XXXXXXXXX

It was going on five-thirty in the evening as attendants began filing into Madison Square Garden, the world's most famous arena for tonight's entertainment. On the front of the building, a glossy photo of 'The Golden Age of Circus' hung. At a nearby parking garage, a silver Mercedes AMG and a red Dodge Charger parked next to each other. The doors of the Mercedes opened and out stepped Logan, Ororo Munroe, Warren Worthington III, and Kitty Pryde

"Explain to me again why we couldn't have just gotten a burger and a few beers?" Logan asked, yet again. He had to be dragged here tonight because the circus was exactly ideal for a good time.

"They aren't old enough to drink," Ororo reminded him.

"That's my point. We could have just dropped them off."

"Come on, give it a chance."

"I think the parking spaces cost more than the damn tickets," Logan knew he should stop complaining, he was probably starting to sound like one of the damn kids.

"How would you know?" Warren then said. "My dad got us the tickets."

"You two stop, this will be fun. Tonight other people get to be the freaks for a change," Kitty beamed.

"Kitty," Ororo admonished.

"I'm just saying."

The doors of the Dodge then opened and Bobby Drake, Rogue, Pitor Rasputin, and Jubilation Lee got out. The eight of them began walking together.

"I can't believe we're actually doing something normal tonight," Bobby spoke.

"Tell me about it," Pitor agreed. "These Danger Room sessions are wiping me out."

Ororo smiled.

"Well, Logan and I both agreed that you deserve it. You've all done extremely well."

"Thank you, Ms. Munroe."

"I told you that you can call me Ororo for now on."

"Sorry, old habits."

"Speaking of Danger Room sessions, when am I going to get the chance to train with you guys?" Jubilee then asked.

"Trust me, Jubilee. It's not as fun as you might think," Rogue tried to assure her friend that she wasn't missing anything.

"Listen to Rogue," Bobby echoed. "We just our first session at level eight a week ago. I'm still sore from it."

"Still, I want to start training so I can be on the team. To fight with you guys."

Logan then walked up next to Jubilee.

"You just graduated kid, take it slow. You'll get your chance. Tell you what, tomorrow I'll start you on the beginner's level."

"You mean it?"

"Sure."

A huge smile than appeared on Jubilee's face.

"Excellent!"

Meanwhile inside of the arena's dressing room, The Ringmaster of the circus; a middle aged curly browned haired man dressed in a red tuxedo and black top hat stood in front of his performers as they all got ready.

Amongst them was Strong Guy, a man whose body was disproportionately large and over-muscled. Wolfsbane, a teenage girl who could transform into a wolf. Pixie, another teenage girl who had colorful wings that allowed her to fly. Double-Header was a mutant with two heads. Longshot, a younger blonde haired man who was an expert with bladed weapons and could manipulate probability. Last but not least was Dazzler, an attractive young mutant with the ability to convert sound into light beams of various forms and intensity.

"The show is about to begin," The Ringmaster grinned. "Is everyone ready?"

"We were born ready, babe," Dazzler responded as she finished putting on her costume.

"Now that's the attitude. Where is our newest member?"

"We haven't seen him," Pixie said. "But I'm sure he'll be here any second. You said he is a teleporter right?"

Before the Ringmaster could answer he was suddenly grabbed and pulled into the hallway. Fred Dukes, a mutant that stood six-foot eight, five hundred and fifty pounds pushed him against the wall.

"You owe me some money," Fred then demanded.

"We'll talk about this later, Blob," the Ringmaster replied, making sure to keep the fear out of his voice.

"No. If I don't get paid upfront, then I don't go out there."

"If you don't perform, than you'll be fired!"

"So that's how it's going to be?"

"Yeah, that's how it's going to be," the Ringmaster then pulled away from the much larger mutant's grip. "Throw your weight around somewhere else."

Fred narrowed his eyes as the Ringmaster walked off. Once he was gone, Longshot joined Fred in the hallway.

"It's time we took over this operation."

"Just say the word," Fred grinned. "I've got about a dozen guys waiting in the wings."

Back out in the arena, once the crowd had settled in their seats the lights went down and a spotlight appeared in the center ring. Holding a microphone, the Ringmaster walked in and addressed the crowd.

"Ladies and gentleman, children of all ages! I give to you the Golden Age of Circus!"

Everyone looked up in amazement as Pixie came flying in, throwing her pixie dust into the air. Double-Header was next as entered with two torches in hand. One head turned to the left, the other to the right as he breathed fire, the flames engulfing a set-up hoop. A roar then erupted from a large, black wolf as it leaped forward, jumping right through it before Wolfsbane morphed into her normal self just before she landed.

Dazzler came in next, wowing the crowd with her different kinds of lights as Longshot set up a giant piece of plywood that Wolfsbane walked over and stood in front of. Longshot then began to throw daggers and other kinds of stabbing weapons at her. The audience gasped with each throw as they just missed the teenage girl.

Dazzler continued to with her lights show before the Ringmaster announced Fred.

"The unmovable Blob!"

