Chapter 6: Sought
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Character cross-overs…
Willow: Scott Summers (Cyclops)
Madmartigan: Remy LeBeau (Gambit)
General Kael: Creed (Sabretooth)
Sorsha: Rogue ()
Elora: Katherine (Kitty) Pryde (ShadowCat)
Franjean: Kurt Wagner (Night Crawler)
Rool: Todd Tolansky (Toad)
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Rogue fought her way out of the angered tavern and outside to where several Bayville horses had been tied. Two were missing. It was then she looked to the distance. There she saw the deifiers racing towards the Bay of Alexandria. Shaking her head she called out to one of the troops that had accompanied her out of the tavern. Luckily it was her second in command, St. John Allerdyce.
"St. John, find two more horses. Ah'll assist the rest out of the tavern," she ordered.
He nodded his understanding and left to do her bidding. Rogue returned inside to find the other four fairing rather well against three times as many drunken foes. By the time she could offer her assistance her squad had the tavern back in order. "Come on! They're getting away!" she said, gesturing towards the door.
Just in time, as St. John had found two other steeds from a couple of customers that were by now unconscious in the tavern. The six mounted and cantered on towards the Militia and Dweller. Rogue hoped they could catch up to them before Creed even knew what had happened.
Since there wasn't one way to get to the Bay of Alexandria, chances grew against Creed arriving there before them. He wasn't in as much of a hurry as they were. Rogue smiled. The odds were, at last, in her favor. Her horses' gallop picked up a little more stride.
~6~
Warren moved about the camp. It had been weeks and he was working to improve his sword play with the rest of the recruits but this whole situation sucked. He didn't want to be here and he couldn't go home. War was coming to all of the lands and if Bayville won there was nowhere to go. So he stayed.
He walked the camp and was about to get some food when a group of riders caught his attention. Curious he made his way towards the activity. They had tied their horses and made their way towards Logan's tent. He watched as Logan greeted the six and as he got closer he could now hear the updates as one of the Militia spoke.
"The Envoy warned against a Bayville army on the heels of Katherine and her guardian. We are all to gather together and heads towards the Bay of Alexandria," he heard a woman say. There were few women amongst them so it surprised him that a woman was leading a group of Militia.
Logan nodded and at first said nothing. "Did you request the Envoys to inform the other camps and a rendezvous point?" he asked.
The woman nodded 'yes'. "Two days march east, on the outskirts of Syracuse and Westchester. My recruits are ready to go and we are not far behind you."
"Then there is no time to waste. Go and gather your troops. I'll tell our recruits it's time for action," Logan instructed. The five Militia left to their horses, Logan left to alert the camp and the woman continued to stand there.
Around him the camp was roused with the commands of the Militia. Warren was about to turn and leave but the woman caught his eye. She approached him and he could barely tell she was a woman amongst the armor and helmet that hid obvious features. But he was mesmerized by her seemingly purple eyes. She stopped in front of him and he continued to stare, unable to move. "Quite nosey for a coward," she said eyeing him.
Warren was tongue tied and unsure of how to respond. "Coward?" he finally managed to say.
"You are Warren Worthington are you not?" she asked and he nodded in agreement. "I have seen you, in my dreams. A man given fortunes by his family and in turn abusing them."
Warren shifted uncomfortably, for the first time feeling guilty for the way he treated people since his father's fortunes were bestowed upon him. "And yet," she took off her helmet and Warren instantly fell in love. She was an attractive woman with dark, almost purple hair. She had an exotic look and her eyes promised mischief. "Somehow you are the man of my dreams."
Warren had never felt what he was feeling now before. All sorts of emotions raged through him; love, lust, déjàvu, like he had met her before. He cleared his throat. "Excuse me?" he asked.
"I cannot control my dreams and in them I saw the man you could become. That man I could see myself falling for," she said looking off into the distance, envisioning this man of her dreams. A playful smile on her lips caused a fire in Warren to run from head to toe. She looked back at him the smile disappearing, "not this spoiled boy before me," she answered.
"Your dreams? You are a Seer?" he asked. She eyed him, silence prompted him to continue, "It is said Raven killed all of the Seers, well those that used their powers."
"She did. Only Seers that practice and use their powers are killed. Dreams are gateways no one can control and therefore she cannot kill a Seer if they dream a prophecy."
Warren watched her, taking in everything she said. "What is your name?" he finally asked.
