I do not own anything.
Stacy Hirano runs through the forest in her new X-men attire and slides to a stop when she hears nothing going on around her. She drops to the ground as a puddle avoiding the spears that appear and fly over her. She slides through the forest in her water form and stops at the edge of the forest where a small factory building was resting at. Stacy makes herself back to normal and pulls up her binoculars to look around the area. She puts her hand up to her commlink and says, "I found the base. Can anyone lock onto my position?" She asks her team.
Stacy hears static over her commlink and groans silently knowing that the commlink was down. She turns into a puddle of water and slides across the floor heading straight to the base. She moves behind a crate when she hears footsteps nearby. She watches the person walk by and slides across the ground going into the drain pipe of the gutter. She slides up the drain pipe and comes out onto the gutters. She looks over the top of the building and does not see any guards or cameras. She slides out of the gutter and moves across the roof going straight into the air vents.
She moves through the air vents avoiding all the lasers that will cause the alarm to go off and stops right above the vent allowing her to peak down and see what was going on inside of it. She looks around carefully and sees Aelita on the ground unconscious. She moves through the vent and lands on top of a crate a few feet from Aelita. She looks around the area and mutters, "This would be so much easier if I had my team." She grows her hand out and wraps it around Aelita. She carefully picks the teen up and glances back at the air vents. "That's out. Need a new way to get out of here." She places Aelita on her back and has Aelita's arms and legs stay inside her own arms and legs. "I am so going to get a lecture from Aelita for making this choice."
Stacy jumps across the crates laying on the floor and hears people yelling behind her with an alarm going off not much later. "Well, time to improvise." She runs to the wall and grows her right hand out into a giant fish. She slams her fist into the wall making a giant hole for her to go through. She runs across the open area and creates three water needles in each hand. She throws the needles at the people behind her getting the distraction she needed for her to enter the forest with Aelita unharmed.
Mission: complete!
Stacy smiles in relief and looks back at Aelita who just stares at her with a bored look. "You can let me go now." Aelita says getting Stacy to smile sheepishly. Stacy releases Aelita allowing the pink-haired girl to flex her arms and legs from Stacy's idea of caring an unconscious friend out of an enemy hideout. "Do you know how stiff it was for me to stay put inside your body?"
"No, but Danny said that since my body is made of water that I need to have an effective way to carry people. This was the first time I did that." Stacy answers crossing her arms. "What happened to my team anyway? I thought we were supposed to work together."
"A little help!" The two girls turn their heads to see Bobby, Jimmy, Jubilee, and Jamie all tied up and with each hanging off a different tree.
Stacy and Aelita glance at each other then back at the four. "You want to get a snack?" Aelita asks.
"I don't see why not." The two girls turn around and leave the Danger Room while the simulation shuts off dropping the four mutants onto the ground.
Kitty Pryde stares at the screen feeling conflicted on how the mission went. "Ok, is it just me, or does it seem like Stacy was the only one who passed?" Kitty asks turning her head to see Scott, Logan, Jean, and Max looking at the screen.
"You're right about that, Half-pint." Logan remarks getting the others to look at him. "Stacy is the only one who truly passed the test, but I have to run this by with Charles."
"I'll come along too. Might as well give it a student's point of view as well." Scott says moving to the elevator with Logan.
"I'll go have a chat with Stacy and Aelita." Max says heading to the elevator. "Might as well try to get some insight on what they think about the mission."
Kitty and Jean watch the elevator doors shut then turn their heads to each other. They look at each other then back at the screen. "So, uh, what do we do now?" Kitty asks unsure of what they should do about the situation.
Jean sighs, "Truthfully, there is nothing for us to do. I guess we just go our own ways and do what we want."
Kitty nods and phases through the floor saying, "See you later then."
Stacy takes a bite out of her candy bar as Aelita shuts the fridge with two cans of soda in her hands. She hands Stacy one of the sodas, and Stacy accepts it by taking it with her free hand. "Thanks." Stacy says putting the soda on the counter.
Aelita smiles and opens her soda up asking, "Were you able to talk to Danny yesterday?"
Stacy sighs, "I wish. After he told me about Rogue breaking up with him four days ago, he's been keeping himself in his room. Any word from Rogue?"
"She keeps her mouth shut and barely says a word." Aelita mutters not liking the fact her roommate and best friend broke up.
Stacy stuffs the rest of her candy bar into her mouth and grabs her soda off the counter. "What can do to help them? They still want to be together, but we don't even know why she broke up with him in the first place." She opens her soda and takes a sip from the can.
