The Arena

"Can't believe we had to dress up for this," Logan grunted as he and the others arrived at the theater. He was wearing a black western shirt and a brown jacket. He had on a brown cowboy hat and jeans.

"If you call that dressing up then my dear Wolverine you are in serious need of a fashion over hall," Pietro teased. He was wearing a white tuxedo.

"Yeah but how dressed up do ya have to be for a dump like this?" Logan grumbled. The outside was a large old theater that had seen better days.

"Well they're all dressed up," Jubilee pointed. She was wearing a red dress.

It was a strange contrast that some of the most well dressed and wealthy people in the state were walking into the crumbling theater with ease. They were shocked at what they saw inside. Crystal chandeliers lit up the lavishly decorated room. There was gold covering everything and rich lush red carpeting lined the floor. Butlers circled around dispensing champagne on silver trays with the greatest of ease. Others had trays of cheese, caviar and other rich appetizers.

"Whoa…" Todd blinked. He was wearing a black suit. "I guess appearances can be deceiving. I wonder if they have cocktail weenies?"

"Something tells me this isn't the cocktail weenie crowd Toad," Wanda told him. She was wearing a red sleeveless dress.

"Holy cow," Sam whistled. He was wearing a nice suit as well. "This place looks like Donald Trump decorated it."

"I think I saw him over there by the fountain," Tabitha pointed. She was wearing a nice peach dress and had her hair up. "This place is packed to the hilt with the rich and famous."

All around them the wealthy preened and enjoyed themselves in anticipation of the performance. "You favorite performer is on tonight dear," A wealthy man grinned to his wife.

"Oh yes the horse, isn't he divine?" She squealed.

"Man look at all the people here," Forge whistled. "Looks like all the richest people on the planet are here. Is that the governor?"

"I don't get it," Tabitha mused. "What do a bunch of rich yahoos and a mutant underground theater have in common?"

"I'm with you," Cover Girl said. "Something about all this isn't right."

"I guess the only way we'll find out is by watching the show," Hank said.

"Excuse me," A lovely woman and her friends walked up to them. "Are you new to the Theater?"

"Well I've never been here before if you are asking," Hank blinked.

"But are you performers?" She giggled. "I love performers."

"No stupid he's one of those X-Men," Her friend said. "Are you all X-Men?"

"Some of us are Misfits," Pietro winked.

"Oh my! Real mutant celebrities!" The women squealed with delight. "You don't know who you'll meet here do you?"

"Ladies I believe its time for the show," One of them said. "Good bye!"

"Bye!" Pietro waved. Cover Girl whacked him on the back of the head. "What?"

"Will you act your age?" She hissed.

"Why? They're not," Pietro remarked.

"Just keep it under control for tonight huh?" Cover Girl warned him.

"Well they're not repulsed by us," Todd shrugged. "I guess that's something."

"Let's go to our seats and watch the show," Wanda suggested. "And I don't mean the one my brother is going to do when he finds out those ladies were over fifty."

"How did you know that?" Pietro asked.

"I recognized one of them," Wanda grinned. "She used to be a regular on the Golden Girls. It's amazing what a little plastic surgery can do these days."

"Ewww…" Pietro shivered.

"Come on let's get to our seats," Tabitha told them impatiently. They went to their seats that were in a luxury box. "Wow look at this place."

"George Lucas would probably kill for a set like this," Hank whistled. Below them was a huge arena with statues and apparatus. Above them was a fake galaxy with moons and stars twinkling.

The music started to play and the crowd shouted. A rock band made of mutants rose from one side of the stage amid smoke and sparkles. Two mutants strode out from opposite sides. Both were males dressed in armor. Then the spotlight shone on Alison, wearing a skin tight glittering gold dress. She began to sing:

Whose eyes do I see?

How can I understand how I feel?

Between these two I can no longer hide…

Whose love here is real?

Then the two mutants drew out their swords and started to fight. The crowd began to roar. The crowd's cheering the fight drowned Alison's singing out. "What kind of show is this?" Hank whispered.

"It ain't Broadway that's for sure," Logan growled.

"This ain't what I think it is, is it Quickie?" Todd whispered.

"Yeah I guess those rumors were true after all," Pietro told him.

"Rumors? What rumors?" Sam asked.

"A while back when we were still working for Magneto we heard about this underground mutant gladiator show," Pietro explained. "Apparently several years ago some enterprising human got together with a group of homeless mutants to start shows like these. It's been a secret of the underworld and among the rich and famous for years."

"You mean these guys fight for money?" Angelica gasped.

"Yeah a whole butt load of it," Pietro said. "That's why Father could only recruit a few of 'em from this place. Most of them liked the money they got here too well."

"You knew about this place before?" Logan hissed at him. "And you never told us?"

"I never saw it before!" Pietro defended. "You know Magneto never let me in on his plans or half the stuff he was doing. I only heard rumors and stuff. But I never believed 'em."

"This is twisted dude," Forge shook his head.

