X-Men: The Movie

Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, own X-Men. It belongs to Marvel.

Title: Love Tale of the Past

Setting: Before Storm's time; before the meeting of her parents.

Genre: Comic/Romance/Drama

Author's Note: Sorry it has been a while since I updated. I have had a lot of things going on in my life the last couple of weeks. I had a retarded doctor determine I had a brain tumor because I'm taller than my parents and I wear glasses, go figure. Anyways, after a few tests, it has been proven I'm brain tumor free (imagine that…), however I need to travel to a nearby town later on this week to get something else checked out. The fun just never ends, I say!

The funny thing is… I've been listening to that Savages song from Disney while writing this chapter. Haha. ) Such a similar situation, don't you agree? Anyways, I'm not sure where to end this story. How far should I take it? Like… I could probably carry it out until David and N'Dare are killed in that bombing, leaving Ororo as an orphan. It's a challenge, but I probably can do it. Or I could end it when they officially get together and marry and all that fun jazz. What do you guys personally think?

Sorry if this chapter is a bit shorter than the others and seems a bit rushed. Did intend for that to happen.

Summary: David Munroe's photography job takes him to a tribe in Kenya where he finds the High Priestess, N'Dare. The two fall into a forbidden love which is frowned upon the tribe. (R&R)

Chapter Five

The Escape

Tribe

"What the hell is going on here?" Rob demanded as Hungan threw him down on the dirt after pulling the outsider out of the hut. Rob went to stand up once more, but Hungan grabbed his shoulder firmly, causing the man to collapse back onto his knees from the pressure. "I've followed all your rules! This isn't right!"

"The rules have changed, outsider." Hungan smirked. "Outsiders aren't tolerated among us anymore… and you shall be an example of that."

Rob's eyes narrowed. What the hell was going on? "What? What are you talking about? Where's David?"

Hungan grabbed a fist full of the American's hair and hoisted him up, "The one you called David will share your fate. Neither of you shall ever see your land again."

"Fate? What are you talking about?" Rob repeated as two men grabbed his arms and began to drag him off.

"'Take him to my hut and keep guard.'" Hungan demanded the men. "'At mid-day we will make a prime example out of him, then David. N'Dare will be the last to suffer.'"

Outskirts of the Tribe

N'Dare crouched down low into the bushes as she peeked into the dead silent village. She glanced over her shoulder back at David who was knelt down right behind her. She sighed lightly and gazed back. This was all her fault, of course. The wind rider shook her head as she watched two of her once loyal men drag off the struggled news reported into Hungan's personal hut.

"This is not going to be easy…" N'Dare murmured to herself.

"Just take down those two." David whispered. "Come on… a gust of wind, no problem, right?"

"Wrong." N'Dare replied as the two men threw Rob inside the hut. "I can't use my powers against my own people-"

David scoffed, "Your own people would murder you in a heart beat." He pointed out.

She pulled back slightly and stood up. "I will not hurt them. They have done no wrong… They are just…" She shook her head. "I'll get your friend out safely, but for the meantime, we need to rest. Knowing Hungan, he's going to use this to gain full power over the village… He'll want to show the people your friend; his prisoner. Once he has done that, then I can sneak him out."

Tribe – Dawn

Rob could feel his heavy eyelids droop, demanding for sleep, but the tight knots of his stomach made him feel like throwing up. Why was he being treated his way? He was tied to a wooden post in the middle of the empty hut. He inhaled deeply and cast his eyes up towards the hole in the roof. His heart jumped into his chest as he saw a pair of bright blue eyes staring back at him.

"Priestess!" He hissed. "What's going on?"

N'Dare placed a finger over her lips, signaling the man to stay quite as she gently hovered down onto the dirt ground below, "We don't have much time." She stated in a soft whisper. "And it's too dangerous to tell you everything here." Her hands wrapped around the rope that held him. She frowned, knowing a spark of lightning wouldn't really be the best idea right about now.

