The Circus
'You can loosen the restraints Hank, he means us know harm' said Charles as he sat surrounded by his X-men opposite Wolverine.
'You can't be serious professor, only last night he tried to kill you' yelled Scott Summers shocked by his mentors total disregard for safety.
'Some one else tried to kill me, they just used this poor soul as a vessel to do it via some kind of mind control, he remembers nothing of anything really' Xavier sighed as he said this. 'He only has a few memories of his entire life which I can tell is quite a long one, his power seems to be regeneration he could well be hundreds of years old' said Xavier.
'He looks good for his age' commented Storm.
'You aint bad looking yourself' grinned Wolverine as Hank undid his restraints. 'I know what your up to if you think you can create a better future and help me regain my memory I'm in.'
'What good will a murderer with no memory be to us?' yelled Scott not really wanting an answer.
'I do have memories' said Wolverine as thoughts flashed through his head, one of a sick child, the same child fighting another, a younger version of him riding a horse and firing a revolver at a man, fighting in WWII, fighting with some sort of animal man hybrid which is obviously the other from last night both of them end up getting tranquillised by commandos, him floating in a tank as metal claws pop out of his skin that and him standing at an altar in a tuxedo are his only complete memories 'I also know a lot of things, martial arts, tactics, weapons, I don't know how I know them but I do, if your going to defeat this Magneto guy, you'll need me.' Informed Logan gruffly.
'I don't think so' said Scott as he stared at the man who was now standing up and stretching.
'I must agree with him, I will request you four head to the circus and investigate those mutants while I stay here and discuss the future and the past with our new friend Logan…Scott I know what your going to say but you don't have to worry as you saw last night I was more then able to defend myself' Xavier smiled at the group in front of them knowing that he was the most powerful mutant in the room if not the world.
An hour later the group were entering the grounds of the circus, Scott was still a little angry and apprehensive about leaving the professor with a dangerous criminal.
'Hey look at this' yelled Jean as she peered through a tent doorway at a large man who was covered in metal lifting two cars which were connected by a huge iron pillar in the middle.
'Lets all show our support for the amazing Colossus whose next feat of amazing strength will be a tug of war with not one, not two no not even three but four fully grown African bull elephants!' yelled the ring master as the elephants were lead into the arena and gripped the huge metal chain used for giant ships anchors in their trunks as they were trained to do. Colossus did the same as he loosened himself up, the ringmaster cracked his whip and the elephants started to pull, slowly but surely Colossus was being pulled towards the line. Three or four guys circled the audience taking bets most of the crowd by this point were betting on the elephants, they reported back to the ringmaster via a ear piece who spoke into his own secret microphone which fed into Colossuses ear 'Okay kiddo, you've kept them in suspense long enough you can start to pull.' The ring master smiled to himself as he took advantage of this poor naïve mutant's strength without his knowing.
Colossus began to pull and rather quickly the elephants were dragged across the line leaving large track marks in the ground from where they dug their feet into the ground to no avail. Colossus posed to the crowd as they cheered, he was a simple man if you could call him a man being only 20 years old but simple he was none the less, he couldn't really care about showbiz but it made people so happy and was a good living that allowed him to send most of his money to his family he was happy to do it.
'Now if you could turn your attention up into the rafters you will or should that be not see the Amazing Nightcrawler' yelled the ringmaster, the crowd including the X-men looked up into the rafters, they saw nothing for a few moments and began to get impatient till a blue streak jumped from the shadows instantly becoming visible and he fell towards the earth before vanishing in a puff of smoke just feet from the floor. He appeared twenty feet up in the air and instantly caught the trapeze swinging in mid air before doing a somersault disappearing again and appearing on Colossuses shoulders much to everyone's delight.
Jean was in the middle of clapping when a wave from someone's thoughts passed through her mind, it was the ringmaster, she followed his thoughts and looked beneath the stands where everyone sat, there she saw a small teenager flicking through a wad of cash before putting some in his pocket and the rest in a black bag. His tongue quickly flicked out to about fifteen feet and grabbed a wallet before dragging it back and spitting it into the bag.