"What's so twisted about it?" Todd asked. "You watch boxing and wrestling right? It's the same thing. I mean nobody complains how people like Mike Tyson and the Rock are exploited."

"Yeah and according to Father a lot of it is rehearsed anyway," Pietro shrugged. "What's the big deal?"

"I just don't like the way all these people are acting," Wanda shivered slightly. "Listen to them. They're getting off on it."

"You're right kid," Logan grunted. "I can smell it all around me."

At the climax of the song one fighter knocked the sword out of the other's hand and 'killed' him with a fake motion. He raised his sword (That didn't have a trace of blood on it) and explosions fired around them. The crowd cheered.

"See it's all faked," Pietro whispered. "I mean that act looked more like a soap opera than a fight."

"Well he's got a point," Cover Girl agreed. "I mean as long as people aren't getting hurt…"

Two more fights appeared after that. However they both looked less fake and more realistic. Alison did another rock number without the fighting. Then the next number was announced.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE CENTER STAGE! TONIGHT WE DEBUT OUR NEWEST STAR! SHE'S MYSTERIOUS! SHE'S POWERFUL! SHE'S DEADLY! SHE'S THE ONE AND ONLY…LADY X!"

Stepping out in a black warrior like dress a very familiar face stepped out and unsheathed her claws. The crowd roared with delight as she started to fight Horns in the ring.

"THE KID!" Logan roared. "SHE'S IN THIS?"

"Logan don't do anything rash!" Hank held him in his seat. "Wait until after the performance!"

"Don't tell me to wait Hank!" Logan snapped at him. "Your kid ain't in this garbage!"

"Logan she took out the entire mansion and nearly kicked your butt," Tabitha told him. "You really think she's in danger from a second rate fighter like that?"

"She's not!" Todd pointed. "But the Dazzler is!" Horns decided to change tactics by going after Dazzler.

"Hey! You're not supposed to attack me!" Alison shouted as she let a light blast at Horns.

"ALISON!" Hank roared as he leapt out of the box and into the arena.

"Oh well yeah," Logan rolled his eyes sarcastically. "It's fine for him to get out there!" He followed him into the arena.

"What is going on out there?" Hugo shouted from the sidelines. "Rocko! Get some guys and get those nuts out of the theater!"

"Let's go!" Rocker shouted. "This was definitely not in the script!" He ran out with his crew.

Meanwhile Hank had caught up with Horns and started fighting him. "Way to wait until after the show Beast!" Logan shouted.

"YOU?" X23 shouted. "What are you doing here?"

"I was gonna ask you the same question!" Logan roared. "You are so grounded kid!"

"I am not a kid!" X23 shouted.

"Hey get outta the ring!" Rocker tackled Logan and started fighting him.

"Alison are you okay?" Hank had knocked Horns to the side and went over to help her.

"I'm fine Hank I can take care of myself!" Alison told him. "Look out!"

Too late Hank was tackled by two other mutants. "You're out of here buddy!" Crab shouted. Hank threw him off easily as well as the other mutant.

Horns was not happy so he attacked the first mutant he saw, which was Crab. "Horns are you nuts?" Crab shouted.

"You are coming home with me!" Logan roared as he fought off Rocker and the other mutant while yelling at X23.

"I am staying right here!" X23 shouted as she then tackled Rocker. "I can take care of myself!"

"How?" Logan shouted as he punched out another mutant trying to throw him out. "By working for a circus like this?"

"It beats being a weapon!" X23 yelled back as she punched out another mutant. "What you want me to live the rest of my life as some kind of assassin or spy?"

"No but you can do better than this!" Logan shouted. Then he threw another mutant over his shoulder.

"It's my life! I'll live it however I choose!" X23 screamed as she sliced apart another mutant's sword with her claws.

"Should we go out there and help?" Wanda asked.

"Nah let them have their fun," Pietro waved.

"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!" The crowd roared.

"Aw cripes this is a disaster!" Hugo grunted. "Fine! If they want a war, let's give 'em one!" Soon nearly every mutant in the theater, even the ones in the band were fighting.

"Okay we're all going out now!" Cover Girl shouted. She then noticed that the kids were already headed toward the arena. "Hey! Wait for me!"

But then something happened. To everyone's horror Horns stuck the horn through Crab's chest. He whipped is head back with a horrible laugh as Crabs waved helplessly on it, then was tossed to the ground in an agonizing death throw. The crowd roared wildly as Crabs died in the ring.

"NO!" Alison shouted.

"Oh god…" Wanda shirked at the grisly sight.

"You still think that's part of the script kid?" Logan snarled at Pietro.

"Lay off!" Cover Girl snapped. "He didn't know!"

"Apparently he ain't the only one," Logan noticed Alison shirking in horror.

"NO!" Alison screamed and started to glow brightly. Soon her light blinded the entire arena. She ran out shouting. But the beautiful people in the audience didn't care much. They had gotten what they had paid for.

Next: Things go from bad to worse for Alison. Will Logan and the others help her and X23? Read and Review!