A/N
Okay! New AU fiction off my Dannyverse, hopefully this one will do better. You may notice some major changes. I know, you may not see some of the more popular characters, especially the animals. It's okay though, because there will most likely be new animals just as fun to enjoy. Another thing too…as the story progresses, I'd like anyone that feels the need and read my other stories to please tell me if I'm getting better, because I'm trying to teach myself to be a better writer, but it's in the prototype stages right now, and I need secondary opinions. As the story progresses along, because it might be hard to tell from the first chapter. This is voluntary, so if you don't want to do it, you don't have to. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it, hopefully there will be a lot of character development, and I have high hopes that this will be one of the better stories I've written. So read, please, and enjoy. Sorry for taking up so much space.
Just so you know, it takes place before the whole apocalypse thing because I never got to see that far except to when Magneto and the five X-men started fighting the green, glowing spider.
From Humble Beginnings
Scott Summers, teen leader of the X-men, was sitting in the dining room doing what every good leader should do.
He was reading the funnies off the Sunday newspaper.
Folding the paper over to read the bottom page, he reached over for the orange juice he had just poured to find that it had, inexplicably, vanished. He glanced in surprise to see Kurt drinking down the last of his juice while shoving a muffin in his mouth.
"That was mine!"
"'orry." Kurt gave him a wolfish grin. The other mutants of the School started filtering in. Kitty poked her head over Scott's shoulder.
"Can I see that after your done? I, like, need to catch up on current events."
"I don't think reading Dilliard the Fancy Duck is going to save your grade in history, Kitty."
"Tch! Whatever, I already did my assignment, Princess."
"In my country, I would have servants read me the news."
"Must be harsh to actually do things on your own." Rogue commented on her way to pancakes. Amara gave her a glare and then frostily ignored her.
Scott handed Kitty the front page, which she immediately started reading, and resumed immersing himself in the comics. Next time, he'd get there at five and stay in silence so he could read the funnies in peace.
"Heeeyyy…" Kitty read down an article. "'Last Friday, around two P.M, a townhouse thirty miles out of Bayville got robbed,' and get this! The entire place was supposed to have this really kick butt security system, and security guards. And this is the best part, nobody saw a thing!"
"Did they say what was stolen?" Ray asked after pouring a bowl of cereal.
"Hmm….no, they didn't. Weird." Kitty shrugged. "Maybe it's, like, private."
"Oh! What's playing at the theatres this week?" Jubilee asked. "I heard that this really sweet movie is playing, and—"
"Not another chick flick!" Ray groaned.
"Hey! Nobody asked you!" Jubilee snapped angrily.
Scott groaned to himself. There was never a moment's peace.
We stood on the top of a bridge, looking down at a boy who was spluttering swear words at my red haired companion with every breath he could get.
"That's rude. Look at how mean he's getting." She clicked her tongue. "He started it; he shouldn't have been such a randy little jerk."
"Daria! Get over here!" Our teacher was yelling at her, wavingher over to the group. Luckily, he hadn't seen the little fiasco that just happened.
Daria flounced ahead of me. "Let's go before he gets an aneurism."
I kept a steady pace just behind her. Her tall profile was just enough to keep me mostly out of view.
Daria is what most people would think of as a social delinquent by looks. Fishnet stockings, black boots, short red skirt and tight black t-shirt, with naturally pale skin paled further with makeup. In heels she stood a vicious 6'2 with enough attitude in her walk to make lesser creatures remove themselves from her path. Her green eyes were augmented with red shadowing and her lips stood out on her voice being the same color as dark blood, matching her hair.
I, by contrast, stood a foot less, thin with plain colored clothes, a simple shirt and jeans, no makeup, a bare splash of freckles across my face and light brown hair that stayed in the same place all of the time.My eyes are a pale blue that made me look a little less than healthy. I am, for all intentional purposes, invisible behind Daria.
Which is why I stand behind her. Behind her, no one sees me.
In fact, it protected me well, because the man that was making advances at Daria only saw her, which caused her to push him into the water. Which caused his loud curses.
I shifted my bag on my shoulder. The man was swimming to the shore, still hissing words in Daria's general direction. I put him out of my mind.
Our class was stopped in a little city called Bayville, as we had been for the last four days. I yawned quietly. This was our last day. We were just having a little jaunt through the park before leaving. Our buses were parked on the other side.
In New York, we stopped at a theatre to gather cultural studies by absorbing Shakespearean plays. Our entire trip was to last two weeks, and we spent a week and two days in those theatre productions. The other days were for shopping. Everyone was gushing with excitement for everything they got. I didn't bring a lot of money. Just enough for food, and then I had to skimp. My money had to be used for other things.
Daria pushed through everyone to get on the bus. I followed, like a second shadow to her. We sat in the middle of the bus.
Daria allowed me to sit with her and be her follower/friend because I had nothing that would challenge her personality and place in the universe, not anything I would show in her presence.
