Christmas in France
To Aaron: Hey there Aaron! Yeah, someone who can definitely beat Monet in pomp. Yes, it will be very interesting. Well, Kyle will never change in that aspect. And you have to admit, it can be funny sometimes to see Kyle run his mouth and lose his temper. I can imagine that if there was a West Coast Misfit comic, Thunderbolt would have his own solo series. Speaking of West Coast Misfit members having their own solo comic, did you know X-23 is getting her own comic? That's right, X-23 is getting a comic. I guess she was a character people really wanted to see. Marie is definitely not going to have many friends with her attitude. How would Marie Claire act around Ace? Well, we'll have to see, won't we? Anyway, enjoy the new chapter! Can hardly wait to beta-read the first chapter of your story for you!
To Raliena: Hey there, Rae! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! Well, if good ol' Kyle is not careful there may be some diplomatic incidents caused by his big mouth. Enjoy the new chapter!
To Haretrigger: Hey there Hare! Yeah, Thunderbird, Velocity, and Chilljaw beaned Kelly. I'll see if I can get Kelly hit with an anvil or something. Yeah, Marie Claire is a real pain. She might be able to put Thunderbolt in his place. Key word: Might. I can imagine Kyle giving her a few good shots. Suggestions…Toad running out of restaurant with crowd chasing him demanding frog legs…Yeah, I can do that…Kelly getting his butt whooped by mimes…definitely an idea worth keeping around…Duncan getting beat up by angry muscled French guy…oh, that's another nice idea. I like your ideas, dude. I'll see what I can do. Enjoy the new chapter!
To RogueFanKC: Hey there, RogueFan! I would not be surprised if things between Kyle and Marie Claire degenerate into a slugfest. Enjoy the new chapter! Can hardly wait for the next chapter of "Light in the Heart of a Misfit"!
To Metal Dragon1: Hey there Metal Dragon! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! Your suggestion just had to be taken into consideration, man. Don't worry, I don't think Kyle will ever change. I'll see if I can get Kelly beaned again (John: Come on, guys! I need twenty bucks!). Yeah, Marie will get put in her place. Don't worry about it. And sure, you can borrow back Firestorm and BR. Have fun with them! Enjoy the new chapter! Can hardly wait for the new chapter of 'Take the Long Way Home'!
To Red Witch: Hey there Red Witch! I read the new chapter of 'This Soap Opera Called Life' and I loved it! Man, that was one insane wedding! Poor Mystique! (Mystique: I need a drink…) I agree with you when you say that Kyle may have bitten off more than he can chew. Enjoy the new chapter, and I can't wait for the new chapter of 'This Soap Opera Called Life'!
Disclaimer: "Has the whole world gone mad?!" - Raul Julia as Gomez Addams, Addams Family Values
Chapter 3: The Tale Picks Up!
A café in Paris
Longshot was sitting at a café, waiting for his girlfriend Dazzler to come back. She had wanted to introduce herself to the new mutant. Longshot chuckled. Alison was a friendly girl. Meanwhile, he had asked another member of the West Coast Misfits to sit with him and keep him company.
"This café sure is beautiful. And it's even decorated for Christmas." Rahne Sinclair smiled. "And I heard the food here in France is delicious."
"Yeah, they say the French are good at food and art and stuff like that." Longshot shrugged. He was getting flustered, making Rahne laugh.
"Is something wrong?"
"Rahne…do you know any French?" Longshot turned the menu over in various angles in a rather comical-looking attempt to read it. "I can't read this!
"Just 'Thank you', and 'hello'…" Rahne answered in a thoughtful tone. "And I also know the French word for cheese."
"Great." Longshot groaned, putting his head on the table. "You can order us a big honking pile of cheese."
A club in Paris
"Man, look at all the chicks!" Terrell grinned. He, Tommy, and John were standing at the door of a club. "Whooo, mama!"
"You're right, mate. Some of these girls are rippa!" Tommy grinned. A pretty girl walked toward the shark-like mutant. She giggled and winked at the Australian mutant, then handed him a note with her number on it. "Whoa."
"Awww!" Terrell groaned. He then looked at John. "Why are you carrying that anvil?" John blinked.
"I don't really know." The Apache mutant replied, blinking. "Why am I carrying this? Bah!" He threw the large metal anvil out the door. The anvil flew across the street, clocking a passing-by Senator Kelly upside the head.
"I am Batman…" Kelly mumbled before dropping to the ground face-first.
At the Eiffel Tower
"Man, what a view." Ace grinned from the observation lounge up at the top of the tower. "This is awesome WHOA!!!" Ace moved to get out of the way of a screaming Duncan Matthews, who was being mauled by poodles. The dogs leapt off Duncan and ran away as the American football player fell over the railing with a scream. "Man, that dude has no luck."
