Well I'm still here, and finally I found time to write a new chapter. Let me know what you guys think, I accept all reviews but please no flames.

So I own nothing blah blah blah, accept my own characters blah blah blah, best intro ever blah blah blah.

Enjoy.

Talise found herself lost in the therapeutic power of the hot rushing water, flowing from the silver showerhead above her. While under her guise as Toad, Talise had forced herself to live in her stench in order to hide her smell from tracking mutants. Her mother had provided scented soaps, scrubs and shampoos to help erase her former persona and to truly become clean. With each rub of the sponge, the life she was forced to live for the last three years was wiped from her mind. No longer would she have to play the fool, no longer would she have to endure every form of physical punishment in battle. For the first time since she was sent to Hell's Birth, she was truly free.

With a reluctant hand, Talise turned off the flow of water and emerged from the shower. Her dripping foot met with a soft blue bathroom rug. Before she took hold of the towels her mother had left for her, she caught herself in the mirror. For so long every time she looked at her reflection, she saw and ugly toad. A toad with grey sad skin, sickly brown hair and sporting a new bruise or two from the day. Before that she only caught an occasional glimpse within the confines of her cell. Back then he skin was as green as lily pads and her hair was as black as the bottom of a lagoon. Even with her strange colors and the filthy condition of Hell's Birth, her reflection was somehow happy and healthy. Perhaps it was the healthy energy of youth. But now the young woman looking back at her was one she had never seen before. After so many years she finally resembled a human.

Talise dried herself, tamed her hair and brushed her teeth, all tasks she was forced to neglect for the last three years. Her eyes fell on the garment that her mother had left for her. It was a knee length dress, designed in a Grecian style with light green thread for the accents. She slipped the white material over her head and fashioned the straps to the matching sandals around her ankles. Once she was presentable she made her way down the stairs to join her friends.

Just as Talise made it to the bottom of the stairs that her ears where assaulted with cries of "Oooh's", "Ahhh's" and "Soo Cute!" Jean, Rouge and Kitty rushed over to her to gush over her new dress. Storm and Olivia, who was also granted a new set of clothing in the form of styled jeans and a wavy bohemian style blouse, sat in a corner and smiled at the younger she-mutants. Dante circled Talise with his finger pressed to his lips, making mental notes over the dress. Once his mental tally was completed he captured his daughter in a tight embrace.

"My little princess, but I think this will truly complete the ensemble."

As Dante backed away, he revealed that with a slight of hand he had clasped a necklace around her neck. It was a simple chain with a unusual green stone for a charm. Talise took it in her hands before giving it a kiss, clasping her hands around it and placing it over her heart. The three teen mutants turned to the adults for an answer.

"I'm surprised no one has lost it yet, but I guess since she cares for it so much it will never be lost."

"What's so special about it Storm?"

"When Soteria was first created, the residents found it appropriate for Talise to take the first step on the new land. The first step in Soteria's founding. When she took that first step, that stone was the first thing her foot touched. It is literally the founding stone of Soteria."

"I have to admit mom, it really ties everything together, but do I have to wear the shoes."

"Yes my dear, you have to be a civil young lady and that calls for shoes."

Talise gave a slight pout as she looked at her feet. She truly hated wearing shoes, she'd much rather feel nature under her toes.

"Well shall we meet up with the boys?"

With a faint last look in a mirror, Talise smiled and joined the other females in finding their friends.

With a heavy grunt Pietro and the rest of the boys dropped the last of the luggage by the door of the house they would be staying in while they were on the island. As they turned to catch their breath they decided to scope out the island. Walking up and down the streets were a variety of mutants. Some were in various colors of nature, and some were tall, so tall that one being was able to make it down the street in less than five steps. And some were small, Pietro could swear he saw a small man riding on a cat and using it's collar as a harness. Some had extra limbs or resembled animals, there was such a variety that Dr. Seuss could have easily knocked out several books. And yet the boys still found themselves the object of stairs and whispers, no doubt the word had spread over who had brought them to the island. Just as Pietro was wondering how much the town folk, he was brought out of his thoughts by a stone aimed at his head. If he had not used his super speed, he would have found himself in the hospital or judging from the deep indention in the stone wall where the stone collided, he would have found his brains scattered on the pavement. The white haired mutant turned his attention to a trio of fellow teen male mutants making their way through the crowd of scattering residents.

