Author's Note:
Hello everyone! Here's the next chapter for Earth's Mightiest Huntsmen. Technically, I should've followed my new update method of trying to get updates in for at least one of my other stories before updating this one, but I'm on quite the roll thanks to my hype for this arc, so I decided to double down on this story. But anyway, as usual, let's answer some reviews before getting back to it.
superjoeyf721: Yeah, all the X-Men cartoons are pretty great. Shame that Evolution and Wolverine and the X-Men got cancelled before they could continue, because from what I've heard, they had some pretty crazy stuff they would've done. I'm definitely more than happy to make references to them. Most of the dialogue between Rogue and Gambit in the scene where they first see the trouble comes from the 90s cartoon, with one line of Rogue's coming from an X-Men Evolution episode.
SuperSaiyanFever: The Brotherhood aren't brainwashed. They're willingly working with Mesmero, who convinced them to turn against Magneto. As for where Magneto actually is, well...that mystery's going to be around for a while.
Blackmetalzane22: Rogue was originally a villain in the comics as well. Why she turned to join the X-Men will be explained in this chapter, as I mostly keep the details the same as how they were in the comics. I definitely do have plans for Magneto, but not for a while yet. I certainly didn't want to use him this early because I've been using a lot of big-name villains lately, so it was time for a lesser-known character to take the spotlight.
SulliMike23: It was confirmed in the last chapter that Mesmero was behind it. He basically mind controls anyone that looks into his eyes.
Ironchef13: You'll have to wait and see what Brotherhood members show up. Rest assured though that I have taken several of the classic and the more well known members into account.
Thank you all for your continued support. Now, let's get back to the action.
The X-Jet—En route to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters—October 25th
The so-called "X-Jet" was a thing of beauty. It was sleek, black, and very big, bigger than even the Quinjets the Avengers flew around. Weiss could tell that the others were impressed with it, especially Nora.
"This thing is amazing!" she exclaimed as she skipped aboard.
"It's a stealth ship," Logan explained. "Helps keep us under the radar. We also call it the Blackbird at times."
But Weiss couldn't think about the ship at the moment. All she could think about was Ruby, captured by Mesmero and the Brotherhood. She hoped that she was going to be okay.
Once everyone had been seated in the X-Jet, Weiss felt it take off and begin to fly. It was even a much smoother ride than the Quinjet rides had been. The X-Men certainly seemed to have some technology that the Avengers didn't.
Everyone was quiet at first in the back of the X-Jet. Eventually, Rogue, the woman with the white streak through her hair, turned to look at Weiss and her friends and asked, "So, y'all from space?"
"That's right," Jaune confirmed. "A world called Remnant. And…well, things weren't going well there, thanks to Ultron."
"Dang," she said, "sorry to hear that, sugah. Ultron aint someone to take lightly."
"So you kids all have superpowers and crazy weapons?" Gambit asked as he casually shuffled a deck of cards.
"You mean our Semblances? Oh yeah," Nora said, "I get stronger when I get electrocuted, Ren can mask emotions, Weiss can create these cool glyphs, and Jaune…"
Jaune bowed his head. "I…haven't been able to unlock my Semblance yet," he admitted.
"Don't worry, Jaune," Ren told him. "You will discover your Semblance soon enough."
Jaune clasped his hands together, saying nothing.
"Oh, yeah, did I forget to mention Weiss can summon her own Grimm to fight for her?" Nora added excitedly.
"Oh, is that what that was with the boar?" Logan questioned.
Weiss blushed slightly. "It's…something my family can do. I just haven't really mastered yet." Truth be told, she wasn't even really sure how she managed to summon the boarbatusk in the first place. But, just like when she had been up against the Frost Giant, it seemed as though she had summoned it under severe pressure and emotion. Was that the key? Or was there more to it?
"What about you guys?" Nora asked. "What kind of powers do you have?"
Rogue looked down. "I...absorb the powers and memories of people I touch." She spoke softly, as if she was ashamed of what she could do.
"What, so you're just naturally super strong and can fly?"
Logan growled slightly. "Don't push it kid. It aint a pretty story."
"Aww, come on—"
"Let it go, Nora," Ren told her gently.
"What about you?" Jaune asked Gambit.
Gambit stopped shuffling. "Gambit can charge things up and blow them up."
"That's so cool!" Nora exclaimed.
"Yeah. It makes him really popular at parties," Logan commented dryly.
Weiss closed her eyes, clasping her hands in front of her. All this talk was fine…but she was still worried about Ruby. Her friend had suffered so much already in the past month Watching Vale fall to Ultron. Being separated from her family. Not knowing where Yang was. And now this; being kidnapped by mind-controlled heroes for who knew what evil scheme.
