Gifts and Curses
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "One good thing about the apocalypse - always plenty of parking"
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Chapter 31 – Friends and foes
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Over at the Xavier Institute a few days later, Charles had called a 'staff meeting', despite the fact Logan wasn't home. This meant Kurt had the great job of babysitting both Imara and Toby. The latter was no problem, happily sitting quietly and molding stuff out of play dough….his best friend, however, was another matter.
Imara smiled as she pushed the dolls camper van along the landing. She hated dolls, but her aunt had insisted she have at least one girls toy..and this was it. Inside was a Barbie and a Ken…the Ken had already lost his clothes to the institutes smallest resident, and so Ken was wearing a pair of hot pants instead, which Shortpack had stated he wasn't touching with a ten-foot bargepole.
"Isn't this mountain trip nice, Ken?", she said in a high feminine voice.
"Sure is", she said in a lower voice, "the nice mountain air makes me feel great, Barbie!"
Suddenly, Imara swerved the toy van towards the stairs.
"Oh no!", said 'Ken', "the breaks have failed!"
"We're heading to the edge of the mountain!", screamed 'Barbie'.
Imara smirked, making screaming noises as she pushed the van off the top of the stairs, watching it crash and bump down, before landing as a mangled wreak on the bottom.
"Oh no", said Imara, "what a terrible disaster" (1)
"You're a disturbing little thing, aren't you?", said Kurt, arching a brow.
"Yup", said Imara proudly, "it's one of my most interesting-ing of features"
"She'll be an overlord one day", said Toby from where he was working, "she'll make you all bow down to her and give her your left shoe"
"Yeah", grinned Imara, "Except Toby, he gets to keep Europe"
"The quirks of being best pals with a evil-overlord, huh?", chuckled Kurt.
Inside Xavier's study, Charles was looking at his folded hands, Hank, Shortpack, Scott, Jean and Storm watching him mistrustfully. It was never good when he did the hand folding thing.
"….Is something wrong, Charles?", asked Storm.
"No", smiled Xavier, "not at all"
"…Then why did you call us into your office?", asked Hank, then frowned, "you don't want us to sort out the attic again, do you? There's a lot of things there….I don't want dust in my fur again"
"There's a lot of old stuff in my attic", sniffed Xavier, "things that have been in my family for generations. My Grandma owned Shortpacks house"
"…..Then why does my attic have a sticker in it saying 'Property of Charles, not Cain'?", asked Shortpack.
"Moving on", said Xavier quickly, "with Jean wanting to go into medicine, we will be one staff member down, especially considering Logan is rarely here now"
"For what students?", asked Scott, "there's two"
"Yes, but you and I both know, Scott that it won't be long before more young mutants will want our help", he said, then sighed, "it was either getting a new staff member or giving you all extra lessons"
"I'm already juggling geography and history", said Shortpack, "it's hard enough to keep Josh awake with just those two"
"Exactly", said Xavier.
"…So, you're going to advertise a teaching position?", asked Storm.
"Umm….I already have a teacher", said Xavier, "he…umm….arrived this morning. I shielded his presence from you"
"Why would you do that?", asked Scott, frowning…this didn't seem good.
Xavier sighed.
"You can come in now"
The door of the study opened, Magneto stepping inside.
"…Oh, you're kidding me", said Scott, "Professor, this has got to be some sort of joke!"
"For the last time, you're a teacher here now, Scott, call me Charles", said Xavier, then sighed, "and no, it isn't a joke" (2)
"But Charles!", protested Hank, "he's caused us so much trouble. He's a dangerous criminal!"
"He can hear you", muttered Magneto
"Erik has changed, Henry", sighed Xavier, "Has he caused us any problems in years? No. I think everyone deserves another chance…including Magneto"
"No wonder you wanted to do this when Logan wasn't home", said Storm.
"This isn't one of those Apocalypse future' things, is it?", asked Scott cynically, "because there's nothing to say all of those are true!"
"I hope not all of them are", said Xavier, his glance flicking to Jean, before looking back at Scott, "Scott, just give him a chance"
"No way", said Scott, "once a bad guy, always a bad guy"
"Rogue, Bobby, Jason, Piotr, The Brotherhood, Josh", listed off Shortpack.