"What was that, amour?" Tarot asked Ace as she walked up to him, holding two ice cream cones. Ace smiled and took one.
"Ah, nothing." Ace shrugged, happily licking his ice cream. "Yummy. So tell me something, Card-Girl. What brings you back to the old country? Homesick?"
"You…could say that." Marie-Ange nodded. "It has been so long since I have been back here to France."
"It sure is a pretty country." Ace chuckled.
"Thank you." Tarot smiled. "You should see it at night. Then you'll see personally why it's called the 'City of Lights'. You have seen Paris at night?"
"Only on the tube, babe. Only on the tube." Ace replied. He noticed something strange. "Something's not right?"
"Is there something wrong with the ice cream?" Tarot wondered.
"No, it's not the ice cream…" Ace noticed a figure in a black trenchcoat and hat. "Marie-Ange, you notice something funny about that guy?" Tarot blinked.
"Non."
"Look closer." Ace pointed at the guy's head. It was glowing red. Tarot blinked.
"I highly doubt that is normal." Tarot blinked. "And coming from a mutant, that is something."
"I got this." Ace walked up to the man. "Hey buddy, is something wrong with your-" The man turned and pointed his arm at Ace. The American feral found a gun-ended arm put at his face. "B.A.T.!!!" Ace barely managed to get out of the way of the laser blast. It hit the ground.
"ACE!!" Tarot exclaimed. The B.A.T. took off running.
"I'm alright! C'mon, Tarot!" Ace gave chase to the android Cobra Trooper, Tarot not far behind. The two mutants raced after the android. Ace dared not use his claw lasers on it, because he might miss and hit somebody. The B.A.T ran down the stairs of the tower.
d'Agastino Industries
"Zis, ladies and gentlemen, is ze Broadcast Energy Transmitter, Mark 2!" Gerard pointed out the new and improved B.E.T. to the Malibu Joes. Kicker, Jester, Rock 'n' Roll, and Dial-Up were already there to view it, alongside Siryn and X23. It looked like the old B.E.T., only more compact, yet something about its design showed it was significantly more powerful than the first version.
"I totally can't believe they, like, rebuilt it." Wipe-Out whispered to Kicker. The blonde ninja nodded.
"It's a great concept, the B.E.T." Kicker whispered back. "Create energy, then send it to where it's needed."
"But we weren't able to protect it the first time, and we had help from the other Joes and the East Coast guys." X23 added. Siryn noticed Marie-Claire.
"Hello. Me name's Theresa Rourke. I am the West Coast Misfits' leader." Theresa smiled at the spoiled French girl. "We heard you were a mutant. I am one, too. I have the ability to generate sonic vibrations. What about ye?" Marie Claire scowled.
"I do not care what your name is, nor do I care what kind of powers you have. Mon pere called you because he was worried how I would handle my new powers? He is afraid of me."
"No, he's not afraid of ye, he's afraid for ye." Theresa shook her head. "Me father and uncle are mutants themselves. They knew what I went through. Your father's only concerned for ye."
"Good for you, and good for him." Marie Claire huffed. "I do not care.
"Show some respect, jabroni!" Kyle snapped.
"Oh God, here we go…" "Your old man is just trying to help! If you were the Thunderbolt's sister, the Thunderbolt's old man would kick your sorry head in for being a disrespectful little ingrate like that, powers or not!"
"Do you ever shut up?!" Marie Claire snapped back.
"The Thunderbolt thinks your old man should have spanked you more often!" Kyle snapped. Marie Claire growled.
"You are a loudmouth! You should learn some respect!" Marie Claire held out her arm and her eyes glowed. Kyle screamed as he suddenly felt an invisible weight press down on him. And it was increasing in strength. Instinctively, Kyle's body was covered by an electrical field. "Maybe a few thousand pounds' worth of respect."
"Back off, Marie Claire!" Gerard exclaimed. "You'll crush him like an egg!"
"No…" To everyone's shock, Kyle seemed to be fighting the weight. He was doing it with a combination of his own electrical powers and his willpower. "No…one…orders…me…around!" Kyle roared. Electricity burst from his body, forming a support structure around him. He then leapt out from under the structure, and smacked Marie Claire across the mouth. The French girl fell on her butt, a shocked look on her face. Kyle stood at her feet. The Bostonian smirked.
"Never underestimate the willpower of a man who descended from an American colonist." Kyle smirked.
Well, well, well, that was weird! What insanity will happen next? Will Kyle and Marie Claire go at it again? What was up with the B.A.T.? Will Longshot ever be able to read the menu? And will Chilljaw get lucky? Find out in the next chapter! Suggestions needed badly!