"I know." Aelita grabs an apple from the basket and tosses it up and down in her hand. "Do you think we should have someone else try to talk to them?"
"Talk to who?" The teens turn their heads to Max Tennyson as he enters the kitchen.
Stacy and Aelita glance at each other then sigh in defeat. Stacy rubs the back of her neck nervously and says, "We're talking about Danny and Rogue."
"Oh, what are you talking about specifically?" Max asks not sure why they are talking about him.
"Their break up." The girls say getting Max to pause in his step.
"What happened?" Max asks crossing his arms while narrowing his eyes at the two.
"We don't know." Aelita answers getting Max to raise his eyebrows. "They refuse to tell us anything about the break up. We only know about it because they told us they broke up."
"Now, they don't say anything to either of us." Stacy finishes. "We've been trying to get them to talk, but they don't acknowledge us."
"Why didn't you tell us about this?" Max asks trying to understand the situation.
"Would you want to be bombarded by everyone in the Institute?" Aelita asks raising an eyebrow.
"Good point, but you still could have told one of us." He points out getting both girls to smile nervously.
"I guess we were worried about them getting to speak to us that we didn't want to bother anyone about. It didn't help that she broke up with him when he got home either." Stacy says getting Max to sigh in defeat.
"We never forced them to tell us, but we can't keep all of this secretive forever. School starts back up in a couple days, and we can't get them to leave their rooms." Aelita says pointing up in the direction of theirs rooms. "I'm worried about both of them."
Max sighs, "I'll talk to them and see what I can do, but I cannot promise anything."
The girls watch him leave the kitchen then glance at each other. "Do you think they'll get passed this?" Stacy asks.
"Let's hope so."
Danny Fenton stares out the window of his room with a blank look in his eyes. He hears the door open to his room but does not pay any attention to it. "Hello Danny, how are you feeling?" Danny glances behind him to see Max Tennyson standing at the door.
Danny looks away and sighs, "Did they finally tell everyone?"
Max sighs knowing that Danny was speaking about the break-up. "No, they only told me about it." Danny decides to keep his mouth shut and continues staring out the window. Max shuts the door and walks to the bed. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Danny does not say anything but shakes his head getting Max to sigh. 'Now, I understand why they have a hard time getting him to speak. Good thing I have experience with this kind of stuff.' Max walks around the bed and sits down next to Danny. "Danny, you can't keep all of this bottled up. Your relationship with Rogue…"
"…Was falling apart for the past couple months." Danny finishes for Max getting the man to sigh.
"Not the words I was going to use, but I can't argue with you either." Max admits deciding not to correct Danny. "You and Rogue have been staying inside your rooms these past few days, and Aelita and Stacy have been covering for you two. I admit that you have a right think about what you did wrong, but you need to grow past this."
Danny lowers his head getting his hair to cast a shadow over his eyes. "That's just it, Max. She broke up with me because I risk my life saving people."
"Oh boy…" Max mutters seeing that the break up was based upon him risking his life. He realizes why Danny refuses to tell Aelita or Stacy. 'If he actually told them, there would be a possibility that they would lash out on her, and Danny doesn't want that.'
"She told me that she is scared of losing me, and she doesn't want that kind of thinking going through her mind."
Max puts his hands on his legs and sighs, "I see."
"It didn't help that I took Matt with me and left her at the school without telling her." Danny mutters looking back out the window again.
"Can't really argue with that, but you need to move pass this Danny."
"How Max?" Danny asks turning his head to the adult. "How can I get over someone that is one of the most important people to me?"
"It takes time to get over someone in a relationship Danny, but it doesn't mean that you guys can't talk about it."
Danny looks away and closes his eyes sighing in defeat. "I don't think we can talk to each other after so soon."
Max moves his hand down and leans on his arms on his legs. "Danny, what do you think is the most important thing in life?"
"To save those who are defenseless to protect themselves from those who want to disobey the rules." Danny answers without missing a beat.
"Do you know what that means?"
Danny blinks wondering why Max was asking him all of this. "That I love protecting people?"
Max smiles and puts his left arm over Danny's shoulders getting him to look at him. "It means that you care more about the people than yourself. While you did try to fix your relationship with Rogue, your heart was more focused on saving people than your relationship. Rogue saw that and decided that she didn't want to go through the thoughts of losing you. Now, I don't agree with her way of thinking, but you guys are young and will make multiple mistakes."
"Are you saying us breaking up is a mistake?" Danny asks his mind only picking up specific parts of the last comment.
