pretty hot."
"Careful Scott that is Michael's girlfriend and she likes to fight, from what Chris, and Keri told me of her anyway."
"She can't be that dangerous. Look at her clothes, she can't be much of a fighter."
A wolf pads up from under the table, looks at Scott and Kurt for a moment then stepping behind Scott becomes Rabid. He leans in behind Scott, "I would heed the words of your friend Ketar would love a good fight, today," then changing back into a wolf he walks back under the table and reappears across the room next to Rahne.
"You know I feel kind of uncomfortable around these guys," wispers Scott to Jean who just sat down next to him.
"Calm down Scott none of them have a problem with us," states Jean as she begins to show Kitty what she bought at the shop.
A cloaked figure suddenly busts through the curtain, and hides under one of the crowded tables. Several mutants look under the table until a man lumbers under into the room. His eight foot tall body is covered by dull plates of armor, the only part of his body fully visible is his head. His skin is dark green with a leathery look to it, black oily hair hangs around his face, a pair tusk like teeth protrude from his lower jaw.
"Where the small scrawny one? The one that steal from Grunk, she pay good for stealing from Grunk," the creature's speech is rough and has a stong accent. Looking around he sees the cloaked figure hiding under the table and begins to move towards the table shoving people aside.
"Good sir I will have to ask that you hold your ground before I force you to leave," Cobal's voice is stern as he steps into the path of the massive man.
"Grunk have no reason to fear you tiny boy. Move or I shall move you." Bellows the man as he continues forward swinging with a large hand he grabs Cobal's shirt and lifts him from the ground. Gunk then throws Cobal like a rag doll across the room the nock Michael and Ketar off their feet.
Grunk continues forward but stops mid stride, deep red blood begins to dribble from his mouth, as a serated blade pushes through his stomach. The blade pulls out of him as he falls to his knees, revealing Rogue standing behind him with the blood soaked blade protruding from her wrist. While everyone stands and gapes, Rogue grabs the now dead body, and drives her teeth into the large man's neck, after a few moments she pulls away, her lips, and chin dripping of blood.
A pair of tusk like teeth begins to appear from inside her mouth, her hair begins to look oily and black. several seconds pass, then almost as quickly as the changes took place they disappear.
"Well now that was interesting, anyone else slightly confused as to what just happened?" Inquires Lance as he helps Cobal to his feet.
"Yup but I bet between Rogue, Cobal, and the other young lady hiding beneath the table can tell us," states Ketar somewhat angrily, as the dagger at her hip flies out and comes to rest rougly where the cloaked figure's heart would be.
Slowly the figure stands and looks at the mutants around him. "Thank you for your help, but I have no reason to explain my actions to you," the voice is that of a young woman. Turning quickly she makes to leave but is stopped by Rogue, her face now wiped off.
"I'm still hungry, take your pick me or them," Rogue's voice seems much stronger, husker even, and her skin has a slight pinkness to it.
"I think I'll take my chances with them," states the woman causing Rogue to frown slightly. "So what do you want to know?"
"Why were you being chased?" questions Scott from behind her.
"I was stalking him, because he had a bounty on his head. I planned on killing him, and then turning him over for some gold. Unfortunately he found out and tried to kill me. That is when I came in here."
"So if you're an assassin, tell me your name I've never heard of an assassin that hid beneath a table in fear." Chris's voice seems to come from everywhere at once.
"I fear no man," snarls the woman as she whips off her robe, and throws a dagger that digs deeply into the wood of the wall, slowly a few stands of blonde hair appear in thin air, and float to the ground. Chris' body takes form showing that the knife is brushing against the side of his head.
"Vhat are you?" asks Kurt, his question causes everyone to look the woman.
The Woman's body, is a slightly shorter than Jean, with bronzish colored hair. But what takes the groups surprise is that her skin is a light reddish-pink and a long whip like tail protrudes from her black leather armor.
"I am what I am, I am nothing more, and I am nothing less. What do you care anyway, human?"
"I would like to know because I look like you,"
"You look nothing like me"
Kurt turns off his image inducer, "Oh but zat is vhere you are wrong. I look more like you than you know."
The woman stares at Kurt for a moment then tackles him in a loving embrace, "I knew one day I would meet another like me," the woman begins to cry softly in Kurt's arms.
"Ok like now I am really confused," states Kitty as she watches Kurt try to peel himself from the woman's embrace.
"You and me both Kitkat," Lance slides up next to Kitty and wraps an arm around her shoulders.
"Ok well while they are doing that I think we should get down to other business," Ketar says with a slight giggle.
"I agree," Scott's voice is stern, "Rogue how could you kill that man, he did nothing to you!"
"Ah firstly he cracked several of Cobal's ribs and broke one of Cobal's arms. I felt it was right that I hurt him in return," Rogue seams to glide more than walk as she approaches Scott. "Besides he deserved it for all the people he killed."
"What do you mean? Who did he kill?" inquires Jean.
"When I drank his blood I got his entire life history. I know everything he knew, and quite enjoyed feeling his blood heal me."
"Wait Monna mei what did he do to harm you?" asks Remy as he looks Rogue over and doesn't see any blood, or cuts.
"These," Rogue lifts her arm as a serrated blade slowly slides out from her wrist.
"Ok now that is new," mutters Cobal as he lifts his head from Grunk's lifeless corpse, blood dripping from his chin.
"You didn't know about this?" Logan's voice is stern but his eyes show that he is concerned for Rogue.
"Up until she stabbed him I didn't know she had blades, and I didn't know about her mutation either," Cobal wipes the blood from his face with a napkin, "expecially that I caused it to mutate into something that she could control to a point that could make her even more powerful."