She grinned, slyly. "Perhaps one day you will be man enough to find out," she said, replacing her helmet and heading towards her horse, leaving Warren behind. He watched as she galloped off, the other five riders followed her heading back to her group of recruits.
'Wow' was all he could think as a stupid grinned tugged at his lips. This wouldn't be so bad after all, he concluded making his way towards his belongings to pack for the journey ahead.
~6~
Scott had somehow managed to catch up with Remy. Of course, it did help that Remy slowed for the Dweller to reach him. "Where to, mon ami?" Remy asked, once Scott was at his side.
"The Bay of Alexandria," Scott said, simply.
Remy pulled his reins back, slowing the horse to a steady walk. "The Bay of Alexandria?" He looked at Scott a moment.
"So," Scott said, confused by Remy's sudden change of mood.
"Nah, Remy jus' know someone dat was dere. Haven't been around dose parts before."
"Who?" Scott asked, curious.
Remy snapped his reins and the horse responded by trotting ahead. "Non, jus' an ol' friend, Remy hasn't seen in years. So, lil' minnies which way?"
Toad poked his head out of the pack. "Yeah, now you want our help," Toad said.
"Shut up!" Kurt said, pushing his traveling buddy back down the pack. "This vay should take you off ze main roads und away from ze young Bayville Captain," Kurt said, pointing east.
They rode fast on ahead in the direction Kurt had instructed. Some time had passed before anyone spoke again. "See that small trail to the left?" Kurt asked.
Scott squinted, but caught sight of it soon enough. "Yes."
"Take it," Kurt said.
The steeds were diverted from the main road to the small trail. "Now Scott, get ze vand out und direct it behind us," Kurt said.
Scott quickly pulled the wand from his pouch and did as ordered.
"Close your eyes und envision ze ground like no one had traveled through it.'"
Scott did and when he opened his eyes he was surprised when he saw the tracks they had left behind seconds ago vanish. He returned the wand and his attention back to the trail ahead.
Again, silence took hold of the group but Remy soon broke the silence. "You know about de fille?" Remy asked, eagerly. He had been thinking of her none stop since he saw her in the tavern. And boy did he think she was absolutely beautiful.
"Veah. The Queen's daughter, so." Kurt said, casually, knowing full well Remy was interested.
"DAT'S Raven's daughter?" Remy asked dumbfounded.
"Vhat did you expect?" Kurt asked.
"Someone like dere mother," Remy said, now hiding any kind of emotion so the Envoy couldn't tell he was quit intrigued by the Queen's daughter.
Kurt smiled. "About tventy years ago before Raven turned evil she vas training to become a Sorcerer. Her and her zen best friend Ororo Munroe trained vith ze great Sorcerer Charles Xavier until ze Prince of Westchester came into ze picture und both vomen vere smitten. Ze tales vere Raven used her magic to enchant ze young prince, Rogue popped out nine munths later. Ze girl never met her father und hates him since she is a loyal Militia und daughter to Raven und her destruction."
"Tell dat tale a couple of times, min?" Remy asked.
Kurt simply laughed. "I've heard it many times but zis is my first time telling ze tale. Makes my day to know I'm a good story teller."
Beneath him Toad laughed. "Yo man, you tell it so lame, blue boy."
"Do you smell something?" Kurt said, sniffing the air.
"I'll give ya something to smell," Toad retorted, pulling on Kurt's tail so the Envoy would fall to the bottom of the pack. "Yo guys. What's up?" Toad said, popping his head out of the pack.
"You'll pay for that, slime ball!" Kurt said, pushing Toad out of the pack.
"Aah!" Toad screamed, desperately hanging onto the edge.
"Take it back, Toad!" Kurt demanded.
"Take what back?"
"About my story, take it back."
"What? That it's lame? I don't know." Toad slipped. "Okay, okay, I take it back." Satisfied, Kurt pulled him in. Toad breathed heavily, holding a hand to his chest. "Yo, that was a close call."
"What do you mean, close call? You veren't hanging zere zat long."
"Hey, I resent that. You weren't hanging for your life just a minute ago," Toad said, glancing over the side.
"Oh, please," Kurt said, rolling his eyes, "you're not a Toad you're a bullfrog, full of bull-." He was cut off by Toad giving Kurt a shove over the side. Kurt had somehow managed to catch the side of the leather pack. "My bull flushes easily." Toad mocked.
"Dude! Pull me up right now, Toad."