"No, what I am saying is that you two have a lot to talk and think about. Your relationship lasted as long as it did because neither of you had much drive besides feeling the need to have someone there to help." Max explains getting Danny to sigh.
"What do you mean?"
"You and I know about your family problems, and we know what Rogue went through before she met you. Both of you felt connected through your pasts that you guys didn't try to get to know each other before getting together, but you stayed together and got to know each other. You two were believed to last a long time, but you started to grow out into being a hero and a teacher while she stayed behind hiding in the shadows in fear of being found out." Max explains making Danny wince and sigh in defeat. "You know where I'm going with this, right?"
"I do, but it doesn't mean that I like it." Danny lowers his head and takes a deep breath. "I knew we were growing apart. I actually tried to mend it all back together, and I thought it worked, but…I guess Rogue just isn't ready like I am."
"Everyone has to move at a different pace. You have amazing control and multiple powers which almost no one has even come close to. You are meant for amazing things Danny, but while you are great out there, it doesn't mean that you are great at everything else. You tried and got a good result, but your want to save others outweighed your want in your relationship. You can't win them all Danny. I hope you understand that." Max gets off Danny's bed and says, "Whatever you plan to do next Danny will affect your life with Rogue. I hope you make the right choice."
Danny hears Max leave his room and looks out the window. He gets off his bed and mutters, "I guess that I've made my choice before she broke up with me. I just never realized it. Wait, when did Max know about me and Rogue?"
Professor Xavier's office
"That was a pitiful rescue mission." Logan mutters shaking his head at what happened to most of the team.
"It wasn't that bad." Scott says trying to pass it off only for Logan to glare at him. "Fine, it was bad."
"What's worse is that Waterworks didn't try to find out what happened to them." Logan points out. "She saved the hostage and didn't get her team to lose points, but…"
"That's enough Logan." Charles says getting Logan and Scott to look at him. "I've already told them that they'll have to retake the test without Stacy."
"They failed before arriving at the site. I fail to see why they should be allowed to retake it." Logan crosses his arms and grunts, "They need more training, and they've barely gone through anything truly hard in the Danger Room."
"What about Stacy?" Scott asks trying to understand why Logan was not including her.
"Waterworks is the only person to receive personal training from another student. Phantom and Pinky have helped her gain proper control and grow out into an actual warrior." Logan explains getting Scott to raise an eyebrow. "I caught her a couple days ago trying to figure out what kind of weapon she should use with her water."
"How peculiar, Stacy never shows interesting in fighting, yet she wants to use a weapon." Charles mutters finding her sudden change not to be like her. "She refused taking self-defense classes, but why would she want to use a weapon?"
"Don't know. Didn't ask." Logan replies shrugging his shoulders getting Scott to sigh.
"Anyway, she completed the mission, but she still has a lot to learn." Scott says deciding that arguing with Logan was not worth the time. "What do you want her to do now?"
"She'll continue in her normal training with Danny and Aelita. She might have gained a lot of control, but she still lacks proper control." Charles answers getting Scott to raise an eyebrow.
"What do you mean by proper control?"
"He means that, while she can control her powers, she does not know the limitations these powers have." Logan answers getting Scott to nod accepting the answer. "Despite that, her control is majorly impressive. I found her a few days ago in the Danger Room surrounded by multiple weapons, but they weren't normal weapons. Every weapon was made from water, and she was more focused on what weapon she should use instead of keeping them solid."
Charles narrows his eyebrows. "How strong has Stacy become recently?" He mutters getting Scott to frown.
"What's the problem with Stacy getting stronger?" Scott asks not seeing the worry that Charles was feeling about Stacy's power.
Logan sees the worried look on Charles' face and says, "Kid, you can go. Charles needs some time to think about some recent events."
Scott gets the message of what Logan means and nods understanding what Logan was talking about. "I'll see you guys later then."
Logan watches Scott leave the room before turning his attention to Professor Xavier. "What is on your mind Charles?"
Charles sighs, "When Stacy first came here, her control was barely even considered control. While she has made excellent progress, her control has gone beyond what anyone can ever believe for someone of her caliber."
"She's still young Charles."
Charles puts his hand down on the arm rests of his chair and says, "I know, but I can't help but worry about the path Stacy will have for her future." Logan keeps his mouth shut knowing why Charles is worried about Stacy. "Danny and Aelita chose to protect people under the guise of being heroes. I don't want the others to follow without knowing about the backlash they could receive."
"Good thing Danny and Aelita have gone through it then." Logan points out.
"Not by choice." Charles mutters sighing in defeat. "Stacy has so much to learn, yet it feels like she's following in Danny's footsteps."