From the trio there was a sickly thin teen with bright pink hair, from his shoulders to his toes his skin was burnt and scared, perhaps he was in some sort of fire or was another unfortunate victim from Hell's Birth. His eyes were like knives, slicing away the flesh from whoever they fell apon, this was not a nice young gentleman. The second looked more like a flesh colored pile of rocks, no doubt the origin of the thrown stone. He was about the size of Fred but as he was a giant pile of skin, this teen looked as though his parents chiseled him from the local quarry. The last teen was more than likely their leader. His face was sharp and cleaver like a fox, the right side of his face was scared and black, with his right eye completely bleached white while the other shown with an intense blue that burned with fury. He dawned an open leather vest with matching leather pants and punk style accessories. This was the kind of boy that fathers kept their daughters away from, not that they would need much encouragement. If his looks did not send shivers down their spines, then the sharp blade strapped to his back would keep anyone else at bay.

Pietro, Fred and Lance had seen the look the trio gave a million times before, these boys were looking for a fight. From the sound of thee stone colliding with the house Kurt, Scott, Logan, Bobby, Gambit, Beast and Artemis emerged in the doorway or poked their heads from various windows. Logan had seen these boys before, he could smell the trouble radiating from them but knew there was nothing he could do. Artemis made his way down to the trio while Logan stood watch.

"What's their problem?"

"To many things to list bub. Anyway let's hope Art can get them to move along, it would be a lot worse if we had to fight 'em."

That hope was dashed as their conversation was broken by Artemis, who back flipped away from the trio and landed beside Logan. The leader of the trio had his sword unsheathed and had clearly tried to attack Artemis but missed.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing Artemis." Artemis stared at the young mutant, still trying to understand what had caused the fury in him.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Just put away your sword and we can work out whatever it is that's bugging you." The one eye teen's hand was shaking as he gripped his sword. Such fury was building up inside of him that his one good eye looked as though it was about to pop out to release it.

"Don't fucking talking to me like I'm a fucking CHILD! You sit about like some fucking king, gracing the public with your leadership, as if you shit fucking gold bricks. Just because you were one of the 'chosen ones' by our beloved savior. She abandons us for over three fucking years and then, and then when she magically returns we're all meant to just kiss her wonderful ass."

Logan had his claws ready as he stared down the arrogant teen. How dare he speak about his daughter in such a way. Artemis was right by his side burning with the same fury as Logan.

"Mind your tongue Jason, you have no right to talk about my sister in such a way, not after everything she has done for even you."

"Clearly she didn't do enough now did she." Jason used his free hand to motion to the injured part of his face.

"That was not her fault."

"Then who's was it, oh wise master Artemis."

"It was .."

"Forget it! You think just because your face isn't messed up like the rest of us that you're better than us? Well then let's see how pretty you are after just five minutes!"

The giant flesh rock charged, with the burnt teen right beside him. The one known as Jason, his hand was still shaking as he gripped the hilt of his sword. His eye was strained and lost, burning with rage and fear. So many emotions were trying to find a way out of his body, and with every attempt Jason tried to understand just what those emotions were. The giant flesh-rock monster was able to create giant boulders from the palm of his hands, once it had reach it's optimum smashing size the giant then hurled the boulders at Logan and Artemis. Artemis shoved the younger mutants threw the doorway, just as he created an energy arrow. With his precise aim he was able to cause the boulder to erupt into a shower of rubble. The giant continued to create massive boulders and hurl them at Artemis, crying out "Bad moon lady! Did bad thing, BAD MOON LADY!"

The other teen with them was trying to handle Logan is a similar manner as this giant counterpart. He was live a living silly putty boy, his body stretched and wrapped around Logan. The older mutant tried to dodge the younger one, but along with his putty like stretching he was also able to make extra appendages grow from various parts of his body. Fists extended from his back and shoulders, trying with any means to make contact with Logan. Finally Logan could not hold him off and did the unthinkable, he scratched the younger mutant. The scratch itself was on his right hand, and a degree higher than a paper cut. As soon as he realized what had happened, the mutant stopped in his tracks, taking his primary shape and retracting any extra appendages. He stared intently at his hand, perfectly still and quiet until he saw the faintest drop of blood forming. He crouched down in an cross legged position, his hands gripping at the sides of his race as he rocked back in forth. His mind was just as lost as Jason, trying to make since of a now very confusing world. Logan looked more hurt than the burnt teen, he looked toward Artemis. Unsure of what to do and silently pleading for help.