"My jacket pocket." Rob said. "I have a small pocket knife."

"My tribe has gone against me." N'Dare murmured, taking the knife out of the pocket as she started to saw away at the rope. "Hungan is not pleased. If he finds us, he won't let us escape. You need to get back to your homeland. You'll be safe there." She explained. The rope gave away. Rob pulled his hands free.

"Hang on, what?" Rob asked, looking a bit confused. "Why all this all of a sudden?"

"Now is not the time for questions-" N'Dare paused as she heard the flap of the cloth door open. She turned around quickly on her heel only to come face-to-face with a smirking Hungan. Rob took a few steps back, clasping his pocket knife tightly.

"'You returned, wind rider.'" Hungan's smirk continued to grow.

N'Dare's eyes narrowed, "'It's me you want, Hungan. Let the Outsider go.'"

"'And why would I do that?'" He scoffed. "'You have no power-'"

"'If you do not release the Outsider, I will set this hut on fire in a blink of an eye.'" N'Dare warned as her bright eyes began to fog over. "Release him and I'll stay. Nor will I try to free myself using my powers. What do you say, Hungan? Fair?"

Hungan looked up towards Rob, frowning, and then back down upon N'Dare. He nodded, "He can go, but you are mine."

N'Dare nodded as well as Rob carefully walked to the hut's exit, past the two tribe members. "You know, Hungan… The night was more enjoyable with that Outsider near the riverbank then it would have ever been with you." Hungan growled as he took a fist full of her white hair as his other hand smacked her across the face.

Rob took off in a run. Riverbank. That's where David was. He had to tell him what the hell was going on. This was some crazy vacation!

"'You have no respect for your people!'" Hungan bellowed, throwing the wind rider against the ground. "'We worshiped you and your lineage for generations and this is how you show us thanks! You have made my people disgusted! You spit upon our lineage of worshipers; your linage of Goddesses!'" He delivered a firm kick to her side, but the weather witch only flinched. She wasn't going to let Hungan see any pain if she could help it. "'No more shall we deal with you High Priestesses.'"

N'Dare pushed herself up into a sitting position, only to have Hungan grab her by the shoulders and ram her against the wooden pole. "'It ends with you, Priestess. Where's your family now?'"

Riverbank

Rob ran as fast as his legs could carry him, his eyes darting around the surrounding area, looking for any sign of his friend. He gazed over his shoulder once in a while to make sure that no one was following him from the tribe. He was paranoid. It felt like he had been running forever, but he finally saw who he was looking for.

David stood up quickly from the sand as he saw Rob coming straight at him at a charge. Why was he alone? Where was N'Dare? Something wasn't right?

"David! We need to get out of here!" Rob came to a fast stop and grabbed his friend's sleeve. "The villagers! They want to kill us!"

"Rob, where's N'Dare?" David demanded.

"Forget her, we need to get-"

"I love her." He stated bluntly, causing Rob to fall deadly silent.

"What?" Rob asked, wondering if he heard right to begin with.

David nodded slightly, "I… I don't know what the hell came over me, but N'Dare… She's different, you know? I don't know."

"Hungan has her." Rob answered. "She traded herself to let me walk free. Hungan is going to kill her. She's not going to use her powers-"

"What?" David exclaimed. This wasn't happening. This wasn't true. "Where did they hold you, Rob?"

"In this hut, but they probably don't have N'Dare there." He replied. "Chances are they are going to do her in pretty fast and then go after us. What are you going to do?"

David shook his head. He couldn't waste any more time. He took off in a run towards the tribe.

Tribe

"'Traitor!'"

"'You leave us to suffer!'"

"'Where is the Goddess now?'"

"'Show her no mercy!'"