"That's different!", snapped Scott, "and you can't support this!"
"I haven't known him long enough to develop a grudge", said Shortpack with a shrug.
"I have to admit, Charles", sighed Storm, "this doesn't seem to be a good plan"
"Look", said Magneto with a sigh, "I thought the same thing. But really, I don't wish to cause you any trouble. I may not particularly agree with Charles ideals…but I do believe in teaching the younger mutants how to use their powers"
"All I am asking is that we try this", said Xavier, "only try, Scott"
"Fine", muttered Scott, stalking out, "but I don't like this"
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Inthe Brotherhood House, it's residents were having troubles of their own.
"You won't believe what Mr Pryde wants me to do", said Lance, where he paced the room, "he wants me to….errr…snip the tip"
"….You lost me", blinked Sidney from where she was flicking through bridal magazines.
"He wants me to", Lance lowered his voice to a whisper, "have a circumcision"
"HAH!", laughed Sidney, "hey, Wanda. Lance has to have a circumcision!"
"You're not too hot on the concept of whispering, are you, Sid?", muttered Lance as Wanda smirked , walking over.
"Looks like Little Lance is gonna have to have a bit off the top", she said.
"Shutupshutupshutup", chanted Lance
There was an almighty bang as the door flew open, Ace grinning like an idiot.
"Rawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwr!", growled Ace, walking in, "Ace is in the house!"
"Must you do this every time?", sighed Wanda.
"Apparently so", sighed Bobby, rubbing his temples as he followed Ace in, "I've got a migraine from him"
"What brings you guys in?", asked Lance, "please, God, say it's to kill one or both of these women"
"Bite me, wee-willy-winky", said Wanda.
Bobby blinked at them.
"Y'know, I'm not even going to ask", he said.
"Hey, I'm plannin' Toads bachelor party", said Ace, "giving Freddy a little less best-man duties to cope with, considering he's still grieving and all. And it's gonna be wild!"
"…..There's going to be a stripper…'aint there?", asked Todd.
"A striper?", asked Ace, "Toadie, there's five!"
Todd gave a nervous laugh, looking at Sidney.
"I didn't ask him ta do that….honest"
Sidney shrugged.
"You can have as many strippers as you like as long as you don't sleep with any of them", she said.
Ace blinked, then grinned at Todd.
"You are one lucky dog, you know that?", he said.
"We do have some work, though", sighed Bobby, "no rest for the wicked, I know"
He clicked up one of S.H.I.E.L.D's hologram cards, the head of a blonde haired man appearing.
"This mutant escaped from Stokes mental illness clinic a few hours ago", he said, "He's ex CIA, but he was discharged for mental health problems"
"In other words, he's nuttier than a bag of peanuts", said Pietro.
"As fruity as you are than a bowl of fruit", smirked Ace.
"……Hey", said Pietro, "I'm not fruity. I'm….enthusiastic"
"You're kidding yourself", said Ace, then sighed, "anyway, this guy's been in Stokes for a few years now after he went loony and tried to assassinate a few people"
"Sounds charming", said Todd dryly, "what's his name?"
"Francis Leighton, AKA Shepard", said Ace, then snorted, "Francis" (3)
Bobby gave him a glare.
"Okay, fifth time this morning", he said, "my middle name is Francis, so quit it" (4)
"I can't help it", said Ace, "it's so stupid and girlie"
Bobby sighed, shaking his head.
"Anyway, Nick says he's not much to worry about", he said, "his mutant power isn't much to worry about, nothing his own men can't handle. He just wants us to keep an eye out in case he shows up around here"
Bobby frowned, shaking his head.
"Leighton", he said, "I've heard that name before, I just can't put my finger on it"
"Do you owe him money?", tried Freddy.
"At least it means we got a free night of partying", said Ace, "Nick's given us the whole week of the wedding off! That means we can get three times as drunk as normal"
"….Your 'normal' drinking would leave most people paraplegic, Ace", pointed out Freddy, "I've been on your drinking exploits" (5)
He sighed.
"It's hard to out-drink someone with a healing factor"
"You'd better not get drunk on my wedding", said Sidney, then smirked, "It's in a month!"
