Gifts and Curses
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "Mark my words, your uppance shall come"
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Azkalani – Very little happened in my fics between Bobby and the X-Men, unless you count the stuff with Sam. It'll all happen in L170IE's Black Ice.
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Chapter 5 – Light in shadow
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Limbo. A dark, other dimensional plane, home of demons, monsters and those that just lost their way. There weren't many innocent souls spending their days in this land, though a few did exist. One such was a young mortal teenager, looking through a stone-made window out into the blood red land before her. Her name was once Illyana Rasbutin. But now…now she was only known as Magik. She closed her eyes as an old song played in her head once more, as it was prone to do when she let her mind wander.
Come little children
I'll take thee away
Into a land of enchantment (1)
It seemed like only yesterday, all those seven years ago, when she'd heard the song that had led her to the caving system a little away from the Urst-Ordynski Collective her family lived in. What she didn't know was that it was only yesterday.. or rather a few days from yesterday. Time moved quickly in Limbo, much faster than in the mortal realm. Belasco had chosen to keep that little fact to himself.
Magik frowned, clenching her fists. Belasco. He had lured her away from her home. He had kept her prisoner here, claiming to be doing her a favour. For seven Limbo years, he had trained her, made her his apprentice, never revealing his plans for her, only alluding that they were big.
"You have trained we well, Belasco", she said to herself, "but soon your rein will be over. I'm stronger than you, and you know it. I'll overthrow you and return home soon enough. I'm just biding my time"
"Biding time is so sweet", hissed a voice from behind, "revenge is much better served cold, it has a sweet aroma, and an even better taste"
Magik blinked, realizing she'd wandered into what one could call a prison. Those otherworldly creatures banished here by the mystics of the earth, those which Belasco feared were stronger in power than himself, were locked down here by dark magiks, unable to escape.
"I do not wish to talk to the likes of you", she replied haughtily, walking to the door.
Yellow eyes glittered in the darkness, and a faint gleam of white fangs showed.
"You know, I can help you defeat him", it said again, "easily, in fact. You can go home then. You've missed home so much, have you not, little Magik?"
Magik's eyes narrowed.
"You are a trickster, and I know better than to make deals with you", she said, walking away, "besides, I do not need your help, I can deal with him myself, when the time is right"
"I'm sure you can", the voice sneeringly replied, "but I'd watch your back, little girl, or some day you will find my claws in it".
Magik didn't reply, choosing to ignore it as she went on her way. The creature gave a guttural growl.
"Just wait, one day, I'll be free of Limbo", it said, "and then the whole world will be mine once more".
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"I can't believe you, this is our second day here and you already want a party?"
In New York, Tabby had certainly got into the party spirit….which was bad news for Rahne.
"Come on, Rahne, just one little party?", begged Tabby, pinching her thumb and forefinger together.
"No", said Rahne, "I've got tae study...you remember what studying is..right?"
"But I want to get laaaaiiiiiiid", whined Tabby, "it's okay for you, you've got your piece of manflesh"
Rahne chuckled, rolling her eyes.
"I dunnae think Sam'll appreciate being referred to as 'Manflesh'".
"Whatever", said Tabby, waving her hands, "but I still need a good time. It'll let us get to know everyone else".
"Better than nothing", commented Ray from where he was tossing darts at their dartboard.
"Don't you ever go back to your own room?", asked Tabby.
"Sam's still unpacking all his junk", said Ray, "you know, he has a lot of crap for a 'simple farm boy'".
"He likes things to remind him of his family", said Rahne, not looking up from her books.
"He has a tractor exhaust pinned to the wall, Rahne", said Ray darkly, then sighed, "how Roberto put up with him as a roomie in the Institute is beyond me. Anyway, I think Tabby's party idea's great"
"You would", said Rahne, "you don't study either"
"Come on, Rahne", said Tabby, making puppy-dog eyes at her, "I really, really, really need to get me some action. Don't make me resort to Ray"
"Heh", said Ray, then blinked, "HEY!. At least I can pick a gender I prefer"
Tabby grinned.
"When you play for both teams, you never lose a game", she smirked. (2)
"There's logic in there", said Rahne, then blinked, "somewhere"
Tabby hadn't had a meaningful relationship since 'the Amara incident', when Amara had left her for the reformed Hellion, Empath. Since then, she'd shifted from person to person, getting out before she fell too deep. It worried her friends…but at least she was happy.
"So, can we have a party, Rahne?", asked Tabby, "pleeaaaseee?"
"Yeah, Rahne, peleaaaseee?", smiled Ray, "I need some fun before your wholesome boyfriend rubs off on me"
Rahne sighed.
"I'm gunnae regret this, I know"
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Lorna Dane had been 'not sulking' in her bedroom of the house she'd 'bagsed' as hers. She chose it because it had a nice view of the reservoir…among other things.
"Okay, Maggott, let it rip!"
Despite being told many, many, many times that waves did not occur in reservoirs, Alex was not to be put off. He was currently sitting on his surfboard on the big stretch of water. Maggott, with Eany and Meany within him, giving him super size and strength, had got himself to a high ridge above it.
"God save your little, broken body, Havok", he called down, before leaping off the ridge.
The resulting splash indeed caused a huge wave. With a whoop of joy, Alex got to his feet with accomplished ease, riding out the wave like an expert. That was, of course, until the wave abruptly died, pitching Alex into the water with a splash. Lorna chuckled slightly, tucking a strand of green hair behind her ears. She had to admit, the freaky little surf-bum had grown on her.
"Lorna and Alex sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G"
Lorna's eyes shot open, spinning around quickly, glaring at Sammy, who'd just entered her room.
