Hey all! Hope everybody had a fun time between updates. I'll stop stalling
and just get to writing. Enjoy your wicked vicious battle between the
Brotherhood and the Court!
PS: Reviewers!!!!!!! I loved you before and now I adore you all!! Seriously, everyone was so sweet in all of their reviews. Much love to you all
Note that on translated lines, what they mean in English is in parentheses and quotes below it.
""-Talking ("")-Translated Lines ''-Thinking #@#@ #@#@- Scene Change ^^ ^^-Narrator Speaking
^^ Narrator waves to everybody ^^
The winds have been stirred and now the hurricane is waiting offshore. Single opposite poles have clashed but what will happen when they rally their groups together? Do the Brotherhood actually have a chance? What will a simple battle create?
#@#@ The Mansion
Keyaira walked through the main door to see Andrew and Kurt arguing about techno-babble and Ryan sitting on the bottom stair, reading. As she thumped the snow off her boots, the boys all looked up and rushed over. Ryan carefully tilted her chin up with three clawed fingers, shock spreading on his face.
"What happened??? I thought you were just going for a walk, not
finding a fight! You could have taken me with you for a brawl."
She favored him with a sarcastic smile, then winced as the cut on her bottom lip split a bit farther.
"I wasn't looking for a fight, it found me. Well, some jerk from the
Brotherhood found me and started insulting my people. Can't have that
now can we?"
Kurt looked grim as he glanced down and did some calculations in his head.
"His timing is perfect though. For them, not us. The Professor took
the New Recruits and the other X-Men off for a training mission. The
only reason I'm still here is the massive Biology test I have to study
for and it's tomorrow. You'll have to do this on your own if they come
to fight."
"Who's fighting who?"
The group looked up to see Nathaniel and Anastacia, decked out in full uniform, coming down the stairs. Kurt gestured to Keyaira, explaining,
"She met a guy from the Brotherhood and they got kinda rough. If he
gets back and rallies all of them, you'll have to fight."
Nathaniel nodded, looking at all of them in turn.
" Well, then we'll be ready for them. Lynx, Blender, Key, I suggest
you change into your battle clothes. Don't want to be caught
unprepared. Pixel, got to the control room and monitor everything.
Give us a warning when you see or hear something. Kurt, we'd be
honored if you'd fight with us."
Kurt gave a nod and everyone moved off to their appointed tasks, with Nathaniel following Andrew and Anastacia doing the same for Keyaira, intent on fixing her lip.
#@#@ The Brotherhood Boarding House
Daniel smacked open the front door, not trying to conceal his anger. Stalking into the main hall, he glanced toward the living room to see a shocked Denise dangling a Twinkie over Fred as if he were a dog. Seyla, Anne, and Wanda were laughing on the couch when they all turned to see him scowling at no one in particular. Havok piped in from his place at the window, as everybody was accustomed to.
"What's up? I haven't seen a scowl like since Seyla burned the last
s'more and Fred got all mopey."
Seyla and Fred nodded vigorously, Denise still dangling the Twinkie over Fred's head doing the same. Daniel walked over to lean against the door frame, resting his head against the crumbling molding. Darcy winced, as she did constantly when somebody touched a piece of the house that she had yet to clean. Laughing inside, he began to explain.
"Well, you see Dustin, I-"
Havok held up his hands quickly.
"Whoa there buddy! It's Blake today. Good to keep names circulating,
that's what I always say."
Daniel shook his head.
"OK, whatever. Point is, I got in a fight with an X-Geek and now, we
have to teach them a lesson. Isn't that what we've been waiting for?"
Denise dropped the Twinkie in utter shock, but when she regained her senses, she yelled for her cousin and the other members of the team. A white blur that was Pietro zipped through the swinging kitchen door and plunked down onto the couch next to Anne. Todd hopped through the open window Havok was sitting at and onto the back of the couch where Anne, Darcy, and Pietro were sitting. Lance and Jason came through the kitchen door, looking for the source of the yell. Wanda walked leisurely down the stair to lean against the frame opposite Daniel. Jason spoke first.
"Any reason we're all here and not enjoying the wonderful snow
outside?"
Havok snorted loudly.
"You wouldn't say that if you were half out the window all day.
Besides, I hear that you have a battle to go off and fight."
Seyla looked over at him, questioning.
"You won't be with us? Don't you want a bit of fun?"
Nodding, Havok turned a bit more somber.
"Don't get me wrong. I love a good rough and tumble as much as the
next guy, but this is a fight for the Brotherhood and whoever did
that. I like my independence far too much to take on that label. Until
you return victorious, I take my leave."
With that he spun out of the open window and walked off. Wanda watched him leave, almost wishing he could have stayed, even if not for the battle. Havok leaving was the unsaid signal for the group to disperse, each moving off to their room to change. Daniel was still leaning against the frame as Seyla stopped, tilting his cheek to examine it. Her voice was lightly teasing.
"So, exactly how big was the ring she was wearing?"
Looking away, he asked in the same clipped way he always talked, despite how happy he was internally.
"I was trying to retain my pride. I guess that failed. Is it that
obvious?"