Hungan continued to smirk as he stood up the small wooden stage that was firmly planted in the center of the village. His tiny beady eyes gazed down towards N'Dare, who was upon her knees, hands tied tightly together. A frown was upon her beautiful face. Ah, revenge was bittersweet. Her people had all woken to the truth and now wished to see her punishment. Things were going as planned so far. Once he had taken care of N'Dare, he would search for those two Outsiders… especially the one called David. Yes, David would meet a slow end. He would beg Hungan to finish him.

"'Your people are disgusted by the sight of you, Priestess.'" Hungan spoke up, causing the surrounding tribe members to fall silent. "'You have clearly allowed an Outsider to fog up your judgment, not to mention allowed him to view your sacred powers. Unheard off.'"

Ramla climbed up onto the small stage and straightened herself up. She walked over to where N'Dare knelt and drew back the Priestess' head. The next moment, the woman slapped her across the face with all the strength she held. "'Just like your mother, you have betrayed us; sentenced us to the ultimate suffrage. You refused our traditions for an Outsider. Your lineage frowns upon you, N'Dare, you filthy vermin.'"

"'No more shall we deal with your kind.'" Hungan continued. "'The bloodline has grown vile. No longer do they care for the outcome of this tribe. We no longer are in need of the service you have to offer. You are hereby sentenced to death!'" He picked up his axe from the wooden ground. "I have been looking forward to this, wench…" He hissed into her ear before placing a kiss on her cheek. N'Dare shivered lightly as she continued to stare at the ground; this was it… Hungan lifted the axe over his head.

The blade of the axe shined dully off the pale morning sun as the brute of a man prepared to swing it down, until out of nowhere, a pocket knife came from behind him, planting itself into Hungan's forearm. He dropped the axe with a loud 'clank' a few inches away from N'Dare. He growled lightly as he looked over his shoulder; N'Dare did the same.

There stood the 'Outsider.' David stood a couple of feet away from the small stage by himself, trying to catch his breath. His eyes were narrowed slightly. N'Dare smiled lightly as she began to stand, but Ralma forced her back down onto her knees. Hungan pulled the blade out of his flesh and tossed it on the ground. Then the massive man picked up his act and jumped down from the stage on the side where David stood.

"You are mighty brave for such a tiny man." Hungan commented. "Kudos to you." Blood flowed from the wound that had been inflicted on him. "But I am a warrior."

David took off his jacket and threw it aside. This probably wasn't the best time to admit that he had never thrown a punch in his entire life, but he couldn't just ignore some crazy man with an axe, not if he wanted missing limbs. Hungan charged himself towards David, who grounded himself. Hungan lifted the axe over his head, ready to swing. David caught his both of the man's wrist as the blade tried to inch its way towards his bare neck.

Ramla withdrew a dragger from the strap around her left leg and held it against N'Dare's neck, "'Move and I will cut your throat.'"

N'Dare gazed up towards the woman from the corner of her eye, "'Weren't we best friends Ramla? When we were nothing but young girls? Does our friendship mean that little to you?'"

"'You are a traitor, N'Dare.'" Ramla hissed. "'You placed this… This Outsider before your own people. How could you?'"

"'I am my mother's daughter.'" N'Dare replied. "'These traditions as you call them are out-dated. I follow my heart.'" Her eyes grew to a milky white color once more. A massive strong gust of wind was summoned forth to move the blade away from her neck. The weather witch threw herself into the air. "David, we need to get out of here." She stated as David's body hovered up next to hers.

David wrapped his arms around N'Dare's waist as she brought forth a dense fog for them to hid in. She frowned lightly before heading back up the river; away from the village.

A low growl escaped the back of Hungan's throat as he threw the axe aside upon the fog cleared. Ramla came to his side and began to tend to his wound, only to be forced away from the brute. "'This is not over.'"

"'Their tour guide… Cyni.'" Ramla spoke as a soft smile curved onto her lips.

"'My men will head to Cyni's little hide out. If all goes according to plan… He will lead all three of them right to us…'" Hungan added. "'They will not leave this land alive.'"