"What are you talking about, Cobal? What did you do to her?" demands Logan the claws on his hands spring out.
"He didn't do anything intentionally, so leave him be," Rogue walks up and around Logan to Cobal, "touching him has been the greatest day of my life. I am able to touch people again skin to skin, not through a pair of gloves. I don't have to fear of killing someone by brushing against them. Now I just have to suppress the urge to drink your blood. Now though I can stop myself I can control my powers. I can feel Grunk's memories inside me, but I am in full control, I choose to absorb him and I didn't feel pained, I didn't take random pieces of him with me I choose what I absorbed, nothing more."
After a few moments Jean speaks up, "So you can now choose what to absorb when you drink their blood"
"She just said that didn't she?" questions Michael, his voice slightly annoyed.
"Quit your bickering," Kurt's voice startles the entire group for a moment. Kurt has gotten up but the woman hasn't let go of him completely, her tail is wrapping around his tail. "Mind if I ask vhat I missed?"
"Nothing much Kurt just an explaination of what Rogue's new abilities are," Cobal looks at Kurt, "so who is she?"
Kurt's face goes blank for a moment, "Oh...this is Mia, and she is a Tiefling."
"Before anyone asks a Tiefling is a person that has a fiend for an ancestor. Thought I should point that out," states Rogue.
"Several years ago I was told that I would meet a man that looked like me, but had the abilty to disappear into a cloud of black smoke. I assume that I have found that man so now I am going to be his guide, with him a woman that can read minds, and a man that cannot open his eyes must also come along. I am to take them to see a seer that cannot be seen, that is the only way home for them." Slowly Mia looks around, "That's all I can remember."
"Hm...we don't know how to get back home this might be our only ticket out of here," mutters Pietro to himself. "Perhaps we should force her to show us how to get home."
Mia lunges for Pietro another knife in hand, but Rabid beats her to him. Rabid lifts Pietro off the ground, "you will do no such thing for I will cause you a great deal of pain if you do." Rabid drops Pietro butt first on the floor.
"We know of no way back to our plane of existence, this may be our only way back," states Ridley softly, "would you take us to this seer?"
"I will take those that I was told to take with me."
Michael walks up to Mia, "do you swear not to harm them?"
"As long as they don't harm me."
"Then I give my blessing to you, and let me hasten your way if I can."
"Michael I don't mean to be an idiot but what are you talking about?" asks Lance.
"We don't know of a way back to our home. We've been trying to get back since we got here. So any lead to finding a way back is greatly thanked. So I will help in any way that I can to speed the process."
"Ok, well then let's go Kurt, Jean," Scott automatically takes the lead, "let's go see this seer."
Scott begins to walk from the room, but Mia steps in his way, "it is already quite late, I suggest that we spend the night here, and begin in the morning. Besides you don't know where to go,"
Scott opens his mouth but Michael cuts him off, "perhaps you would like to stay with us at our inn. It will be free of any charge of course."
Mia nods, "then let us be off."
"Rabid will you do the honors?" inquires Ridley.
"Fine," mutters Rabid, then he places his hands together, then mutters something unintellegable. The room fades away and is replaced by the wooden platform in the trees. Rabid starts to collapse but Rahne catches him before he hits the floor.
"Well that was a trip, and he managed all of us I am amazed," states Keri as she kneels down and gets Rabid to drink a small vial filled with a purple liquid.
Slowly Rabid's eyes open and he looks around, "What did I miss?"
"Hey Ridley, what is that stuff that you guys keep drinking?" inquires Wanda.
"It is a special drink called a rejuvenation potion. Basicly it revitalizes the body of the person that drinks it. Michael, Ketar, and Keri bring vials of it with them because the potion removes the tiredness that comes with the use of their powers." Explains Ridley as Rabid gets up slowly.
"What about Rabid why did he need it? And how did we get back here so quickly?" asks Logan.
"Rabid has slowly been training in the art of magic. Mostly curative, and transportation, but his body can't take the strain of the usage. So when he teleported us all here he knocked himself out from the stain, the potion brought him back but he will still be drained for a few hours. "Slowly Rabid staggers off to one of the huts, leaning slightly on Rahne and Keri.
"Ok everyone we don't have the capability to give every one a separate room to sleep in. So I'll split you up so that you can get off to bed, if you want." Chris moves about the group and pairs people up. "Oh, and before I forget, It doesn't matter which hut you stay in. just be aware Michael, Ketar, Ridley, Keri, Rabid, and myself have our own huts, each has the name of the resident above the door." Chris then begins to walk off disappearing after a few steps.
"Ok well I'm turning in. See you guys in the morning," Michael begins to walk to a large hut far of in the distance. As he passes Ketar he wraps an arm around her waist and they continue to move away.
Ok so was it really long and boring? I thought it was typing it but that's just me. How about a few reviews, make my life a little better. I feel I should explain that Michael is me, Chris is one of my best friends, Rabid is my neighbor, Keri is a good friend, Ketar is a very good friend, and Ridley is just a lofty character that I wanted to throw in. (why did I just tell you all that?) Sorry again for taking so long at posting this. I will hopefully not do this again. Now how about you reread this and give me a good review, or if you want give me really heartfelt flame (all good to me).
I didn't want to put this in the story cause I didn't know how to fit it in so here is the rooming arrangements. Before you send me a flame about where people are located let me say in my defense that each hut has three rooms.
Scott/Jean
Kurt/Mia
Lance/Kitty
Cobal/Rogue
Rabid/Rahne
Pietro/Wanda
Freddy/Todd
Pyro/Pietro
Piotr/Sam
Logan/Remy
Chris/Keri
Ridley