The bus grew noisy as the people loaded on, and soon the bus was moving on to Kansas, our home state.
"Home sweet Home." Daria said boredly. "It's too bad nothing interesting happens to us."
I didn't nod. She wasn't speaking for my benefit, anyway.
"I fear these robberies may be the work of a mutant." Professor Xavier handed Ororo Monroe an article cut from a newspaper. "Many of these places had security, but no one noticed anything until after the objects went missing. All of the objects, incidentally, that I've gathered from reading all have a common trait, usually of curious background. Take this amber crystal, for example: It has a crystallized beetle in it. It was kept in a safe with several high quality diamonds. The only thing stolen was the amber. I'm curious as to what this thief's motives are."
"Are you sure it is the same thief?" Ororo asked, leafing through another six articles.
"Yes. I sent Logan to check the sites in case there was mutant activity. He came back and told me that the same scent is in all the places he investigated."
"I wondered where the Blackbird had gone."
"He's heading to Kansas this week. He's already been to New York and some southern states. The thief seems to cover a good amount of area."
"But what will we do if it is a mutant?"
"We will have to find a way to make them stop-either give alternatives to stop the crime spree or turn them into the authorities."
"I would hope it is that easy." Ororo said, poring over an article.
Night in Kansas in my backyard is more beautiful than any city's. The stars shine so clearly and the moon shines so brightly, it lights up the ground so one doesn't even need a flashlight to travel.
Which was precisely what I was doing. I was late for a meeting, the bus had been late dropping me off at home. I had to move quickly if I was to make the gathering at all.
Clothed all in black I stole away across the field behind my house and made for the slow rise of earth in the middle of it.
I dug my hands in the soft dirt and pulled out a small orb. I hastily whispered words to it, and it shined brightly. The world blurred about me and I was set down in a forest. I got up and hastily made for the direction of the meeting.
When I got there, some of the other participants gave me dirty looks. I bowed my head against them.
A quick glance about found that offerings were being made to Jaakeni. I took a place behind the last provider. The offerings were placed in a dark bowl of water on a pedestal, a direct portal to him, capable of taking objects and of communicating his voice across the portal.
There were many gifts for Jaakeni. These gifts kept him and his people alive against the enemies of Ghallia. They had special magical influence that he used to keep his enemies at bay.
When I stepped up to Jaakeni's pedestal, his voice rang out.
Greetings, dearest Danielle. Why ever are you late? Did you run into some trouble? Are you hurt?
His voice was like soothing water: it flowed across me and wiped away all doubts from my mind.
"No. I had transportation delays, Lord Jaakeni." I said evenly, calmly. "I have brought you this."
I held out a perfectly oval piece of amber. Inside of it, the crystallized beetle had spread it's wings for flight.
Perfect Danielle. Wonderful child. You have brought me that which I unfairly asked of you to bring. Understand that your fearlessness brings great hope to the people. They are indebted to you.
"It is my pleasure to help."
You are a part of our community, Danielle. Remember that, and always be careful. What you do is for the good of the whole, and we welcome it.
"Of course." I dropped the offering into the bowl. It disappeared without a splash. I stepped down and merged back into the lines of the others.
My friends, you have prolonged our freedom yet again. But do not believe that we need you no more and wish to push you aside. The enemy is strong, and we need you desperately.
I felt the calm settle in my very bones. There was nothing more important than what Jaakeni was saying.
Come forth if you would in your great compassion, for I have other locations of the magical focuses. Come, and help us once more. We need you.
We formed a line, like many times before, and received the next locations. Most of the people here would only get the least dangerous ones. They were not trusted enough.
Hello Danielle. I'm so glad of your participation. You are so important to me now.
I am trusted.
There is a building, a shop, named after a black dragon. It is near where you live. Inside the building there is a special scale, made of material no man could temper. Please bring it. It's power would drive the enemy across the fields, away from the Shrieker's shallows. I know you would want that.
"Of course. Anywhere that it can help." I said, a slight feeling of happiness that he would have thought of me. I let it stay for a moment before pushing it away.
I thank you all for your kindness. Remember through, that Ghallia spies have been seeping into your world to stop your mission. They cannot find you if you do not show emotion. I say this for your own protection. Free yourself from emotion. It will only make you target to the enemy.
"Yes, Lord Jaakeni." We all said in unison.
Go now. There is much for all of us to do, for the greater whole. Be well my friends. And remember above all else…
A sudden pang of pain in the back of my skull broke my concentration a bit. Something was calling me. I shoved it away. By the time I had, Jaakeni had stopped talking. He was gone, and I felt cheated for not hearing his last words.
I turned and left the meeting, the others mimicking me. We all had jobs to do now.
For the greater whole.
Well, that was interesting in a creepy sort of way. Please leave all reviews, constructive criticism, happy thoughts for the day and so on, on your way out. Thanks for reading!