"Only to somebody who knows what to look for. You better point her out
to me so I can properly whoop her behind. I don't like it when other
girls make passes at my guy."
Shocked, Daniel turned to see her smiling in that teasing toothy way.
"You're teasing me. You know it's not nice to tease a hurt person."
The smile didn't fade as the brunette leaned forward and kissed a very shocked Daniel on his slightly parted lips. He was keenly aware of very few things, those things not extending past the sweet peachy smell of her hair. Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, Seyla pulled back and skipped up the stairs. Daniel stood shocked for a minute before he did the same, actually skipping up the stairs.
#@#@ The Institute
Now fully dressed, everybody was lounging in the front room, basically bored out of their minds. Nathaniel started flipping his guns over his fingers, simply trying to fill the void. Ryan was trying to meditate, but suddenly, his ears twitched, flicking back. Keyaira stood up, muttering,
"I hear it too...... What is that?"
Everybody present cocked their heads, looking rather like an odd kitten painting. Ryan responded, incredulously, the noise growing louder and closer.
"It sounds like a motorcycle. Let's check it out."
Grateful for something to do, they all jumped to their feet and moved out through the front door. Below the mansion steps sat two motorcycles and a rider clad in black leather. The rider's face was covered with a helmet, but it was clearly a woman, and the woman hopped onto one bike and rode away. Nathaniel and Anastacia ran down the steps, the rider moving out of the Institute gates. Anastacia looked down at the bike and a huge smile spread across her face.
"It's fixed. My baby. It's fixed."
A note was tacked to the seat, that Nathaniel removed quickly and read aloud.
"Thought it would be a good idea for you to have this. I know you love
it so, and I wouldn't want you to feel lonely. Think of it as a late
birthday present. Love, Mamma."
Anastacia caressed the chrome handle bars, the smile never fading and quite possibly growing larger. The bike was an indescript yet clearly American model, a pearly red body and chrome handle bars and lines. She was laughing softly now, a black gloved hand dragged across a pearlescent logo. Andrew took a few steps forward, tilting his head to one side as he tried to figure out what the logo was. Anastacia glanced up to see his inquisitive look and giggled like a small child.
"It's a dove, my personal symbol. My—-good friend gave me a necklace
when I was 14 that he said reminded me of him. He said I reminded him
of peace and serenity. I've been using that dove ever since."
Mike noticed as she faltered, her voice dropping when she mentioned the person who had given her the symbol. Nathaniel straightened up, his eyes boring into her for a more specific answer. She met his stare and gave another dazzling smile, but her eyes held a tiny secret that she wasn't ready to divulge. Reaching under the skin tight collar of her suit, she pulled out a thin silver chain upon which dangled a small silver dove. Around the dove's neck was a thin strand of gold and in it's mouth was a thin golden branch of olive leaves, also made out of gold. The creature itself dangled carefully, blowing in the soft wind, but when it settled, the dove was beautifully curved into a perpetual state of grace. Keyaira moved instinctively forward, fingering the pendant, clearly shocked.
"It's so heavy! How can you wear such a heavy thing all the time??"
Shrugging, Anastacia replaced the necklace back under her uniform, resettling the chain and it's pendant so that no lines showed through. Nathaniel stopped watching her for a moment and was captivated by the bike. Ryan joined him, both moving around the bike in a circular motion. Distractedly, Nathaniel asked in plain awe,
"What do you mean by "it's fixed"? What was wrong with it before?"
Anastacia answered in the way she always did, with cool confidence, slight humility, and her accent fading into obscurity as she spoke faster.
"I was riding away from a mob of mutant-haters about last year and I
wiped out when one of them got a hold of a flame-thrower. I should be
burned all on my left side but something pulled me off the bike last
minute. Sadly, the bike slid out of control and hit a light pole. The
weird thing was, I didn't float back down to the pavement, but over to
an empty alley here my mom was waiting on her bike. Seriously, she
said my guardian angel was working over time to save me, but forgot
about my baby. She must have called in a million favors to find it,
let alone get it fixed. I don't know how she did it."
Kurt plucked the note from where Nathaniel had dropped it.
"You mean that was your mother? Whoa... But what did she mean by a late
birthday present??"
Anastacia laughed then looked slightly sheepish.
"My birthday was January third. I'm officially 20 years old. I guess I
forgot to mention it. Sorry."
Keyaira stared at 'the queen' in blatant shock.
"How could you forget to mention your birthday??? It's probably one of
the best days in the year! Birthdays, I mean, not just yours."
Looking down, the older girl scuffed the toe of her black boots as if she were a child.
"Whatever. I was happy with it."
Nathaniel fixed her with another stare, this one less searching.
"But we weren't. Right after this battle, we're all going to have a
proper birthday party for you. With lots of sugar and balloons and all
that stuff. So just deal with it, Selena." The group returned to circling the bike, muttering in awe.