"That's enough."

He voice was calm and sweet as a fresh sun rise on a spring day. Talise led the rest of the female mutants towards the boy, keeping a calm and steady pace. The Brotherhood and Xmen students who were watching the fight turned in wonder at her. The sun beams were caught in her green strands of hair, reflecting off of her golden eyes. She almost seemed surreal, like a fairy emerging from the forest to meet the mortals. She gave her brother and father a simple nod and a look that said "Be calm, I'm fix it." She went over the rocking mutant, who had yet to relies she was there. She knelt down to his eye level and waited for him to see she was there. As he broke his trance his eyes stared at her in confusion, as if questioning if she was truly there. She gave him a warm simile and offered her hand to him, waiting until he was ready to place his injured one in hers.. After checking for any damages, she turned to the base of her dress and ripped off a smile piece from the hem, causing Dante to cover his mouth so as not to let out a cry of pain. She turned back to the teen, who had calmed down a great deal, and gave him another warm smile.

"Now now Tony, why are you making such a fuss. You've grown into such a big boy since the last time I saw you."

Tony then shoot looks back in forth between Talise and Logan, silently pleading that 'it wasn't his fault, he did it".

"It's alright, you're not in trouble. Here now what do we say when we get hurt? Give a little kiss and blow the pain away, then make a bunny that will hop, hop to stay.

As she sang her soothing tune, she performed each act in the rhythm. Kissing lightly on his cut, giving a gentle blow to sooth the pain, and then took the piece of white material and wrapping it around his hand. She made the ribbon part a little longer, so that in a way it did look like a bunny. Tony looked at the bandage, gentle petting the ribbon as if it truly was a real white rabbit. He then stopped and looked at Talise, extending his hand to show something was wrong. She looked for a second before giving a small chuckle.

"How could I forget. Does anyone have a pen?"

Some were checking their pockets and other could only stare in disbelief. Who would ever have thought that Toad was motherly. Pietro was the first to find a pen, using his speed to run to Talise. Judging from his eyes, Pietro's sudden display had frightened Tony, but as long as Talise was with him, he felt safe. Talise then took the pen and began marking the makeshift bandage, adding eyes, a nose and a happy bunny smile to the wrappings.

"There, a happy bunny makes the boo-boos go away faster."

"Froggy Back! Froggy Make Everything Better!"

With everyone watching Talise tend the burnt teen's wound, they nearly forgot about the giant flesh like rock giant, who had swooped in and captured Talise in a tight embrace.

"It's good to see you too Coal, but what did we say about grabbing people."

"Oh I sorry."

The giant returned Talise to the grown as gently as he could, as if Talise would break into a million pieces if he was not careful. Once her feet touched the ground, the gently patted the giant on the head as he gave his a giant smile.

"Now boys are there something's you would like to say to my friends?" The giant and the burnt teen began kicking dirt with their arms behind their backs, the same way that small children would when they had to apologies for something they did.

"We're sorry." The giant replied as the other teen gave a look that expressed the same sentiment. It was like they were two 4 year olds apologizing for breaking a window with a baseball, not two teens who had just tried to viciously attack them.

"Very good boys."

"But it not our fault, man said we had too hurt themz."

"What man, have you been talking to strangers?"

"He was with Shifty, he say he was a good man."

"I see. What did Shifty and this man say exactly?"

"He says, um… he says these peoples bad. They took you away and hurtz you. They give you no food, makes you eat bugs even though that's a no-no."

"Yes a big no-no."

"So man says we have to help you by hurting new peoples. Make them hurt for all they hurt you. You stay here and be safe and be happy if we hurt them, even though hurting peoples is a no-no."

"Yes a very very big no-no."

"Then he um, he says, he says that medicine is bad and that if wez keep taking it then we can not help you. They you stay hurting with them for long time."