The other circus mutants stopped what they were doing as the ground shook. Blob came marching out, waving the others towards him, as if daring them to try and knock him off his feet. Strong Guy took a running start before tackling him with all his might. Blob didn't move an inch. Longshot then took out a shotgun and fired blanks which simply bounced off his stomach as he laughed.

Pixie came flying down and grabbed the back of Blob's shirt. The audience laughed at the sight of the small girl trying to fly up with Blob but obviously having no hope at all.

The Ringmaster took to the mic again.

"And now ladies and gentleman, I give you...the Incredible Nightcrawler!"

The spotlight swung up high, near the ceiling, where stood Nightcrawler. His tail protruded from the back of his red and white costume. He waved to the audience, then leaped to the swing in the center, high up in front of him. The group of eight, his former teammates began clapping and whistling upon seeing him.

"Remove the nets!"

Several crew members took the nets away. Nightcrawler took a deep breath, and swings from one swing to the next. He grabs a third with his tail, then swings upward. He falls, fast, nearly hitting the ground.

BAMF!

The audience gasped as he disappeared, then applauds as he reappears on the platform from which he started, bowing deeply. A big smile came over Ororo's face as she clapped.

Just then, Longshot looked to Blob and nodded. About a dozen men with ski-masks suddenly entered the arena with guns. The audience screamed as they fired warning shots into the air. Blob then walked to the Ringmaster and knocked him out with a single punch. He then grabbed the microphone.

"Listen up people! Show's over! We want your money and jewelry! Hand it over peacefully and you won't get hurt!"

A half of dozen men in ski masks then made their way into the audience with guns pointed as the snatched people's wallets, purses and other belongings.

"Fred, what the hell are you doing!?" Dazzler screamed.

Longshot pulled out a large knife and pointed it at her.

"Shut up! You all stay back!"

The group of mutants did what they were told as back in the audience the kids looked to Logan and Ororo who motioned for them to get up.

"Let's go."

Warren shook his head as they all crouched as low as they could.

"I knew this was going too well."

But just then, one of Blob's men swung the spotlight over to them.

"What's this? Some people think they can get away?"

The group spun around as several guys began approaching them on both sides. Suddenly, Pitor metaled up and punched one of the men, knocking him out cold. Bobby quickly froze the steps, making the men coming up after them tumble back down.

Blob smirked when he saw it.

"Other mutants, huh?"

Kitty grabbed a hold of Warren when she saw another guy coming at them and they phased through the steps down to the ground below.

Warren gasped.

"Don't ever do that again."

Kitty rolled her eyes.

"Whatever."

Back on the steps, Ororo punched one of the men, before being grabbed by someone else. Before he could get a chance to do anything-

BAMF!

Nightcrawler teleported her out of harms way, all the way up to the platform near the ceiling.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"I'm fine."

"What's going on?"

Meanwhile, Logan was trying to get the floor so he could go after Blob when he was hit by something sharp in the back of the neck causing him to yell out in anger at the unexpected painful impact. Reaching behind him, he pulled a Chinese throwing star from his neck. Spinning around, he saw Longshot smirking at him as he got ready to throw more.

"Nice shot, bub. Want to try again?"

"Certainly. I never miss."

Longshot threw another.

SNIKT!

Logan sliced it away as he ran forward. Longshot backed away as he threw another only to get it sliced away again. Quickly pulling out two daggers, Longshot blocked as Logan threw a clawed right hand at him and stabbed him in the ribcage. Before he could stab him again, Jubilee ran at them and began shocking Longshot with her 'fireworks'.

It blinded Longshot and threw him off guard long enough for Logan to recover, grab a hold of him and headbutt him with his adamantium skull, knocking him out.

Logan cracked his neck as he looked to Jubilee.

"Thanks kid."

"I'm apart of the team now, right?"

"No."

An angry Blob then stomped his way towards Warren and Kitty and cracked his knuckles.

"So, some mutie kids ruined my plans. I'm going to teach you both a lesson you'll never forget."

"Muties? Are you kidding me?" Kitty spoke incredulously. "No one could be such an enormous fatass without being a mutant!"

Warren touched her shoulder.

"Whoa, down girl."

"What the hell did you say to me!?"

Blob then charged at Kitty but phased right through her.

"Oh, gross!" Kitty yelled.

Warren quickly peeled off his shirt and extended his wings. He wrapped his arms around Kitty's waist and took off into the air as Blob came back around and charged at them again. Back in the stands, Pitor, Bobby, and Rogue were fighting off the rest of Blob's men. Rogue's eyes widened when she saw one of them point their gun straight at Bobby's head.

"Bobby watch out!"

Bobby spun around but tripped over his own feet and ended up tumbling down the stairs. Rogue then ripped off a glove and lunged forward, grabbing the man's arm. The horrible feeling of draining someone's life force then went through Rogue as the man dropped to the ground. Blob came at the fallen teenager as Bobby staggered his way back to his feet. Nightcrawler then teleported onto Blob's back and covered his eyes with his three-fingered hands.

"Peek-a-boo!"