#@#@ Shrubbery around the front drive of the Institute
Remy LaBeau, Tenzo, Samantha Sparks, and Alyssa Triper shifted uncomfortably in the bushes, trying to find any way to stay out of sight and out of pain. Remy counted the teens on the front steps, most unknown to him except Kurt Wagner a.k.a. Nightcrawler, foster brother to the beautiful and untouchable Rogue. Just the thought of her vicious glare, sent a small shiver up Remy's spine, in only the way thinking of a beautiful woman could. Speaking of beautiful women, Alyssa was fighting a losing battle between her knee-high boots and crouching in the damp earth. Unfortunately, the earth won and over she went, knocking down first Remy, then Samantha, and then Tenzo, as if her teammates were dominos. Remy began swearing in fast French under his breath as he sat back up and dusted off his trenchcoat. Samantha began giggling, and Remy remembered with a flash that she could speak French too. Samantha smiled sweetly, responding to his string of swears.
"Je ai juste laissé qu'une glissière. Mais quand vous parlez comme
celui, n'oubliez pas qu'il y a des dames autour."
("I'll just let that one slide. But when you speak like that, don't
forget there are ladies around.")
Remy relaxed, stealing back his smug smile.
"J'apprécie cela. Ne voudrait pas ma réputation pendant qu'un mauvais
type écartait autour."
("I appreciate that. Wouldn't want my reputation as a bad guy spread
around.")
Tenzo sat up, rubbing his head and brushing dirt off his black T-shirt. Carefully surveying the group, he did his own counting. 'Four guys, two girls,' he calculated, 'One really big guy, it seems like he could beat up anyone of his friends. Definitely somebody good to have on your side.' He was forced out of his thoughts as Samantha snapped shut the video camera, fully charged with a blank tape, ready to record the movements of both the X-Men and the Brotherhood. Nodding to those who surrounded her, she inched forward carefully. Alyssa glanced at Remy, adjusting her halter top anxiously.
"So we're just here to watch? We can't hop in if we get bored??? Come
on, Remy. Just a little bit of fighting??"
Shaking his head sharply, he caught the girl pretending to pout and chuckled lightly. Slowly, the group crept forward, hiding behind more bushes until they were closer yet still concealed.
#@#@ Front drive area of the Institute
Still the group was surrounding Anastacia's bike when a fire ball went sailing over Ryan's shoulder. The group was on guard immediately, Nathaniel drawing his sword out from the scabbard and Ryan cracking his knuckles. In the center of the front drive was an angel statue in a fountain, covered in shadow until Seyla ignited another fire ball, bouncing it onto her other clawed hand. Holding it higher, it illuminated her now silver hair, larger golden eyes, two furry fox ears sticking from the top of her head, and a bushy silver tail swinging behind her. Ryan let out an involuntary gasp as he noticed the tail. Daniel materialized, an arm stretched across Seyla's shoulders and a smug smile in the competition's direction. Keyaira stepped forward, muttering obscenities and glaring at that boy until Ryan stretched his arm in front of her. Meeting her eyes, he whispered gently,
"Don't worry about it. I'll beat his head in for you. How about that?"
Keyaira didn't stop glaring, but nodded furiously. The fire lamp showed plain black clothes, but also Denise, perched on the edge of the fountain. Standing, she tried to look imposing but considering how short she was, it wasn't very intimidating. Kurt snorted, and it was for the first time Denise caught sight of the Elf. Leaning over towards Seyla, she whispered,
"Who's that?!?!?!"
"The enemy."
"Why does the enemy have to be so darn cute??"
"Focus, Vesuvius. You can hit on him while you hit him. OK?"
"Works for me."
Anne saw the growing size of the fire lamp and backed up several steps, promptly knocking into Blob.
"Sorry, Freddy. Fire makes me a bit skittish."
Fred replied in utter confusion.
"But Seyla's your roommate."
Anne shrugged.
"You learn to live with it."
In the bushes, Tenzo stiffened, which was ironic for a guy with the codename Liquid. This girl was something different, something unique he hadn't seen in awhile. Shaking off that feeling, he watched in surprise as the water in the fountain rose, taking on the form of a hand, raising it's middle finger at those assembled on the steps. Mike let out an indignant huff, ready to stomp off immediately into battle with his offenders. Jason smirked at the reaction he had caused. Lance slammed a foot to the ground and let a tremor fly, knocking the court into each other. Toad hopped to sit on the head of the angel and Wanda stood next to Anne, slightly off to he side, looking highly bored. Anastacia, suddenly aware of her newly fixed bike, exchanged a hurried glance with Nathaniel. By some unspoken language, she hopped on the bike and started it, riding it around the corner of the mansion, her braid flapping behind her. Jason found the opportunity and his voice, yelling across the small distance.
"Come on! You're just making it harder on yourself. Just give up now!"