"So all three of you stopped taking your medicine?"

"Yes cuz we wanted to help you."

"When was this?"

"Uh, it was uh. On a Monday I think."

"What month?"

"Oh the stinky one."

"I see. Well sweetie I'm happy you wanted to help me, but you know you have to take your medicine. It helps you. Now I'm gonna try and help Jason ok. If he starts trying to hurt people, I want you to go to Arty ok."

"Moon Lady?"

"Yes Moon Lady."

Talise gave her brother a wicked smile, as he returned it with a glare that seemed to say "you are sooo gonna get it for that." She made her way over to Jason who was still lost in his emotions, completely unaware that the fight was over and that he had lost. For a second he did not seem to notice Talise standing in front of him. Then he blinked, the he blinked again, as if he was waking from a dream. He studied this new person in front of him, something was familiar about her. She gave him a warm smile, but unlike the comfort it brought the other mutants, this one only brought rage. Jason tried to raise his sword and bring it down hard, but as it lowered at full force, Talise caught it with ease, holding off his attacks with one hand. Jason tried to force the blade down more, but it would not budge. Talise was clearly the stronger of the two. Jason continued to push with all of his might until he fell to his knees in exhaustion.

"So you've come back. You've come back as one of them, all pretty. What did you do, leave you find a doctor?"

"Now Jason you know how I feel about altering one's looks. I just went through my last transformation. I'm a butterfly now."

"Yah you're just a pretty little butterfly."

Talise turned around as if she was about to walk away, she could not see that Jason had instinctively reached out for her. What he saw, was every scar she had been forced to gain from her father.

"If I cared so much to be 'pretty' then why would I keep these? This marks help set my past that made me into who I am today."

She then turned back to face a still confused Jason.

"Jason, you know I could care less about looks. I also know this isn't you. What's really wrong?"

He sat for a moment, trying to sort out the burst of emotions rattling in his brain. Without warning he lunged at her. For a moment it looked like he was trying to tackle her, instead he had wrapped his arms around her waist. Like a small child, he was sobbing uncontrollably.

"Why did you leave us?"

Talise placed a hand tenderly on his head and have a gentle kiss to his brow. She allowed him to cry, to try and release some of the feelings he had to bottle for nearly the last four years.

"I'm sorry I left you, but I had to."

"But why?"

"Because I had to help them, they needed my help more than you did. Some of the Xmen and Brotherhood shifted uncomfortably. They felt as if threw their selfishness they had stolen a child from his mother. Talise took Jason by the chin and made him look straight at her.

"Jason, you are a very dear friend to me. You know I would only have left if someone really needed me. But I don't think that's all that's bothering you. You haven't been taking your medicine for months now, don't you think that you would feel alittle better with if you took it?"

Jason gave a frown, debating if he wanted to travel down that road once more.

"Please Jason, for me." Talise had said the magic words, with a slow nod Jason agreed to return to his medicine. As Talise was saving the day, by calming down the formerly violent teen, a small cart led by a giant set of grey horses the size of rhinoceroses had pulled next to Artemis. From the cart two men emerged, dressed in white nurses uniforms, emerged and where trying to talk the burnt teen and the giant into climbing into the cart. Talise helped Jason to his feet, and with his hand in hers led her to the nurses.

"Now boys, you be nice to Nurse Maggie and Nurse Sabrina, you know they are just here to help you."

"Are you leaving us again?" Coal asked with tears forming in his eyes. Talise placed a gentle hand on his check, gave the trio a reassured smile.

"I've been working for nearly four years straight. Right now, Froggy is on vacation, and she's going nowhere." The trio were on the verge of jumping out of the cart to give Talise another hug. She promised them she would see them soon, and reminded them to take their medicine and to find her right away if the strange man with Shifty ever tried to talk to them again. As the cart pulled down the road, Talise waved to her friends until they were out of sight. Once they were she gave an exhausted sigh, and walked over to her friends, the sword draped over her shoulders.

"Well that's one way to spend my first day back."

"Ok dude, where so I start on all the questions."

"Start with the first one on your mind and work your way down the list." Pietro tried forming all the questions in his head, trying not to forget any important ones.

"Ok, who were those guys?"