She felt a hand on her shoulder. "We're going to get Ruby back," Jaune assured her. "We haven't come this far just to lose her to some random villain."
Weiss only nodded weakly in response.
A few minutes later, the X-Jet slowed to a stop before descending into a large, underground hanger. "Welcome to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters," Logan said, standing up, along with Rogue, Gambit, and Kurt. Kurt also picked up the still unconscious body of Kitty.
"An underground base?" Ren asked.
"Nah. This is just part of the basement," Rogue explained. "Most of the school's above ground. Down here is where we keep the more dangerous things."
The loading ramp lowered, allowing the group to walk out. Meeting them at the bottom was a bald man in a high-tech looking wheelchair. "Charles," Logan greeted him curtly.
"Welcome back, Logan," the man answered. "I see you brought some company."
"Their friend was taken by Mesmero, along with the rest of the X-Men."
"Yes, I understand."
"I'm sorry, who are you?" Weiss asked.
"That is Professor Charles Xavier," Kurt explained gently. "Leader of the X-Men, and one of the world's most powerful mutants."
Xavier seemed to focus on Weiss and the others. "Ah, so these must be our visitors from Remnant," he commented. "I hope Logan's been treating you well."
"Sure, if you like giant murderous beasts breaking into your new home with a bunch of mind-controlled heroes to wreck the place," Nora replied.
"Yes, I do apologize for that," Xavier said. "I'm sure it was not Logan's intention to put any of you in harm's way."
Nora shrugged. "Meh. We kicked their butts."
"We managed to capture Kitty," Logan clarified. "If you can get rid of Mesmero's influence, maybe she can tell us what he and the Brotherhood are up to."
Xavier nodded. "Kurt, please bring Kitty to the infirmary. I will deal with her there."
Kurt nodded and teleported away with a bamf!
"As for the rest of you, I suggest you take this moment to relax and replenish your strength," Xavier suggested. "You are all going to need it when Mesmero resurfaces."
"What about Ruby?" Weiss demanded to know. "We have to find where she is."
"And we will," Xavier assured her. "But first, we must find where Mesmero and the Brotherhood are hiding out. I suspect that wherever they are, Miss Rose will be there too."
"Wait—how'd you know her last name?" Nora asked.
"He's a telepath, kid," Logan answered. "Probably the most powerful one on the planet."
"Then why can't he just, I don't know, scan all the minds of everyone on the planet until he finds Ruby?" Weiss challenged.
"It's not that simple, sugah," Rogue told her. "The Brotherhood's always been a tough group to find."
"There has to be a way to speed things up," Weiss insisted. "Before they do something horrible to Ruby."
"I have no doubt that Mesmero will enthrall Miss Rose much like he has done to the X-Men," Xavier guessed, "so that he may use her in his plans."
"Are you saying that Ruby's going to be one of those mindless thralls we're going to have to fight?" Jaune asked.
Xavier nodded. "I'm afraid so."
"No. I don't accept that," Weiss said. "She can fight him."
"Mesmero's aint someone that you can just resist easily," Rogue warned. "One look in his eyes is enough to enthrall just about everyone, thanks to his powers."
"I know it's difficult to accept, Miss Schnee," Xavier said. "But your friend will be among those we must fight in order to stop Mesmero and the Brotherhood. But, if we can incapacitate Mesmero and render him unconscious, then those under his control will be freed."
"Which is why we should be out there looking for them!" Weiss insisted.
"Kitty remains our best lead into what Mesmero may be planning," Xavier told her gently. "Once she recovers, we may be able to get some answers from her. In the meantime, you should all get some rest. Perhaps a tour of the school would suffice?"
"I aint a tour guide, Charles," Logan warned.
"It's all right, Logan," a new voice spoke up. "I can take them for a bit." Weiss turned around and nearly backpedaled at the sight of the large, blue, furry creature now exiting the X-Jet.
"Thanks, Hank," Logan told him.
The blue beast then held a hand out towards the Remnantians. "Hank McCoy. You can call me Beast."
"That's settled then," Xavier said, turning his wheelchair around. "Now, I must go check in on Kitty." With that, he moved out of the hanger through a small door at the side. Logan followed, as did both Rogue and Gambit.
"Come with me, kids," Beast told them. "There's quite a lot to see."
Logan stood nearby watching as Kitty lay unconscious on a medical cot. Xavier was by her side, concentrating as he attempted to remove Mesmero's influence over the girl.
"She'll be fine, Logan," Rogue told him.