As if on cue, several flame throwers burst from the ground. Clearly, Pixel was feeling unloved. The throwers occupied Fred, Todd, Seyla, and Daniel, the rest of their team spreading out. Nathaniel looked around, tightening his grip on his sword, wondering, 'Who'll make the first move?' It didn't take very long as Jason sent his spout of water at Ryan and Keyaira, but getting nothing wet. Mike threw up his hands and motioned at the space between Anne and Lance, a flash of red light distracting them as when they looked at each other, Lance's hair was light auburn and he was speckled with freckles. Anne had grown two inches taller, her hair turning a muddled brown and a tremor ripping loose when she realized what had happened. Keyaira stole a moment to laugh, but was caught off guard as a set of cold hands wrapped around her neck. With what was left of her breath, she hissed in desperation for her teammates help. Ryan spun, screaming obscenities as he punched just over her right shoulder. Daniel came into view, stumbling backwards and reeling before he jumped at Lynx. Nathaniel flexed his hands around his sword, waiting for someone to attack him, until he noticed nearly twenty tiny sharpened bamboo spears flying at his head. With small effort, he sliced them to harmless bits and looked frantically around for the perpetrator. Darcy stood at the back, behind everything, looking rather bored. Noticing what little effect her spears had had on the man, she bent down to touch one of the large stone benches. Concentrating, she felt weaker and noticed the bench start to kick like a restless dog. Holding up his sword to block hex bolts, Nathaniel noticed his former attacker slump down near the fountain and the bench in front of her spring to life. Barreling past Denise, the bench sprang at him. Unable to defend from both the bolts and the bench, he slowly extended scaly bronze armor along his arms under his coat, closed his eyes, and braced for the attack. When it didn't hit him, he cracked open an eye to see it simply floating in mid- air. Looking around, he saw Anastacia standing near a corner, arms upraised, smiling wickedly at him.
"Honestly, Calina. What would you do without me??"
Returning the wicked smile, he remarked sarcastically,
"I'd be horribly lost. Horribly, horribly lost, my dear Czarina."
Seyla snapped, the fire ball she had been juggling floating 5 feet above her head to expand to nearly 25 ft. in diameter. Raising her arms, she caught the ball on invisible threads and screamed,
"Now you'll know why they call me Foxfire!!!!!"
Flicking her hands forward, and the fire ball followed suit. Anastacia abandoned the bench which fell to crash on the patio and turned towards the ball. Ryan was battling with an invisible Daniel, noticed the ball and yelled for Keyaira, who was collapsed from her lack of air.
"Key! Get out of there!!!"
Keyaira looked up to see the shifting globe of fire, leaving smoking embers in its wake and swore, glancing frantically for an exit. Ryan ignored Ghost for a split second, allowing the Brit to land a punch as he tried to get to Key. Pietro was running backwards away from one of the flame-throwers when one of his heels caught lump of flesh and he tripped over Keyaira Creed. The great Quicksilver tripped! He spun as the ball of flame passed overhead, grimacing as the girl sat up, her hair in her eyes. Huffing, he burst off, slightly nursing his pride and trying to forget those green eyes looking up at him. Kurt bamfed out of the path of the ball, it striking upon the stone wall of the mansion and singing the beige stone wall. Denise sat a bit straighter and felt a cosmic tug from her heart. Lifting her hands, Denise pulled from below, much like Seyla holding onto her fire balls. Mike felt the earth tremble beneath him and tried to search for it's cause. Another of the girls was sitting on the fountain, her eyes an odd shade of fiery red, her fingers twitching. The earth shook again, a tremor not made by Avalanche but by someone else. Denise felt it tug again and stood, aiming her twitching hands at Nathaniel who was brushing embers off his jacket before getting a thought. Smirking, she aimed her outstretched hands at that cute blue elf and pulled upwards. A fountain of lava erupted from off to the left of Kurt and he couldn't help but flinch. Teleporting ten feet away, he looked around nervously, only to find that the lava was following him. Three more BAMFS later and the lava had burnt a path around the front path before Kurt noticed the short brunette smiling wickedly at him, sitting on the fountain edge. He bamfed to the top of the angel statue and smiled as the girl dived out of the way of her own stream of lava. The girl who had slumped to the edge of the fountain, moved sluggishly away, collapsing under one of the trees lining the path. The other members of the Court were moving furiously to avoid the lava and assaults from the Brotherhood. Anastacia was dodging the furious advances of several pieces of shrubbery, thorny vines whipping around her arms and slashing at her uniform. The more she ripped them off, the thicker they grew, Anne stifling her giggles. One thorns struck deep and Anastacia ripped out with her TK, leaping at Dryad. Fred saw the leap and reached out to grab the blonde by the neck. Suddenly, his arm felt heavier and heavier as he lowered her farther to the ground. Anastacia locked eyes with him, growling, despite the hand at her neck.
"You should really check your genealogy, buddy. I've got unstoppable
in my blood and you can't do anything about it."
Wrapping her hand around his knuckles, she squeezed, his bones popping audibly as his hand was pried away. With some extreme force, she flung the Blob into the open space of the path. Anne stumbled backwards as Anastacia glowered, rubbing her neck. Kurt returned his brunette's wicked smile, and she furiously fanned out her hands, the lava now free flowing. Mike hopped backwards avoiding the molten rock, falling backwards against the stone of the porch. Keyaira scooped Ryan away onto the porch as Anastacia and Nathaniel did quick acrobatics to do the same. Mike only vaguely remembered seeing a small pink clad figure rush past him, onto the untouched patch of land toward the fountain, giggling. She skidded to a halt, looking around helplessly, and everyone froze, Anastacia screaming wordlessly in horror. Cassidy Schwartz was trapped in the middle of a lake of molten lava.
Cliffhanger. I'm entitled a few actually, as an authoress. If you don't review, I don't update. You never know if I'll keep it going. Please review.