Riverbank

N'Dare landed softly on the sand below as David released his grasp from around her. Both looked up to see Rob standing next to Cyni. At least their tour guide was alright. Cyni could lead them back to the town and then this whole mess would be behind them. They would never have to mention it again. Rob waved them over.

"Cyni says he can take us back into town." Rob informed. "Once we get back, we can fly straight to the States; back home."

"That's sounds like a good idea." David agreed and then looked down at N'Dare. "I'm taking you with me."

N'Dare couldn't help but smile lightly as she slightly nodded.

"Yes, yes, yes… Such a happy union." Cyni stated. "But we must spend one day in the wild. Hungan and his men will be searching for us for the rest of the day and well into the night. I know of a cave where we can take shelter, so we can rest…"

"If we travel before the sun rises in the morning, we should be fine." N'Dare spoke up. "Even Hungan and his men must rest."

Cyni nodded, "Let us go."

Deep Within the Jungle

It seemed like they had walked for hours on end until they reached the little hiding place that Cyni spoke of. It was none other than a dark and wet cave. Well, he wasn't lying… It was a shelter. Rob dropped the wood that Cyni had advised him to collect along the way onto the dirt ground and began to build the fire. The sun was setting, it was growing dark. They needed light.

"I'm afraid we only have three sleeping bags." Cyni pointed out as he looked towards the other three.

"I don't need one." David instantly replied. "I'll give mine to N'Dare." He added, taking one of the rolled up bags and spreading it on the floor a few feet away from where Robert was trying to set up the fire. N'Dare sat down on the sleeping bag. She was covered in sweat and just plain tired. Every limb in her body was demanding rest. David sat down next to her.

The wind rider rested her head against his shoulder, a soft smile appearing on her tiresome face. David wrapped his arm around her shoulders, "You be out of here soon enough." He whispered into her ear. "You won't have to worry about any of this…"

"They were my people…" N'Dare murmured to herself. Was guilt starting to sink in finally? Had she been too selfish? "They needed me… and I let them down."

"I think it's a bit late to be self-doubtin' yourself, hon." Rob commented as he got a spark going. "No way they are going to take you back."

She sighed lightly, "Is your tribe like this?"

"I wouldn't call it much a tribe." David answered. "It's a lot more… advanced. I don't know, hard to explain, but very different."

"Would I like it?" N'Dare questioned, tilting her head to the side.

"I think you'll enjoy it…" David shrugged, watching the small fire grow. "I guess we'll just have to see."

Rob stood up and dusted off his pants before meeting David's eyes. He then jerked his head towards the entrance of the cave, "I need to talk to you." He mumbled. David nodded slightly and followed him out. Rob made sure that they were out of ear shot of the other two. David folded his arms over his chest as he waited for his friend to speak. "You know… This is going to be difficult. How are we going to get her back into the States exactly? We can't just sneak her into an airplane."

"Who said we had to go back by plane?" David asked. "We can take a cruise ship back, you know. She could probably fly up on board and then we'd be good to go."

"Alright… What about Kendra?" Rob then questioned. "Forgot about her? Your girlfriend? How are you going to explain this one? 'Oh, honey! I brought back the High Priestess from the tribe! She can take care of the garden!'"

"Hey." David hissed. "Kendra and I have been on shaky grounds for a while." He pointed out. "I'll just… break things off with her. I can't just bring N'Dare back to the States and let her go off on her own. She won't understand. She's only known this tribe her whole life. The city is going to be so confusing for her. I need to be there."

"You've known this gal for a couple of days and you're head over heels." Rob shook his head. "I don't think you can really call that love, my friend. I'd say it's lust. Could be just a one night stand for all you know."

In return, David shook his own head, "No. It's more than that. I just know it, alright?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah… Don't get snappy." Rob murmured as David huffed and went back into the small cave. He gazed up towards the sun setting sky. This was going to be a long night…

To Be Continued