"Don't you ever knock?", she snapped, the metallic objects of her room floating in the air with an angry hum.
Sammy looked at the open door and shrugged.
"No", he said, then smiled, handing her a note, "this was in your letter box…no one's really sure where it came from. Lucas can't find a physic signature or anything"
Lorna snatched the note and scowled.
"I have it now, so you can leave"
"Awww, why are you grumpy now?", asked Sammy, rolling his eyes, then smirked, "you're brooding over Alex again, aren't you?"
"NO!", snapped Lorna, "I couldn't care less about that blonde-haired idiot!"
"Yes you could, you just won't admit it", pointed out Sammy, then smiled, "you need cheering up"
Lorna's eyes widened.
"No I don't", she said quickly, "Sammy….don't do it"
"Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming", sang Sammy cheerfully.(3)
"Not the song", groaned Lorna, "for the love of all sanity, NOT THE SONG!"
Sammy promptly ignored her.
"Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming", he carried on, "What do we do we swim, swim, swim, OH HO, HO How I love to swim, When you WAAAAAANNTTT to swim you want to swim"
HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!
Sammy promptly stopped singing as a few heavy metal chairs hovered by his head.
"…I'm done now", he squeaked, backing out of the room quickly.
Lorna narrowed her eyes, letting the chairs drop to the ground with a thunk. She pulled one up magnetically to the desk, sitting down and opening her letter. He eyes scanned over it, and she paused. She frowned for a moment, before rereading the letter.
"No", she said quietly, staring at the pages, "it's not true….it's can't be true"
Outside, Alex had managed to clamber back on his surfboard as it floated along.
"Now that, was cool', he grinned
Kyle snorted from where he was miserably playing the blues on his guitar.
"You just want to look good for Lorna", he said.
"And you're just miserable because you had to have your shots", said Syrin from where she hovered above them, she smiled down at Alex, "don't worry, she likes your butt and fancy hair, I know, I read her diary"
Alex grinned, brushing a hand through his hair.
"She thinks it's fancy?" (4)
"By now, anyone else would have given up and resorted to stamp collecting", muttered Kyle, before blinking at his guitar hovered out of his hands, "hey!"
With a scraping sound, it crumpled in on itself. Close by, wire fencing pulled free from it's wood, whipping dangerously into the air.
"Lorna's having a hissy fit", said Maggott in a sing-song voice.
"What did you do to her this time, Havok?", snapped Kyle, glaring at Alex.
"I haven't even talked to her today, I swear!", said Alex, holding up his hands in surrender.
"What the heck is going on here?", asked Lucas as he and Lizzie left their house, "I cannae leave ye alone for five…"
"That's not good", said Maggott, pointing to where Lorna was hovering above the town, her eye glowing green, various pieces of metal spinning around her.
"What did you do?", asked Lizzie, looking at Alex.
"Why do you guys always blame me?", asked Alex, "I'm not the only person who annoys her, you know"
"It's probably that letter I gave her", said Sammy as he poked his head out from a wreaked shed.
Without warning, all the metal around Lorna dropped down to the ground, causing the mutant to scatter for safety. Lorna, on the other hand, flew off in a different direction, towards the part of the canyon that hadn't been made into the reservoir.
"Okay, new rule", said Lucas, "lets not give Lorna any strange letters again. Come on, Japheth, help me fix what's left of Dry Creek Road" (5)
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Pietro looked disdainfully at the uniforms that Nick had left them with.
"This isn't a fashion disaster", said Pietro, shaking his head, "this is a fashion catastrophe!"
He smirked.
"No matter, that can be changed"
With a whirlwind flurry, he began to alter the costumes, in about 3 seconds, he was done. Rosemary looked at them with an arched brow.
"They look like modified versions of your Brotherhood costumes", she pointed out. (6)
"They look awesome", Pietro pouted, "and you don't get a say in it. You're not on the team, 'cause you're only human"
Rosemary smirked.
"Wrong", she said, "Fury asked me to keep your missions in check, receive them, send you out on them"
Her grin widened.
"That makes me your boss", she said, relishing every moment, "doesn't that just burn you up inside, Pie-Pie?"
Pietro twitched.
"I hate Nick Fury", he said.
"So do I", growled Todd as he walked into the living room, "and you, Pietro, are dead!"
"So…you didn't pick things up with Sidney, then?", asked Pietro innocently.
"No, I didn't", growled Todd, "by the time I got back, it was too late. I want it to be special, so I have ta plan somethin' all over again now"
"Oh. heh heh", said Pietro, "never mind, huh?"
Todd glanced over at Rosemary.
"Permission to smack him?"
Rosemary grinned and nodded.
"Permission granted"
Pietro blinked, then screamed, running out of the house.
"That is abusing your power!", he shouted as he left, "it's a breech of contract"
"Stand still, Pie", smirked Todd, hopping after him, "this won't hurt…much"
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(1) – Sarah's song from 'Hocus Pocus'.
(2) – Okay, comic Tabby wasn't bisexual to my knowledge, but in Evo….well, come on, look at her!
(3) – Just Keep Swimming, by Dory, from Find Nemo. Such a happy song.
(4) – An exchange originally from 'Lilo and Stitch'. I love that movie, David is my favorite character. It just begged to be used.
(5) – Dry Creek Road is a street in Dark Hollow. It is seen signposted in the opposite direction to Maggie Blue Road. You have to squint at it.
(6) – See Xavier's vision in Dark Horizons, Part 2.
Wee another chapter done. The Brotherhood and college scenes were done during a heat wave my area is currently having. So I apologize for the insanity, heat fries my brain cells.