To pyroyoko: I would give up, but I'm not that kinda person. Please update or I will go crazy!
PS: Reviewers!!!!!!! I loved you before and now I adore you all!! Seriously, everyone was so sweet in all of their reviews. Much love to you all
Note that on translated lines, what they mean in English is in parentheses and quotes below it.
""-Talking ("")-Translated Lines ''-Thinking #@#@ #@#@- Scene Change ^^ ^^-Narrator Speaking
^^ Narrator waves to everybody ^^
The winds have been stirred and now the hurricane is waiting offshore. Single opposite poles have clashed but what will happen when they rally their groups together? Do the Brotherhood actually have a chance? What will a simple battle create?
#@#@ The Mansion
Keyaira walked through the main door to see Andrew and Kurt arguing about techno-babble and Ryan sitting on the bottom stair, reading. As she thumped the snow off her boots, the boys all looked up and rushed over. Ryan carefully tilted her chin up with three clawed fingers, shock spreading on his face.
"What happened??? I thought you were just going for a walk, not
finding a fight! You could have taken me with you for a brawl."
She favored him with a sarcastic smile, then winced as the cut on her bottom lip split a bit farther.
"I wasn't looking for a fight, it found me. Well, some jerk from the
Brotherhood found me and started insulting my people. Can't have that
now can we?"
Kurt looked grim as he glanced down and did some calculations in his head.
"His timing is perfect though. For them, not us. The Professor took
the New Recruits and the other X-Men off for a training mission. The
only reason I'm still here is the massive Biology test I have to study
for and it's tomorrow. You'll have to do this on your own if they come
to fight."
"Who's fighting who?"
The group looked up to see Nathaniel and Anastacia, decked out in full uniform, coming down the stairs. Kurt gestured to Keyaira, explaining,
"She met a guy from the Brotherhood and they got kinda rough. If he
gets back and rallies all of them, you'll have to fight."
Nathaniel nodded, looking at all of them in turn.
" Well, then we'll be ready for them. Lynx, Blender, Key, I suggest
you change into your battle clothes. Don't want to be caught
unprepared. Pixel, got to the control room and monitor everything.
Give us a warning when you see or hear something. Kurt, we'd be
honored if you'd fight with us."
Kurt gave a nod and everyone moved off to their appointed tasks, with Nathaniel following Andrew and Anastacia doing the same for Keyaira, intent on fixing her lip.
#@#@ The Brotherhood Boarding House
Daniel smacked open the front door, not trying to conceal his anger. Stalking into the main hall, he glanced toward the living room to see a shocked Denise dangling a Twinkie over Fred as if he were a dog. Seyla, Anne, and Wanda were laughing on the couch when they all turned to see him scowling at no one in particular. Havok piped in from his place at the window, as everybody was accustomed to.
"What's up? I haven't seen a scowl like since Seyla burned the last
s'more and Fred got all mopey."
Seyla and Fred nodded vigorously, Denise still dangling the Twinkie over Fred's head doing the same. Daniel walked over to lean against the door frame, resting his head against the crumbling molding. Darcy winced, as she did constantly when somebody touched a piece of the house that she had yet to clean. Laughing inside, he began to explain.
"Well, you see Dustin, I-"
Havok held up his hands quickly.
"Whoa there buddy! It's Blake today. Good to keep names circulating,
that's what I always say."
Daniel shook his head.
"OK, whatever. Point is, I got in a fight with an X-Geek and now, we
have to teach them a lesson. Isn't that what we've been waiting for?"
Denise dropped the Twinkie in utter shock, but when she regained her senses, she yelled for her cousin and the other members of the team. A white blur that was Pietro zipped through the swinging kitchen door and plunked down onto the couch next to Anne. Todd hopped through the open window Havok was sitting at and onto the back of the couch where Anne, Darcy, and Pietro were sitting. Lance and Jason came through the kitchen door, looking for the source of the yell. Wanda walked leisurely down the stair to lean against the frame opposite Daniel. Jason spoke first.
"Any reason we're all here and not enjoying the wonderful snow
outside?"
Havok snorted loudly.
"You wouldn't say that if you were half out the window all day.
Besides, I hear that you have a battle to go off and fight."
Seyla looked over at him, questioning.
"You won't be with us? Don't you want a bit of fun?"
Nodding, Havok turned a bit more somber.
"Don't get me wrong. I love a good rough and tumble as much as the
next guy, but this is a fight for the Brotherhood and whoever did
that. I like my independence far too much to take on that label. Until
you return victorious, I take my leave."
With that he spun out of the open window and walked off. Wanda watched him leave, almost wishing he could have stayed, even if not for the battle. Havok leaving was the unsaid signal for the group to disperse, each moving off to their room to change. Daniel was still leaning against the frame as Seyla stopped, tilting his cheek to examine it. Her voice was lightly teasing.
"So, exactly how big was the ring she was wearing?"
Looking away, he asked in the same clipped way he always talked, despite how happy he was internally.
"I was trying to retain my pride. I guess that failed. Is it that
obvious?"
"Only to somebody who knows what to look for. You better point her out
to me so I can properly whoop her behind. I don't like it when other
girls make passes at my guy."