"We know, Sidney", said Bobby, "you've told us…multiple times"
"Neeeehh", said Todd.
"Todd's still having trouble dealing with it being so close", said Sidney in a not-whispering voice.
"Poor sod", chuckled Pyro, "such a wimp"
"I don't know, Sid", said Wanda, "maybe we should make it a double wedding…"
"Don't wanna!", screamed Pyro, running off.
"…..You're really evil sometimes", said Sidney.
"I know", smirked Wanda, "I like being evil. It keeps him on his guard"
"……This is why I don't get shackled up to anyone", said Ace.
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In Limbo, Belasco was flicking through ancient texts. He'd felt something was…wrong in his realm for a long time now. He just couldn't figure out what. There was a knock on the door as Illyana meekly stepped inside, Belasco keeping his back to her.
"You wished to see me, Belasco?", she asked, watching him under lowered eyelashes.
"Yes", said Belasco, "I wanted you to post some of my most trusted demons around Limbo. Tell them to scout around, see if they can discover what is wrong here"
"Yes sir", she said, stepping forward, "but I already have a good idea"
"Oh?", asked Belasco, finally turning to look at her, his face dropping as he noticed the sword in her hands, "…..what is…"
"It's the soul sword", smirked Illyana, "and now, Belasco, you die"
Belasco raised his hands, throwing a shield of magic around him, throwing a fiery blast at Illyana, who merely ducked it.
"It's over, Belasco", she said, "I'm regaining my freedom, now"
"No!", snapped Belasco, "you don't know what you are…."
He was cut off as Illyana plunged the sword through the shield and into his chest with a scream of rage. He gave a cry of pain as the sword, so deadly to those of magical blood, cut deep…and within moments stopped moving.
"I did it!", grinned Illyana, drawing her sword out, not noticing her appearance changing, becoming more demon-like, a red tail curling out from behind her, horns growing and curling onto her head.
Down in the dungeons of Limbo, the whole floor shuddered as the power of the realm shifted. S'ym looked up, grinning.
"She has become the Darkchylde!", he said, "she has done it, she has defeated Belasco. And now it is S'ym's turn to rule!"
"Of course", said the prisoner, "but only once you've released me. She has spilled blood with her sword, you haven't a chance alone"
S'ym glanced over at the cage, pausing for a moment.
"…..And you will let S'ym control Limbo, as you promised?"
"Yes", said the prisoner, "I don't want this cesspool. Now let me go, and your wildest dreams will come true"
S'ym nodded, pulling a few gemstones from around the side of the cage, then yanking on the magic-guarded door, pulling it open. The prisoner gave an evil cackle, throwing the door open fully, knocking S'ym to the ground.
"Oww!", yelped S'ym, "be careful. Now, we take over Limbo, yes?"
From the darkness stepped a huge creature. Covered in red fur, with huge clawed hands and feet, his hair consisting of long purple feathers. He smirked, showing sharps, white teeth, narrowing his yellow eyes
"You're an idiot", he sneered, pushing S'ym aside, "as if I'd help you. You freed me, I got what I wanted"
"…But…but you promised", whimpered S'ym.
"I lied", smirked the creature, "I am the ultimate Trickster"
He gave an evil chuckle, the ceiling above opening up as he levitated up, heading towards earth.
"Now if you excuse me, I have a few lose ties to get rid of, before destroying this world, and recreating it once more", he said, "once more, people will tremble at the name of the Adversary"
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(1) – This is a game I used to play as a kid, oh yes, that's all very real……I was a rather twisted child…
(2) – In the comics, Scott had the hardest time coming to terms with calling Xavier 'Charles'. "Chhhaaarrrll…..I can't do it!"
(3) – For those that have read a certain comic series, you'll know who Shepard is, yup, he's cannon, not mine. If you don't…his surname has already been mentioned in this Chronicle. You'll hear more from him soon.
(4) – Yes, yes it is. Most people know that, but not everyone here has read the comics so..yeah.
(5) – See L1's fic, 'Out Drinkin''.
You didn't see THAT one coming, did you? Bwahahahahahahaha! I like throwing curveballs. Do review. Until next time…