"Now Charles…"
"I know that I'm being a little dramatic Logan, but our own students are going through things that they are not ready for. Danny and Aelita fought a mutant hunter, and Rachel has gone behind our backs for Nick Fury." Charles reminds his friend. "I fear what the others could do if they follow the others."
Logan sighs, "No one is perfect Charles, and Phantom and Pinky have gone through things most people their age never deal with."
"I know." Charles closes his eyes and takes a deep breath to calm his fears. "I'm just worried Stacy will make choices that could affect the team. Her mother left her in our care, and I don't want to feel like we failed her."
Stacy looks up at the multiple holo-screens that Aelita has put up in Stacy's room. "Remind me again why we're doing this." Stacy says turning her head to Aelita who was watching Stacy's rescue mission from earlier.
"Your first mission with a team was supposed to be a rescue mission. You passed the test by yourself, but you failed the main part of the test." Aelita explains getting Stacy to sigh.
"I needed my team to help." Stacy mutters sitting down on her bed crossing her arms over her chest. "Why do you keep reminding me of this incident?"
"The teamwork was not your fault this time, and you knew about being pressed for time. You failed to scout the building properly and put me in a safer protection."
Stacy gives Aelita a bored look and asks, "Are you being serious?"
Aelita turns her head and gives Stacy a grin. "No, but you, finishing the mission alone, will make the others retake the test." She turns the chair around getting Stacy to smile appreciating the praise. "Anyway, the real reason is that you need to improve your rescuing, reaction, and observation skills."
Stacy taps her chin with her right hand and asks, "Ok, where exactly are we going to do that?"
Aelita leans back on her chair and sighs, "I would use the Danger Room, but that could cause some problems with Professor Xavier."
"Is there anywhere else where we could train?"
Aelita closes her and sighs again. "There is, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea to take you there."
Stacy blinks a couple times then raises an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
Aelita closes all the holo-screens and gets off the chair. 'First, we bring Matt because of some… time masters, but why am I even thinking about bringing Stacy there? Stacy has gone so far, but going behind the Professor's back would not be wise. Is it a good idea to even show her Lyoko?'
"Aelita?"
Aelita closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "Stacy, how much have I told you about my secret project?"
Stacy blinks surprised that Aelita was asking her that. "Uh, I say almost nothing. We only started to hang out a few weeks ago when you started to take over my training for Danny."
"Right…" Aelita looks out the window and sighs in defeat. "I'm starting to wonder if I put too much emphasis on my father's work."
"What do you…" They hear a knock on the door getting the two teens to look at the door wondering who could be knocking on it. Stacy walks to the door and opens it to find Danny standing there with a sad look on his face. "Danny…"
"Hey Stacy, sorry for ignoring you the past couple days." Danny apologizes getting Stacy to blink at the apology. "I know that I've been kind of out of it, but you already know…Anyway, does everyone know about the breakup?"
"We kept it quiet until you guys got out of your rooms to tell them." Aelita says getting Danny to notice her. "We figured you guys needed to have some space to think about it. I guess Max was able to get through to you."
"All that's left is Rogue." Stacy remarks crossing her arms.
Danny raises an eyebrow feeling confused on why Stacy would say that. "Hold on. Are you saying that she's staying in her room too?" He asks them.
Stacy and Aelita share a look then turn their eyes to Danny. "She's been as quiet as you've been, and she doesn't want to talk about it to either of us. We've tried to get through to her, but she's remained unresponsive."
"Guess we got to rely on Max to do his thing then." Aelita mutters sadly looking away from Danny not wanting him to see the sad look in her eyes as she thinks about their breakup. 'I can't rush it. If I take advantage of this, Rogue and the others would not be happy with me. It might be only a few months since Jeremy's death, but their breakup was not something most of us saw coming.'
Danny runs his hand through his hair sighing in defeat. "Guess I better break the news to the others then. I'll see you two later." Danny walks away leaving the two teens to worry about his emotional health.
Stacy shuts the door and turns her head to Aelita asking, "What are you going to do?"
Aelita blinks and raises an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" She asks not sure what Stacy was referring to.
"I mean you and Danny. Some of us are not as blind as some think." Stacy remarks letting Aelita know that she is aware of Aelita's feelings.
Aelita pinches the top of her nose between her eyes and mutters, "Why do you assume that I have feelings for Danny?"
Stacy rolls her eyes knowing that Aelita was trying to elude the idea of her having feelings for her best friend. "I wasn't born yesterday Aelita. I can see the hints. You have a genuine smile when you talk to him; you hang out with him more than Rogue; you prefer him as your partner in almost everything; do you want me to go on?"