Shocked, Daniel turned to see her smiling in that teasing toothy way.
"You're teasing me. You know it's not nice to tease a hurt person."
The smile didn't fade as the brunette leaned forward and kissed a very shocked Daniel on his slightly parted lips. He was keenly aware of very few things, those things not extending past the sweet peachy smell of her hair. Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, Seyla pulled back and skipped up the stairs. Daniel stood shocked for a minute before he did the same, actually skipping up the stairs.
#@#@ The Institute
Now fully dressed, everybody was lounging in the front room, basically bored out of their minds. Nathaniel started flipping his guns over his fingers, simply trying to fill the void. Ryan was trying to meditate, but suddenly, his ears twitched, flicking back. Keyaira stood up, muttering,
"I hear it too...... What is that?"
Everybody present cocked their heads, looking rather like an odd kitten painting. Ryan responded, incredulously, the noise growing louder and closer.
"It sounds like a motorcycle. Let's check it out."
Grateful for something to do, they all jumped to their feet and moved out through the front door. Below the mansion steps sat two motorcycles and a rider clad in black leather. The rider's face was covered with a helmet, but it was clearly a woman, and the woman hopped onto one bike and rode away. Nathaniel and Anastacia ran down the steps, the rider moving out of the Institute gates. Anastacia looked down at the bike and a huge smile spread across her face.
"It's fixed. My baby. It's fixed."
A note was tacked to the seat, that Nathaniel removed quickly and read aloud.
"Thought it would be a good idea for you to have this. I know you love
it so, and I wouldn't want you to feel lonely. Think of it as a late
birthday present. Love, Mamma."
Anastacia caressed the chrome handle bars, the smile never fading and quite possibly growing larger. The bike was an indescript yet clearly American model, a pearly red body and chrome handle bars and lines. She was laughing softly now, a black gloved hand dragged across a pearlescent logo. Andrew took a few steps forward, tilting his head to one side as he tried to figure out what the logo was. Anastacia glanced up to see his inquisitive look and giggled like a small child.
"It's a dove, my personal symbol. My—-good friend gave me a necklace
when I was 14 that he said reminded me of him. He said I reminded him
of peace and serenity. I've been using that dove ever since."
Mike noticed as she faltered, her voice dropping when she mentioned the person who had given her the symbol. Nathaniel straightened up, his eyes boring into her for a more specific answer. She met his stare and gave another dazzling smile, but her eyes held a tiny secret that she wasn't ready to divulge. Reaching under the skin tight collar of her suit, she pulled out a thin silver chain upon which dangled a small silver dove. Around the dove's neck was a thin strand of gold and in it's mouth was a thin golden branch of olive leaves, also made out of gold. The creature itself dangled carefully, blowing in the soft wind, but when it settled, the dove was beautifully curved into a perpetual state of grace. Keyaira moved instinctively forward, fingering the pendant, clearly shocked.
"It's so heavy! How can you wear such a heavy thing all the time??"
Shrugging, Anastacia replaced the necklace back under her uniform, resettling the chain and it's pendant so that no lines showed through. Nathaniel stopped watching her for a moment and was captivated by the bike. Ryan joined him, both moving around the bike in a circular motion. Distractedly, Nathaniel asked in plain awe,
"What do you mean by "it's fixed"? What was wrong with it before?"
Anastacia answered in the way she always did, with cool confidence, slight humility, and her accent fading into obscurity as she spoke faster.
"I was riding away from a mob of mutant-haters about last year and I
wiped out when one of them got a hold of a flame-thrower. I should be
burned all on my left side but something pulled me off the bike last
minute. Sadly, the bike slid out of control and hit a light pole. The
weird thing was, I didn't float back down to the pavement, but over to
an empty alley here my mom was waiting on her bike. Seriously, she
said my guardian angel was working over time to save me, but forgot
about my baby. She must have called in a million favors to find it,
let alone get it fixed. I don't know how she did it."
Kurt plucked the note from where Nathaniel had dropped it.
"You mean that was your mother? Whoa... But what did she mean by a late
birthday present??"
Anastacia laughed then looked slightly sheepish.
"My birthday was January third. I'm officially 20 years old. I guess I
forgot to mention it. Sorry."
Keyaira stared at 'the queen' in blatant shock.
"How could you forget to mention your birthday??? It's probably one of
the best days in the year! Birthdays, I mean, not just yours."
Looking down, the older girl scuffed the toe of her black boots as if she were a child.
"Whatever. I was happy with it."
Nathaniel fixed her with another stare, this one less searching.
"But we weren't. Right after this battle, we're all going to have a
proper birthday party for you. With lots of sugar and balloons and all
that stuff. So just deal with it, Selena." The group returned to circling the bike, muttering in awe.