Jean nodded to the boy drawing Scott's attention to the thief as he hopped out of the tent, the ring master quickly finished his speech and followed. The two teens crept over to the canvas wall and listened through to the two people.
'How's it going?' asked the ringmaster to his accomplice.
'Hey yo, everything's fine boss, were raking it in but the real big score will be tomorrow night, that's when all the big wigs have booked the circus for a private show right?' asked the little toad like boy
'That's right Todd, I think you've earned the rest of the night off' said the ringmaster as he grabbed the black sack shoving it under his hat.
'Hey one question boss, when can I be in the main ring and get on the poster?' asked Todd trying to get a little fame.
'How many times Toad, I need you stealing, I know you can do just as much acrobatic stuff as Kurt but he won't steal for me you and you haven't got the teleport and smoky stuff that the little demon has, so shut up before I get the whip again' ordered the ringmaster showing his nasty streak.
'Okay boss' stutters Toad knowing he is serious after being on the end of to many beatings during his life glad I'm robbing this guy blind thought Toad to himself which made Jean giggle.
Jean quickly sent the knowledge they had just gained to Storm and McCoy who were talking to the two mutants on the other side of the tent.
'I vould like to leave but can't, people don't take vell to me vhen they find out that this isn't a costume' said Kurt Wagner as he tugged on his fur.
'Would it make you change your mind if you knew that your act was being used as a cover to steal money?' asked Storm.
'I don't believe you master Starsmore has been very good to us, now please leave you are no longer welcome here' said Pitor in a harsh Russian accent. Hank handed them a card just in case they change their minds as they left.
…
'Even if they do not wish to join us we do have to stop the ringmaster and the other mutant stealing from the 'big wigs' as they put it because I fear it would just lead to anti-mutant rhetoric.' Lectured Xavier to his X-men.
'Plus it's the right thing to do' states Wolverine as he shines his claws.
'What do you know about the right thing?' growls Scott who still wasn't happy about Wolverine being invited to join the X-men especially after he tried to kill Xavier.
'You'd be surprised how much I know bub' growled Wolverine back sensing the animosity from Scott. Xavier also sensed it from both men as their thoughts and emotions washed over him.
'Scott and Logan I would like you two to go to the fair ground and stop the thefts, the rest of us shall convince Kurt and Pitor of what is going on.
…
That night the show was reaching its climax as Nightcrawler and Colossus worked together for their finale, Colossus was juggling chairs with people still sitting in them and every now and then Kurt would port in and place another spectator in the chairs, soon there was three on each chair. Colossus threw the chairs as high as they could in the air and Kurt Bamfed in grabbing them one after the other and placing them onto the back of three different elephants.
Meanwhile…
'Okay bub spill the truth' growled Wolverine as he had Toad pinned to a post with two of his claws digging into the pole with Toad's neck in the centre.
'Yo I don't know what you talking about' screamed Toad as he struggled kicking his legs in mid air. Wolverine growled causing his middle claw to shoot out and just touch Toad's skin. Toad screamed and wet himself.
'Okay okay, when I was three I stole a cookie, when I was four I took candy from a candy store, When I was five I poured water on my grandfathers pants when he slept' confessed Toad as tears began to well in his eyes for fear of his own life.
'Fast forward' ordered Wolverine growling at the Toad.
'The ringmaster gets me to steal all the time, right now I'm supposed to be stealing all the money, gold, jewels and anything else from all these 'big wigs' before we get out of here as fast as we can' cried Toad.
you get that professor? asked Scott telepathically.
yes and so did Kurt and Pitor, I beamed it right into their minds replied Xavier as he sat in front of two stunned mutants. 'I'm sorry you had to see that, I know your both good people that is why I'm offering to help you help yourselves, A war is coming make no mistakes whether it is with one another or humanity it is coming' said Xavier ominously.
'Ve vill decide later but first ve have to stop him' growled Kurt as he grabs Colossus and Bamfs them away from the X-men.