Aelita bites her bottom lip realizing that Stacy was onto something. "I don't see how that shows that I have feelings for him." Aelita lies crossing her arms not willing to look Stacy in the eye.
"Don't try lying about this Aelita." Stacy walks to her desk and opens the top drawer intending to prove that Aelita has feelings for Danny. She pulls a picture out of the drawer of Aelita asleep on Danny's back with a soft smile on her face with Danny returning her smile. She shuts the drawer and shows Aelita the picture.
Aelita stares at the picture as her cheeks get covered with a light pink blush. She snatches the picture out of Stacy's hand and asks, "How did you get this?"
Stacy smirks, "I took it when you and Danny finished your private training in the Danger Room."
Aelita glares at Stacy's smirk and mutters, "You sure do know how to make someone talk about their feelings." She opens her special storage in her holo-screens and sticks the picture inside it shutting the storage room immediately before Stacy could see anything inside it. "Why did you take the picture?"
"It looked cute, and the opportunity presented itself for me to take it." Stacy pulls another picture out of Aelita lying down on her back asleep on Danny's lap who is sitting on the couch looking down at her with a raised eyebrow. "Just like I took this one."
Aelita snatches the picture of Stacy's hand with her cheeks turning red in embarrassment. "You made your point." She mutters distastefully. She sticks the picture into her holo-storage and shuts the door immediately getting Stacy to raise an eyebrow. "What?"
"Why do you have a personal storage space?"
"Personal reasons." Aelita makes the zip motion over her lips getting Stacy to sigh and nod a little upset that Aelita refuses to offer an actual answer. "Anyway, why are you so interested in my feelings for Danny?"
Stacy sits down on her bed and smiles, "I'm a sucker for romance."
"Uh huh, now what's the real reason?" Aelita asks not believing those words one bit.
Stacy shrugs, "Believe what you want." Stacy pulls out another picture where Aelita was sitting next to Danny under a tree with her head resting on his right shoulder with her eyes closed. "Each picture is worth a thousand words…or something like that."
Aelita snatches the third picture from Stacy blushing in embarrassment. "How many more of these do you have?"
"A girl never reveals her secrets." Stacy smirks getting a dull look from Aelita. She looks at her finger nails and says, "Either way, your feelings for Danny have been pretty obvious since people believe that your hero counterparts are dating."
Aelita looks away with a sigh escaping her lips. "It's not that easy Stacy."
"I know, but it doesn't mean that we cannot try."
Aelita shakes her head. "Let me clarify what I mean." She turns her head to Stacy who was looking at Aelita with a raised eyebrow. "Danny is clueless when it comes to the relationships. He only knew about his relationship problems with Rogue because…" Aelita trails off when she thinks about what she is about to say. 'Did he even know what the actual problems were? He never told me that he did.' "Actually, I'm not sure that he even knew what the problems were. I just knew that he knew there were problems."
Stacy blinks surprised that she did not realize that he was dense about the opposite gender. "Wow, I don't know what to say."
"Don't think too much about it." Aelita remarks before Stacy could dive into her thoughts about the situation. "Danny needs time to heal and think about this before we make any moves anyway. I rather just be there for him when he needs me before doing anything. You get what I mean?"
"I do, but I don't think you sitting on his shoulders trying to dunk him in the pool would count as you guys being just friends." Stacy says pulling out another picture with Aelita with her legs wrapped around Danny's neck as she tries to dunk him into the water.
Aelita snatches the picture from Stacy's hand for the fourth time and asks, "Stacy, do you have anything better to do that doesn't involve my life with Danny?"
"Nope, I got all day." Stacy flicks her hand out revealing four more pictures. 'It gets way too boring around here anyway.'
Rogue stares at the ceiling and hears someone entering the room but does not move a single muscle to see who it is. Max Tennyson sighs and pulls a chair up to Rogue's bed sitting down on it. "Hello Rogue, how have you been?" He asks trying to start a small conversation with the teen. He sighs knowing that he should have expected no response from her. "I know about your breakup with Danny."
"Shouldn't everyone know by now?" Rogue mutters distastefully.
"They should, but Stacy and Aelita haven't said anything to anyone about it until today." Max explains getting Rogue to stay silent. Max sighs knowing that Rogue is going to keep her mouth shut. "You can't stay cooped up on your bed Rogue." Rogue glances at Max then looks away going back to her thoughts. "Why did you break up with Danny?"