"The ones that Hell's Birth hurt the most. Not everyone who made it out unskaved, some where hurt physically and some suffered mentally. A few of the patients at Hell's Birth were, mentally handicapped. The Doctors there preferred them, they got less complaints and some felt that they could treat them even less like humans, since they were already mutants."

"So they're like that because of the torture from that place?"

"To be honest I don't know, and quite frankly I don't care. There is a chance they were already handicapped and Hell's Birth only hurt them more. I couldn't see everyone who entered there, plus there is a chance they were there long before I was."

"And why does he call Artemis 'Moon Lady'?"

"Well we are in Greece, so since so many people talk about the Gods we decided to teach them. Coal knows that the Goddess Artemis was the Goddess of the Moon, so that's what he thinks my brother is, the Moon Lady."

"So another question, what on earth is the stinky month?"

"April."

"Um ok….."

"I use to joke with them, saying that April was stinky, that's why it rains so much. April showers to make itself not so stinky."

Fred began to laugh, "Only you could turn a bandage into a bunny, and make it seem like a month has a hygen problem."

"What can I say, I'm gifted."

"So v'hat are you gonna do v'ith the sword?"

"Eat it." Talise gave Kurt as if it was the most obvious answer in the world.

"V'hat?"

"What I'm hungry, I still haven't eaten all day." With that she proceeded to take a large bite from the side of the sword. Her teeth easily cut threw what everyone thought was solid steel, but instead was shown to be thinly coated gummy like substance. As Talise chewed happily, she offered a bite to Fred who eagerly accepted to find out what a sword tasted like. Artemis laugh and turned to explain.

"There is this guy on the island, Yoshi. He was trained to be a weapons master but after he saw how much pain his creations caused, he turned to a sweeter approach."

"So he makes realistic candy weapons?"

"Tasty ones too!" Fred expressed as he gladly accepted another bite.

"Yes well swords are his specialty, it's just about the only candy shop I know of that the dad's have more fun than their kids."

"Cool can we see him?"

"Sure, I still have to show you guys the island."

"Wait before we run off to the candy store, what's gonna happen to your other friends. Are they gonna be alright."

"Ah Scott, always Mr. Serious. Yes we have an entire center where proper doctors can take care of them. The medicine they take will help balance out their emotions."

"Wait don't their parent's take care of them?"

"Well Coal, the big guy, and Will, the one with the bunny bandage, we know for a fact their parents have passed, very brave people who gave their lives during the escape from Hell's Birth. I promised to look after their sons, and by getting the best doctors I could find, I hope I'm doing what they would have wanted."

"V'hat about Jason?"

"We know for a fact his parents, at least his mother, doesn't care."

"How do you know that?"

"Because his mother gave him that gash over his eye. His mother was the Warden at Hell's Birth."

well there you have it a super long chapter 19. Aside from introducing some new character I really wanted to show the other side of Talise, not only the warrior side, but the softer side. So I know I've been neglecting this story a little, because the inspiration for my new story Masters of the Zodiac. I swear the words just fly from my finger tips on my keyboard.

so as i've said the trio and some others on the island were hurt in a mental way from the experiments that were forced on them. i'm not implying that hey are slow are dumb or anything, so if anyone was affended by how i made coal sound i am sorry. i'm working from what i've read and seen from the media, hope no one was hurt and if anyone thought i was offensive, please let me know on how i can change it.

So lately I saw this amazing movie called Mary and Max, if you have Netflix you can watch it instantly. It's a Claymation movie about an awkward 10 year old girl in Australia who randomly picks a name out of an American phonebook and decided to write to him. Turns out the name was for Max and 45 year old Autistic man living in New York. The two become great friend and write back in forth, and dealing with major life changes. I flat out loved this movie for its humor and it's heart. I like to think we're all a little like Mary and would be lucky enough to have a friend like Max. The movie made me laugh, not at Max but what he said that was intended to be funny. Here are some of my favorite quotes:

When I was 6 I created an imaginary friend named Mr. Ravioli. My psychiatrist says I don't need him anymore so he just sits in the corner and reads.

I have to go now, even though I have not told you about my 7th job at a condom factory. Write back soon. P.s. I have never used a condom.

Did you know that turtle can breathe through their anuses?

You have to watch the movie to get them, it's worth it.