He got away said Scott to the professor telepathically before you ask lets just say he has powerful legs said Scott as he and Wolverine stood up holding onto their crotches in pain before trying to give chase.
'You lied to us, you used us, you have broken the law' shouted Colossus who was now in human form which was about two feet short of when metallic and holding the ringmasters shirt.
'Look I'm sure we can talk about this' said the ringmaster trying to save his own worthless hide 'what if I cut you in on it?'
'No deal' said Kurt as he hung from the door frame of the caravan with his long dark blue hair halfway down his back.
Colossus suddenly dropped the ringmaster as a giant green blob stuck to his face making it impossible for him to breathe, Toad burst through the door grabbing the ringmaster before leaping out the window quickly followed by Nightcrawler and Colossus now in his metal form and free of the green slime.
Toad and the ringmaster headed straight for the main tent unknowingly straight for all the X-men. Toad leapt through the door only to be confronted by al of them including the man who now scares him more then anyone he ever met Wolverine. Toad whipped out his tongue and flew into the onto the trapeze swing. Scott blasted up into the rafters towards them but Toad dodged it with a squeal. The mutant drops the ringmaster onto a balance beam and hops next to him as he pulls out a gun. Colossus grabs Nightcrawler and spins him around before hurling him towards the two, Starsmore pulls the trigger just as Kurt bamfs out of the way and the bullet whistles through the air where he had been. Kurt appears right in front of the ringmaster which causes him to scream and topple backwards, Kurt disappears again and appears in the right place to grab him before disappearing and reappearing on the floor. The ring master points the gun again but it is blasted form his hand by a reed beam.
'Logan' yells Storm as she rushes to the side of her fallen comrade who has a bullet wound in his chest.
'Uh oh, I'm out of here' mutters Toad as he uses his tongue to catapult him through the canvas roof.
'I'm fine' mumbles Wolverine as he wound in his chest heals dropping the bullet to the ground 'nice to see you care' smiles Wolverine at the weather witch.
She punches in the arm before kissing his forehead 'You're a jerk but I'm glad you're okay'
'I've rang the police they will be here shortly to take you to jail' smiled Jean as she drops her cell phone back into her bag.
Kurt hides when the police arrives but bamfs back as soon as he sees them driving away.
'It looks as though I have to go back to the life of a freak now' sighs Kurt sadly looking down at his three fingered hands.
'You are still welcome to join us at our institute, you will have a lot of school work to catch up on though' said Xavier as he smiles to his possible new recruits.
'I can't really go out anyvhere' said Kurt again looking at his hands and tail.
'I thought you might come around that's why Hank and I created this' said the professor as he handed Kurt a small watch which he put on his hand and pressed a button. His blue fur instantly phased away being replaced by the slightly tanned skin of a normal 16 year old, he had five fingers, he had irises, he had no tail, he was normal.
'I'm normal' said Kurt as he welled up with tears quickly wiping them away.
'You were always normal Kurt but now you just look more average' laughed Jean at the teenager who was now turning back flips in mid air.
'Yeah but still…professor you rock' yelled Kurt as he hugged Xavier nearly knocking him out of his chair.
'This is getting to be quite the dysfunctional family unit' laughed Hank as he wiped clean his glasses.
Meanwhile…
'Yo now what? I aint even got any money for food' sulked Toad as he sat atop a street lamp. A single raven flew through the air landing next to him and gave out a squawk, Toad smiled and launched out his tongue dragging the bird into his mouth. Seconds later his eyes bulged and he spat out a small cat which quickly turned into a blue lady who sat next to him cross legged on the street lamp.
She shook off some of the slime and smiled at him trying her best to hide her rage she knew she had to be nice at first. 'I have a proposition for you Todd…how would you like to rule the world?' she asked while smiling evilly.
'Look lady yo I can see your special like me, I don't care what it is I'll do it but can we get something to eat first even if we just drive past the pet store' sighed Toad happy that he had made a new 'friend'.
Nearby a single figure dressed in a dark red hung in the air smiling to him self.