#@#@ Shrubbery around the front drive of the Institute
Remy LaBeau, Tenzo, Samantha Sparks, and Alyssa Triper shifted uncomfortably in the bushes, trying to find any way to stay out of sight and out of pain. Remy counted the teens on the front steps, most unknown to him except Kurt Wagner a.k.a. Nightcrawler, foster brother to the beautiful and untouchable Rogue. Just the thought of her vicious glare, sent a small shiver up Remy's spine, in only the way thinking of a beautiful woman could. Speaking of beautiful women, Alyssa was fighting a losing battle between her knee-high boots and crouching in the damp earth. Unfortunately, the earth won and over she went, knocking down first Remy, then Samantha, and then Tenzo, as if her teammates were dominos. Remy began swearing in fast French under his breath as he sat back up and dusted off his trenchcoat. Samantha began giggling, and Remy remembered with a flash that she could speak French too. Samantha smiled sweetly, responding to his string of swears.
"Je ai juste laissé qu'une glissière. Mais quand vous parlez comme
celui, n'oubliez pas qu'il y a des dames autour."
("I'll just let that one slide. But when you speak like that, don't
forget there are ladies around.")
Remy relaxed, stealing back his smug smile.
"J'apprécie cela. Ne voudrait pas ma réputation pendant qu'un mauvais
type écartait autour."
("I appreciate that. Wouldn't want my reputation as a bad guy spread
around.")
Tenzo sat up, rubbing his head and brushing dirt off his black T-shirt. Carefully surveying the group, he did his own counting. 'Four guys, two girls,' he calculated, 'One really big guy, it seems like he could beat up anyone of his friends. Definitely somebody good to have on your side.' He was forced out of his thoughts as Samantha snapped shut the video camera, fully charged with a blank tape, ready to record the movements of both the X-Men and the Brotherhood. Nodding to those who surrounded her, she inched forward carefully. Alyssa glanced at Remy, adjusting her halter top anxiously.
"So we're just here to watch? We can't hop in if we get bored??? Come
on, Remy. Just a little bit of fighting??"
Shaking his head sharply, he caught the girl pretending to pout and chuckled lightly. Slowly, the group crept forward, hiding behind more bushes until they were closer yet still concealed.
#@#@ Front drive area of the Institute
Still the group was surrounding Anastacia's bike when a fire ball went sailing over Ryan's shoulder. The group was on guard immediately, Nathaniel drawing his sword out from the scabbard and Ryan cracking his knuckles. In the center of the front drive was an angel statue in a fountain, covered in shadow until Seyla ignited another fire ball, bouncing it onto her other clawed hand. Holding it higher, it illuminated her now silver hair, larger golden eyes, two furry fox ears sticking from the top of her head, and a bushy silver tail swinging behind her. Ryan let out an involuntary gasp as he noticed the tail. Daniel materialized, an arm stretched across Seyla's shoulders and a smug smile in the competition's direction. Keyaira stepped forward, muttering obscenities and glaring at that boy until Ryan stretched his arm in front of her. Meeting her eyes, he whispered gently,
"Don't worry about it. I'll beat his head in for you. How about that?"
Keyaira didn't stop glaring, but nodded furiously. The fire lamp showed plain black clothes, but also Denise, perched on the edge of the fountain. Standing, she tried to look imposing but considering how short she was, it wasn't very intimidating. Kurt snorted, and it was for the first time Denise caught sight of the Elf. Leaning over towards Seyla, she whispered,
"Who's that?!?!?!"
"The enemy."
"Why does the enemy have to be so darn cute??"
"Focus, Vesuvius. You can hit on him while you hit him. OK?"
"Works for me."
Anne saw the growing size of the fire lamp and backed up several steps, promptly knocking into Blob.
"Sorry, Freddy. Fire makes me a bit skittish."
Fred replied in utter confusion.
"But Seyla's your roommate."
Anne shrugged.
"You learn to live with it."
In the bushes, Tenzo stiffened, which was ironic for a guy with the codename Liquid. This girl was something different, something unique he hadn't seen in awhile. Shaking off that feeling, he watched in surprise as the water in the fountain rose, taking on the form of a hand, raising it's middle finger at those assembled on the steps. Mike let out an indignant huff, ready to stomp off immediately into battle with his offenders. Jason smirked at the reaction he had caused. Lance slammed a foot to the ground and let a tremor fly, knocking the court into each other. Toad hopped to sit on the head of the angel and Wanda stood next to Anne, slightly off to he side, looking highly bored. Anastacia, suddenly aware of her newly fixed bike, exchanged a hurried glance with Nathaniel. By some unspoken language, she hopped on the bike and started it, riding it around the corner of the mansion, her braid flapping behind her. Jason found the opportunity and his voice, yelling across the small distance.
"Come on! You're just making it harder on yourself. Just give up now!"