Rogue turns her head to Max and realizes why he was in her room. She sits up on her bed and mutters, "Why does it matter?"
"Because your friends are worried about you guys." Rogue puts her back to Max and stares at the wall.
"Ah fail to see how that counts."
Max sighs, "Rogue, why did you do it?"
Rogue balls her hands up her frustration going up. "Ah was scared."
Max figures out what she means by those three words. "Why are you scared?" He asks wanting her to let out her reason for ending her relationship with Danny.
"Danny risks his life." Rogue starts getting Max to raise an eyebrow. "He risked his life for me when we first met, and he did the same thing for Kitty and Aelita. He's always risked his life for us, but those risks have started to make meh worry that he'll never come back." She wraps her arms around her and continues, "You've seen his fights on the news. He just came out of a fight against someone who could have killed him."
"Most villains usually do." Max remarks getting Rogue to start tearing up.
"That's not the point." She turns around looking him in the eye despite the tears coming from her eyes. "The point is that he doesn't seem to care about the risks he's taking to protect people. He didn't even tell me that he was going to stop that man. He didn't say anything to me about any of his heroic deeds. Ah found out about him and Aelita fighting that man from my friends. He didn't even let me know that he was okay."
Max sighs, "I see."
"But Ah decided to look past that." She wipes the tears away and mutters, "But those fights kept getting…"
"I know where this is heading." Max interrupts before she could explain her reason for breaking up with Danny. 'She's been keeping this in for the past few months. How long have you been feeling like this?' "Why did you keep this in?"
Rogue smiles sadly, "Because Danny never stopped caring. He might not be one of the brightest people when it came to the opposite gender, but he cared about our relationship that he was willing to have us do whatever I want." Rogue looks down and sighs, "The only problem is that he doesn't realize that our current relationship was feeling like a fantasy."
"Did it always feel like that?"
Rogue shakes her head and chuckles, "No, our relationship felt real until…" She looks through her memories of when she feels that her relationship with Danny was falling apart. "Ah guess it was sometime after he chatted with his old friends a week before you started working here."
Max winces at the declaration of when she felt the relationship was fake. "Did it always feel fake?"
"No," Rogue moves her hair behind her left ear and smiles, "there were times where it felt so real, but when the relationship became fake Ah just didn't know if Ah should just keep it going. Being scared of losing him didn't help me either."
"So, you called it off the moment you saw him?"
"Ah couldn't take the stress anymore Max." Rogue remarks turning her head to look out the window. "Ah want this to be a dream, but Ah couldn't take the stress anymore. Ah just hope he realizes why Ah did this."
Max leans forward with a soft smile on his face. "Rogue, did you ever try to talk to him about it?"
Rogue shakes her head. "No, I wanted him to be happy, and Ah see him smiling whenever he comes home protecting people from those villains."
'I can relate with my grandson.' Max thinks remember some events where his grandson, Ben Tennyson, saved people from being killed.
"He rarely talks about his heroic deeds, but the jailbreak battle…" Rogue trails off not wanting to talk about the event.
Max sighs knowing exactly why she stopped speaking. "Yeah…" Max trails off deciding that it was not the time to talk the experience. "Do you feel better now that you talked about it?"
Rogue lowers her head with a sigh. "Not as much as Ah want to be."
Max gives Rogue an assuring smile. "Everyone goes through a hard time Rogue. You and Danny will learn from this, and this experience will help you understand what you need to do in the future."
"Ah guess…"
Max sighs, "Not all relationships are meant to last, and sometimes you have to learn to get past it. All you can do is move forward." He gets off the chair and asks, "What are you going to do Rogue? Will you stay and continue sulking in your room, or will you go past this and move forward?" Max exits the room shutting the door behind him and frowns, 'I only hope you make the right choice.'
3 Days later…
"Today's the day." Aelita mutters leaning back on her chair in her shared room.
"What are yah muttering about?" Rogue asks her roommate as she works on her Biology homework.
Aelita turns her chair to look at Rogue and smiles, "Tony Stark wants the Avengers to meet up at our team's new headquarters." Aelita crosses her right leg over her left and shrugs, "I can't be sure if I want to be excited or scared of the idea."
"Ah would probably be both."
Aelita frowns when Rogues turns her attention back to her homework. "About you and Danny…"
"There's nothing to talk about." Rogue interrupts before Aelita could say anything. "We broke up for specific reason, and we need to move on from it. It doesn't mean that Ah'm giving you the blessing to date him so soon after the breakup."