"Ooh! Rather demanding, aren't we? I need a reason, blue boy," Toad called safely in the pack.
"Uh, you're hygiene isn't zat…bad," Kurt lied.
"Aw thanks man. You're not my bull anymore." Toad said. He continued to ignore the Envoy who still clung to the pack.
Kurt looked at Toad. "Please, pull me up," Kurt pleaded.
Toad smiled, rather smugly. He had won this battle. Toad then pulled Kurt back in the sack. Kurt waited until he caught his breath before pouncing Toad. "Why you little…"
"Hey! Stop it you two. I don't need any incidents, especially right now," Scott said, looking down at the pack where the Envoys stopped and looked up at him surprised.
"Yo, there it is," Toad said, pointing straight ahead.
"What?" Scott asked, turning to face the direction of Toad's attention.
"Ze Bay," Kurt finished.
The pair of horses slowed as they approached the shore. Scott and Remy dismounted and stared across the water at the countless number of islands.
"Scott, get ze wand out," Kurt ordered.
Scott searched through his pack for the wand and asked, "why?"
"Do not question us you uptight…Dweller…guy," Toad said, mumbling the last couple of words, "we know what we are doing."
Scott dropped some of the items from his bag in his search for the wand. Kurt and Toad laughed at his clumsiness. Finally Scott managed to find the wand and held it up to show the Envoys.
"I feel safe and assured that the young Katherine has chosen you to be her guardian," Toad said.
~6~
Rogue pressed ahead, faster. Thoughts of victory played over in her mind as she envisioned capturing the child of the prophecy and those that were helping her by Rogue and the five Bayville Militia. 'Creed will be so angry,' she thought grinning. Her lengthy search of the child was so nearly complete, the pursuers were only minutes ahead of them. 'At last,' she thought, but when the tracks of those being tracked disappeared from the road, her confidence dropped.
Rogue frantically searched the nearby surroundings for any signs of a change in route. There was nothing. It was as if they simply vanished from the trail. "Magic," Rogue muttered, raising her crop and bringing it down on her horses' flank. The horse reared and forged ahead, five Militia followed close behind.
"Where are we going now?" St. John asked, galloping next to his Captain.
"We'll catch up with Creed and find another way to get the child." Rogue sighed inwardly, knowing now more than ever her mother was right when Raven told her she needed help to complete this mission. 'Great,' she thought.
~6~
"Okay almost ready," Scott said, handing the child to Remy.
"Hey, lil' Kitty," Remy cooed to the child, who laughed at the Militia. Remy continued making facing for the child's entertainment.
"Katherine," Scott corrected, preparing for the spell.
"Lil' Kitty just loves her ol' Uncie Remy," he continued, ignoring Scott.
"The magic, Dweller," Toad muttered.
"Only ze vand bearer vill be able to cross ze vater und find Ororo. It has to be you Scott. Leave ze child with Remy und leave us behind," Kurt said, peering up from the pack at Scott.
Scott let the Envoys out of his pack onto the sand below. They took a bit more time then Scott was patient for so he shook the pack. Both Kurt and Toad complained to the Dweller who simply ignored them.
Looking ahead to the lake beyond he waited for the Envoys to tell him what to do. When neither Envoy told the Dweller what needed to be done he looked down at them. "What do I do?" Scott asked.
"Ze wand vill allow you to see und valk ze path to ze Island zat holds Ororo. Ready?" Kurt said.
Scott nodded and held out the wand towards the lake. He watched eagerly waiting for the magic of the wand to work.
Nothing happened at first, but Scott slowly began to see the path. He turned to his companions. "I see it."
"Well then, we're not here for the view. Go," Toad said.
"Yes, be careful. Ororo vill know your intent with ze vand und tell you vat to do. Remember, vithout the wand you vill be stranded on ze Island for ze rest of your life. If you step into ze vater you loose your memory und be lost in ze vater. Kind of vhy zey call it ze land of ze lost und forgotten," Kurt warned.
Scott froze. This whole mission suddenly seemed so much more real to him. He took his first step on the path. Inside he hoped that maybe this would all be a dream and he would wake up in his own bed with Jean asleep next to him.
Another step, his dream was gone and reality kicked in. This was real. There was no turning back because what's at stake is so important. And no matter the danger or the challenge, he must succeed. For the sake of all that is good and pure, evil would not corrupt these lands.
And so, he pressed on.
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