"I know, Rogue," Logan answered. "It's still tough to see her like this." He turned his head to look at her. "What about you? You going to be back after this?"
Rogue shrugged. "I told y'all before, I needed time. All this…just makes things worse in some cases."
"You and I both know how hard it is to struggle with past demons," he told her. "And you've done more than enough to prove that you're not the same woman that we've fought before."
"I still feel like I shouldn't belong. Not after everything."
Kurt put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You will always have a place here on the X-Men, sister," he assured her. "Not matter what anyone says, the Professor has given you a second chance. You are not our mother, nor are you what she wanted you to be."
A hint of a smile spread across Rogue's face. "Thanks, Kurt."
"We've got bigger things to worry about," Logan said. "Like what the hell happened to Magneto. From the way Sabretooth was talking, it sounded like Mesmero managed to convince the Brotherhood to turn on him."
"Think he's dead?" Rogue asked.
Logan snorted. "We aint that lucky."
Suddenly, Kitty sat bolt upright with a gasp. Logan instantly moved forward. "You okay, kid?" he asked.
She shook her head as if to shake off some daze. "Logan? What…what happened?"
"Mesmero got you pretty good, kid," he answered.
She shook her head again. "Mesmero…yeah…I remember. Wait—what about the others?"
"That's what we were hoping you could tell us," Xavier said gently. "Do you have any memory of what happened? What Mesmero is up to?"
Kitty thought about it, then shook her head. "I'm sorry, Professor. But I don't remember much. I remember…seeing Mesmero…and then…fighting a bunch of alien kids?"
"Yeah, that about sums that up," Logan muttered. "Anything else you remember? Like where the Brotherhood are hiding out?"
Kitty then noticed Rogue standing a good distance back. "What, she doesn't know?" she asked.
Rogue crossed her arms. "I'm not exactly on the Christmas Card list of the Brotherhood, Kitty."
She then sighed. "I don't remember, Professor. I'm sorry."
"That's not surprising," Xavier said. "Mesmero's influence generally doesn't leave much in the form of memories. But, if you will allow me to, I could try to locate these memories within your mind."
Kitty seemed to think about it, but then nodded. "If it'll help find the others and kick the Brotherhood's ass, then let's do it."
Weiss stared down through the observation window. "What exactly is this place?" She asked.
"We call it the Danger Room," Beast answered, smiling toothily. "It's where we train the next generation of X-Men."
Down in the massive training room, a group of kids were dealing with a series of robotic traps and enemies. A blonde-haired boy was rocketing through the air, smashing through several robotic arms by plowing right through them. Next to him was a girl that seemed to be completely made of molten lava, who sent a beam of lava directly into a spinning shock turret.
On the ground was another girl, this one seemingly encased in a pink see-through armor shell, who punched through a coil of wires that had been slinking out of the wall. Next to her was some sort of yellow…thing that looked some sort of high-tech digital creature with large eyes and a toothy grin. This creature was blasting apart several targets with arms in the shape of cannons.
"I thought this was a school," Jaune said. "Like, a normal school, not like Beacon Academy."
Beast smiled. "The people that train down here are those that want to join the X-Men, our frontline team for defending peaceful coexistence between humans and mutants."
"What does that mean?" Jaune asked.
Beast folded his arms behind his back. "How much do you know about the, ah…conflicts between humans and mutants?"
The four exchanged looks. "Not very much," Jaune admitted.
"Let's just say that things were never quite…peaceful between us." Beast adjusted the glasses on his face. "Mankind fears what it doesn't understand. When people began naturally developing superhuman abilities due to the X gene, humanity began to, shall we say, freak out. Mutants were regarded with fear for what they could do, what they looked like. And from that fear came those that wanted to do us harm. Bills were brought up in governments around the world to register mutants so as to better keep track of them and their powers."
"I imagine that mutants didn't take too kindly to being forced to out themselves," Ren guessed.
"Huh?" Nora asked. "I'm confused."
"From what we've seen," Ren explained to her. "There are two different types of mutants. Those that look exactly like humans, so much so that they blend in with the crowd, and those that look like Beast here. The kind that look different, and thus can't blend in."
"Ren is correct," Beast confirmed. "Mutants rebelled against these possible new laws. And where there's rebellion, there's those that take advantage for their own purposes."
"Let me guess," Jaune said. "The Brotherhood?"
Beast nodded. "The Brotherhood was formed under the belief that mutants were born to rule over normal humans. For them, being born with these gifts meant that they were superior in every way. They began launching terrorist attacks that only served to amplify humanity's fear of mutants."
"And…Magneto?" Weiss asked.