Aelita rolls her eyes at those words. 'I'm not going after him so soon. I just wish the others could see that.' "Not what I was going to talk about, but thanks for letting me know that you're not okay with me asking him out." Aelita gets up and puts her hands behind her back. "What I was going to say is that no matter what happens between all of us we still remain friends."
Rogue looks at Aelita feeling a little confused on why she would say that. "What exactly could happen that could ruin our friendship?"
Aelita shrugs, "Don't know, but something could happen if we're not careful."
Rogue giggles, "Guess you're right about that, but Ah'll talk to him when Ah'm ready."
Aelita nods and turns around. "Ok, I'll see you later then."
Rogue watches Aelita leave their room and sighs, 'Unfortunately, Ah don't know when Ah'll be ready to talk to him.'
Danny walks out of his room and jumps back as a basketball goes flying by his head. Danny turns his head to find Evan standing there with an embarrassed look on his face. "I thought Logan taught you not to throw the ball in the hall." Danny says turning his head to the ball but finds Matt standing there with an uneasy smile. "Of course, you were involved with it."
Matt rubs the back of his neck and says, "Sorry Danny, but with most of the team training or doing homework, there isn't really much to do."
"And throwing a ball in front of my room is doing something?" Danny asks rhetorically.
The two teens share of look and smile uneasily. "Ok, we could have thought of something better to do." Evan admits wincing at the idea of accidentally hurting someone with the basketball. "But, can you blame us? There's almost nothing to do since almost everyone is still on edge from the breakout last week."
Danny shrugs, "Not my fault or my problem." Danny walks past Evan saying, "Just be careful." Danny walks away leaving the two teens to do what they want. He walks down the stair to find Aelita standing at the bottom waiting for him. "You ready?"
Aelita nods, "Yep, I'm actually excited with what Tony has actually done this past week."
"Cool." Danny reaches the bottom of the stairs when they hear something tear open. They turn their attention to the noise, and Aelita widens her eyes when they see a purple vortex in shape of a claw tear. They watch as Ninja jumps out of the portal and lands in front of them.
The portal closes behind Ninja as he stands up in front of the pair. "Oh cool, I was able to get here in time." Ninja says when he sees Danny and Aelita standing there staring at him. "Hey Danny, how's my bruce friend doing today?"
"Ninja, why are you here?" Danny asks not missing a beat.
Ninja wipes some dust off his suit and says, "Can't say much, but we got trouble."
Danny raises an eyebrow, "What kind of trouble?"
"After our last talk a couple weeks ago, I decided that I needed help tracking the Elemental users down, and since Dr. Strange has a lot on his plate, I needed someone to help me with finding them." Ninja explains getting Danny to nod understanding what Ninja was talking about, but Aelita listens unsure of what Ninja was talking about. "I was able to get someone to help, and he's really good at tracking people down, and I mean really bruce."
"That's good Ninja, but what does that have to do with you being here?" Danny asks his friend.
"They're in Italy, and they're attacking Will and her friends." Ninja explains getting Danny to widen his eyes in surprise. "I know, but we don't have time to talk about this. Will you come and help me stop them?"
"Why do you need my help?" Danny asks unsure why his friend was asking for his help.
Ninja sighs, "Last time I fought them on my own and got help from people they could easily beat. I'm not happy about that, and I don't know if Will and her friends can fight them. If they do get defeated, then it will be 1vs3, and I do not like the idea of protecting five people while fighting three at the same time."
"You fear that they're after something important from them." Danny summarizes getting Ninja to nod. "Ok, I'll help." He turns his head to Aelita who was looking at him with a deadpan look. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"What kind of things have you two gone through and talk about to be friends?" She asks him suddenly getting Danny to smile nervously.
Ninja put left hand on Danny's right shoulder and says, "Yeah sorry, but we're on a time limit, and I know that you probably have much to talk about, but we got to go." Ninja raises his other arm up showing the golden metal claw resting in the grip of his hand. "Golden Tiger Claws!" He tears open a portal and turns his head to Danny. "You ready?"
Danny sighs and gives Aelita a sad smile. "We'll try to be back soon." Danny transforms into Phantom and gives her a salute before jumping into the portal with Ninja following him.
Aelita watches the portal close behind them and gets a glimpse of water entering the portal getting her to widen her eyes. 'Stacy…' Aelita touches the ground and feels a small wet spot getting her to sigh in defeat. "Great, she's becoming like us." Aelita mutters distastefully. 'He'll find out that she's there, but Professor Xavier will not be happy about this one bit.'