Blob reached up and tossed Nightcrawler away as a strong wind whipped around them all. Storm came down from the top of the arena, her eyes burn white as she manipulates the weather around her. The wind pummels Blob, threatening to move him. Snow and hail then started to pelt him as well. Blob grimaced, but remained firmly planted in place.

"Nothing…moves…the Blob!"

Storm then strengthens the winds as much as she possibly can. Slowly, Blob lifts a half an inch off the ground. It was enough. The wind sends him flying a few feet away before crashing to the ground.

"Bobby freeze him!"

Bobby extended his hands, and ice restraind Blob to the ground. Storm landed on the ground, visibly strained.

"Well, that's that."

As the eight of them gathered together, they were approached by the group of circus mutants.

"Wow, that was amazing," Pixie said.

"The same could be said about you," Rogue responded.

"Yeah but, we could never do that."

"Are you guys treated good?" Bobby then asked.

"Yeah," Strong Guy answered as he turned to look back at Blob who was continuing to curse in his ice-restraints. "I don't know what their problem was."

"So what are we going to do now?" Wolfsbane asked her fellow performers.

Dazzler shrugged.

"I've actually been thinking about going solo for a little while now."

Nightcrawler turned to his former teammates.

"Sorry you didn't get to see the whole show."

"It's okay Kurt, it wasn't your fault," Ororo responded. "I'm the one who sorry. I know this is the type of thing you were trying to get away from."

They all then heard the sound of sirens approaching.

"We need to get out of here," Logan spoke.

"Need a hand?" Nightcrawler smiled.

"It'd be nice."

The eight of them of them gathered around their former teammate and each took a hold of him.

"Hold on tight."

BAMF!

XXXXXXXX

The following morning, inside of a small log cabin located in Canada, just a few minute drive from the location of Alkali Lake, Scott Summers sat on the edge of his bed. He looked very disheveled as he hadn't shaven in weeks. His hair had grown longer and his skin was pale.

He continued to just sit there and stare at the floor when suddenly he heard a voice;

'Scott.'

Scott looked around the room.

'Scott...can you hear me?'

"Jean?" Scott said out loud. Then, in his mind's eye he saw Jean at Alkali Lake, drowning.

'Scott!'

The lake parts slightly.

'I'm still here...'

A flash of a bright light then appeared in his mind's eye.

'Help me...'

Scott shook his head, as though trying to shake the thoughts away. He had been having them for so long now he couldn't tell if the voices he had been hearing were real or just in his head. His cell phone then rang. Scott dug into his pocket for it and reluctantly answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Scott." The voice of the caller belonged to Professor Charles Xavier who was sitting in his office, talking on speaker phone so that Logan and Ororo, who were also in the room with him could listen in on the conversation. "I think it's time for you to come home, Scott. You've been at that log cabin for three months now.

"I can't leave Professor," Scott responded.

"You left here so you could take some time to properly grieve, than move on with your life. You've only made things worse for yourself."

"She keeps calling to me. She's alive, Professor. Jean is alive. And she's coming back any time now. I have to be here when that happens."

"Jean is not communicating with you, Scott. She's gone. Jean is dead," Xavier attempted to reason with him, but it didn't go any good.

"You don't understand, we share a psychic bond. I don't know how, but Jean is alive!" Scott then yelled.

"Scott, you cannot keep doing this to yourself!"

Scott then got up and threw his cell phone against the wall causing it to break into pieces. Xavier shook his head as he looked to Logan and Ororo, both seemed uncomfortable after listening to that.

"So you see, he refuses to leave. He's convinced that Jean is still alive."

"What can we do?" Logan asked.

"We need to go up to Alkali Lake. Get him to come back with us."

"What if he won't do that?"

"Than I'll make him."

Both Logan and Ororo looked at each other, a little taken aback by the Professor's statement.

"Normally, I would never.." the Professor than took a deep breath. "But I care too much for Scott to let him continue to do this to himself. I refuse to lose him like I lost Jean. Not when there's something I can do this time."

"Okay," Ororo then spoke. "I'll get the jet ready."

Logan watched Ororo leave the room before turning back to the Professor.

"Should we tell the others?"

"No." Xavier shook his head. "We should only be gone for a an hour, maybe two."

"What's this 'psychic bond' Scott's talking about?"

"Jean used her telepathy to link parts of their minds together," Xavier explained. "So they could always contact each other. The link hasn't switched off in Scott's mind, that's why he believes her to still be alive."

Logan went to the door but then stopped.

"Could he be right?"

He looked back at the Professor but he just shook his head.

"No. The sheer amount of water that collapsed on top of Jean would have obliterated her body completely. There's no way so could have survived that. Scott's unwillingness to let Jean go is what's likely causing him to believe he still feels her."

Xavier and Logan then headed to the hangar where Ororo had finished getting the jet ready for flight. She and Logan helped the Professor up the ramp and fastened him in before going over to the pilot's seat. Over them, the basketball court opened up and slowly the X-Jet levitated from where it had always been stored before taking off, fast into the sky above.