As if on cue, several flame throwers burst from the ground. Clearly, Pixel was feeling unloved. The throwers occupied Fred, Todd, Seyla, and Daniel, the rest of their team spreading out. Nathaniel looked around, tightening his grip on his sword, wondering, 'Who'll make the first move?' It didn't take very long as Jason sent his spout of water at Ryan and Keyaira, but getting nothing wet. Mike threw up his hands and motioned at the space between Anne and Lance, a flash of red light distracting them as when they looked at each other, Lance's hair was light auburn and he was speckled with freckles. Anne had grown two inches taller, her hair turning a muddled brown and a tremor ripping loose when she realized what had happened. Keyaira stole a moment to laugh, but was caught off guard as a set of cold hands wrapped around her neck. With what was left of her breath, she hissed in desperation for her teammates help. Ryan spun, screaming obscenities as he punched just over her right shoulder. Daniel came into view, stumbling backwards and reeling before he jumped at Lynx. Nathaniel flexed his hands around his sword, waiting for someone to attack him, until he noticed nearly twenty tiny sharpened bamboo spears flying at his head. With small effort, he sliced them to harmless bits and looked frantically around for the perpetrator. Darcy stood at the back, behind everything, looking rather bored. Noticing what little effect her spears had had on the man, she bent down to touch one of the large stone benches. Concentrating, she felt weaker and noticed the bench start to kick like a restless dog. Holding up his sword to block hex bolts, Nathaniel noticed his former attacker slump down near the fountain and the bench in front of her spring to life. Barreling past Denise, the bench sprang at him. Unable to defend from both the bolts and the bench, he slowly extended scaly bronze armor along his arms under his coat, closed his eyes, and braced for the attack. When it didn't hit him, he cracked open an eye to see it simply floating in mid- air. Looking around, he saw Anastacia standing near a corner, arms upraised, smiling wickedly at him.
"Honestly, Calina. What would you do without me??"
Returning the wicked smile, he remarked sarcastically,
"I'd be horribly lost. Horribly, horribly lost, my dear Czarina."
Seyla snapped, the fire ball she had been juggling floating 5 feet above her head to expand to nearly 25 ft. in diameter. Raising her arms, she caught the ball on invisible threads and screamed,
"Now you'll know why they call me Foxfire!!!!!"
Flicking her hands forward, and the fire ball followed suit. Anastacia abandoned the bench which fell to crash on the patio and turned towards the ball. Ryan was battling with an invisible Daniel, noticed the ball and yelled for Keyaira, who was collapsed from her lack of air.
"Key! Get out of there!!!"
Keyaira looked up to see the shifting globe of fire, leaving smoking embers in its wake and swore, glancing frantically for an exit. Ryan ignored Ghost for a split second, allowing the Brit to land a punch as he tried to get to Key. Pietro was running backwards away from one of the flame-throwers when one of his heels caught lump of flesh and he tripped over Keyaira Creed. The great Quicksilver tripped! He spun as the ball of flame passed overhead, grimacing as the girl sat up, her hair in her eyes. Huffing, he burst off, slightly nursing his pride and trying to forget those green eyes looking up at him. Kurt bamfed out of the path of the ball, it striking upon the stone wall of the mansion and singing the beige stone wall. Denise sat a bit straighter and felt a cosmic tug from her heart. Lifting her hands, Denise pulled from below, much like Seyla holding onto her fire balls. Mike felt the earth tremble beneath him and tried to search for it's cause. Another of the girls was sitting on the fountain, her eyes an odd shade of fiery red, her fingers twitching. The earth shook again, a tremor not made by Avalanche but by someone else. Denise felt it tug again and stood, aiming her twitching hands at Nathaniel who was brushing embers off his jacket before getting a thought. Smirking, she aimed her outstretched hands at that cute blue elf and pulled upwards. A fountain of lava erupted from off to the left of Kurt and he couldn't help but flinch. Teleporting ten feet away, he looked around nervously, only to find that the lava was following him. Three more BAMFS later and the lava had burnt a path around the front path before Kurt noticed the short brunette smiling wickedly at him, sitting on the fountain edge. He bamfed to the top of the angel statue and smiled as the girl dived out of the way of her own stream of lava. The girl who had slumped to the edge of the fountain, moved sluggishly away, collapsing under one of the trees lining the path. The other members of the Court were moving furiously to avoid the lava and assaults from the Brotherhood. Anastacia was dodging the furious advances of several pieces of shrubbery, thorny vines whipping around her arms and slashing at her uniform. The more she ripped them off, the thicker they grew, Anne stifling her giggles. One thorns struck deep and Anastacia ripped out with her TK, leaping at Dryad. Fred saw the leap and reached out to grab the blonde by the neck. Suddenly, his arm felt heavier and heavier as he lowered her farther to the ground. Anastacia locked eyes with him, growling, despite the hand at her neck.
"You should really check your genealogy, buddy. I've got unstoppable
in my blood and you can't do anything about it."
Wrapping her hand around his knuckles, she squeezed, his bones popping audibly as his hand was pried away. With some extreme force, she flung the Blob into the open space of the path. Anne stumbled backwards as Anastacia glowered, rubbing her neck. Kurt returned his brunette's wicked smile, and she furiously fanned out her hands, the lava now free flowing. Mike hopped backwards avoiding the molten rock, falling backwards against the stone of the porch. Keyaira scooped Ryan away onto the porch as Anastacia and Nathaniel did quick acrobatics to do the same. Mike only vaguely remembered seeing a small pink clad figure rush past him, onto the untouched patch of land toward the fountain, giggling. She skidded to a halt, looking around helplessly, and everyone froze, Anastacia screaming wordlessly in horror. Cassidy Schwartz was trapped in the middle of a lake of molten lava.
Cliffhanger. I'm entitled a few actually, as an authoress. If you don't review, I don't update. You never know if I'll keep it going. Please review.
To pyroyoko: I would give up, but I'm not that kinda person. Please update or I will go crazy!