Earlier…
Stacy flips the page of the fashion magazine she was looking in the living room and sighs when she sees the most recent expensive dress being released. Stacy sighs and closes the magazine tossing it onto the other side of the couch. 'Why is it so hard to get a nice dress for a future date?' Stacy thinks sighing in defeat.
Kitty walks through the wall into the living room and sees the back of Stacy's head. "Hey Stacy, have you seen my fashion magazine?" Kitty asks hoping that her friend has seen it.
"Yeah, it's on the other side of the couch." Stacy says pointing at the magazine laying on the couch.
Kitty looks at the spot Stacy was pointing at and sees the magazine she was talking about. "Oh right, it did come in today." Kitty walks over to the couch and grabs the fashion magazine happy that she can see the latest clothing coming out. "Were you looking at this earlier?"
Stacy looks at Kitty and frowns, "Yeah, but it doesn't matter."
"Why?"
Stacy crosses her arms and sighs, "With the way our allowance is we're never going to afford something like what's in there."
Kitty opens the first page of the magazine and groans when she reads the price on the first dress she sees. "Oh man, does it get worse?"
"Only for the dresses." Stacy gets off the couch and walks away to leave the living rom when she hears something tear open. Stacy stops at the living room entrance and sees the portal along with Aelita, Danny, and a person in a black and red ninja suit. "Who's that?"
Kitty walks up behind Stacy and widens her eyes in surprise as the portal disappears from their view. "I don't know. I never knew that they met someone in a ninja suit."
"There's a lot of things they don't tell us." Stacy reminds her fellow mutant. The pair watches the three talk when the guy in the ninja suit brings up a golden metal claw in his right hand. They watch as the claw opens a portal catching them by surprise.
"Where are they going?"
"Don't know, but I am going to find out."
Kitty's eyes widen at those words. "Wait, Stacy…" Kitty starts but finds herself doing nothing as Stacy makes herself a puddle of water and moves across the floor straight to the portal. Kitty watches in surprise and horror as Danny and the ninja enter the portal with Stacy following them in her puddle form. Kitty hides behind the wall holding her breath with a look of horror on her face. 'I need to get out of here.'
Kitty turns to the opposite wall about to leave when she hears, "Hello Kitty." Kitty turns her head slowly to see Aelita standing there with her arms crossed over her chest.
'I am so dead.' Kitty thinks not liking the look Aelita was giving her.
Phantom and Ninja's fight will be happening on A Ninja Rises. Those who want to read the fight will have to wait since I need to catch Randy's story up just a bit. Luckily, it should only be about two or three chapters away. I will focus on A Ninja Rises until that chapter is out; I'll start focusing on this story again once those chapters are out.
I hope you liked the emotional rollercoaster that Danny and Rogue were going through, and I'm not completely sure with some of things I did with Rogue. I might change it later, but what I have out is what you guys will get until I update A Ninja Rises two or three chapters. I can solely focus on that long with fixing some of the older chapters as well.
Once this chapter is out, chapters 1-3 will be fixed and updated for those who did not know about it. I worked on chapter 3 while working on this chapter as well as the next chapter for A Ninja Rises.
Here is a little preview of the next chapter in A Ninja Rises
"I cannot believe that I have to write a five-page paper on the American Revolution!" Howard complains as he and Randy exit the left side of the school with their backpacks hanging off their backs.
"It's your fault for laughing during class." Randy reminds his best friend.
"She said duty. What would you expect me to do?" Howard asks like it makes sense for him to laugh in class.
Randy gives Howard a serious look. "I expect you to show restraint and control." The two teens stare at each other for a couple seconds before laughing at the words. "Oh man," Randy wipes a tear away, "I needed that."
"Glad you're back man." Howard says putting his right hand on his best friend's shoulder. "You've been acting all wonk since your fight last week."
Randy frowns, "You just had to remind me."
Howard's eyes widen when he realizes his mistake. "Whoops."
Randy waves it off and puts his hands in his pockets. "Don't worry about it Howard. I've been avoiding it since talking with Phantom."
"Which you never told me what happened."
"I have a good reason why."
"Which is?" Howard asks hoping to get an actual reason.
Randy continues walking ahead a smirk on his face. "Sorry Howard, but you don't have that kind of clearance for me to tell you."
"What the juice?!" Howard runs past Randy and stops in front of Randy with a glare on his face noticing the smirk on Randy's face. "What is that supposed to mean, man? We're best friends! How do I not have any clearance to learn anything going on from you?"
"I can't just tell you everything that isn't about me! I would be breaking their trust, and I need all the allies I could get." Randy points out.
I will be ending it there, and I hope you guys have a good day wherever you are on this planet.
R&R