Beast's gaze darkened. "Magneto's tale is…quite tragic. He had already seen much death and oppression in his childhood during the Holocaust. He made a vow to never experience such a state again. He believed that the only way to secure mutant freedom was to take it by force."
"And how do the X-Men fit into all this?" Jaune asked.
"The X-Men were formed to fight for mutant rights, but do so in a peaceful way," Beast explained. "To defend people from the actions of the Brotherhood. It is not an easy life. The road to ensure a world where mutants no longer have to live in fear of persecution is a long one. But we'll get there…provided the Brotherhood or other like-minded individuals do not destroy any chance we have at peace."
"Believe it or not, our world has faced something similar," Ren spoke up after a moment of silence. "On our world, there are Faunus—people with animal traits, such as cat ears or a monkey's tail. People viewed them as lesser than regular humans. As such, a group known as the White Fang rose to work for the rights of Faunus. But, over time, they became more and more radical, and extremists began calling for violent revolution."
"One of our best friends is a Faunus," Weiss added. "She knows all too well what you mutants live with."
Beast adjusted his glasses again. "I see. In any case, there is still hope that the Brotherhood may eventually change. Some already have, such as Rogue."
"Wait, what?" Nora asked. "You're telling us that Rogue was a member of the Brotherhood?"
Beast sighed. "It's probably best you hear this from me rather than one of the others. Yes, Rogue was indeed a member of the Brotherhood and one of our enemies. We've had to fight her on numerous occasions. But then…something happened to her."
"What?" Jaune asked.
He looked at all of them. "Are you aware of what happened to the hero known as Ms. Marvel?"
"Yeah, the Avengers told us about her," Jaune answered. "She went up against a threat she severely underestimated and got put into a coma."
"That threat was Rogue."
"You're kidding!" Nora exclaimed. "Why is she here then?"
"Because things are never quite that simple when it comes to Rogue." Beast put a blue, furry hand against the observation window glass. "You see, when Rogue touches another person, she doesn't just absorb powers and memories. She also absorbs a bit of their psyche if she maintains contact for long enough. That is what happened with Ms. Marvel. Rogue maintained contact for so long that she permanently kept her strength, her durability, and her ability to fly…along with a bit of her psyche."
"So she just…what, absorbs Ms. Marvel and decides to become a hero instead of a villain?"
"Again, it is far more complicated than that." Beast turned back to face the group. "She was plagued by Ms. Marvel's memories, her personality—all of it. And it was driving her insane. The Brotherhood couldn't help her. So she went to the last person they expected: Professor Xavier. Not only did he offer to help her, he also gave her probationary membership in the X-Men."
"He trusted her that much?" Weiss asked.
"Charles could see the good in her. He gave her a second chance, and she took it. But the others…well, most of them didn't like that he was giving the enemy another chance."
"So why do Logan and Gambit seem like they care about her?" Weiss asked.
"Rogue saved the life of the woman Logan loved on her first mission for the X-Men," Beast explained, "by taking a fatal blow. Logan paid her back by letting her take his healing factor to survive. As for Gambit, well…let's just say he's quite the romantic."
"Awww," Nora said. "He likes her!"
"Perhaps. But Rogue is not someone that is easy to get close to."
Weiss dipped her head slightly. Hearing Rogue's story and what she went through reminded her a little of Blake's past. Like Rogue, Blake was part of a terrorist group that wanted to overthrow humanity. And both of them managed to turn things around and see the right path before it was too late.
Just thinking about Blake made Weiss concerned for her all over again. And for Blake and Yang. And, for that matter, Ruby. "Any word on if Professor Xavier found where the Brotherhood is hiding out?" she asked.
"I'm afraid not," Beast answered. "But I'm sure that Charles will be able to find a location soon enough."
"This is taking too long," Jaune said. "We need to find Ruby before it's too late."
"Isn't there any way to, I don't know, track the mind-controlled X-Men?" Nora asked. "Don't you guys have tracking beacons or something?"
"Unfortunately, we do not," Beast answered.
Weiss suddenly froze. "Wait—tracking beacons?"
"Yeah, you know—so you can find someone that goes missing?" Nora said.
An idea suddenly popped into Weiss' head. "That's it," she said. "I think I know how to find them."
"Weiss, what are you—" Jaune's eyes widened. "Oh…I get it!"
"Huh? Can someone explain?" Nora asked, looking confused.
"Our new gauntlets," Weiss said, holding her arm up to show hers off. "Tony said that they can be used to track each other. Ruby was still wearing hers when she was taken."
"Then we can use it to track Ruby and the Brotherhood down!" Nora exclaimed.
"That's assuming that Mesmero didn't learn of it and destroyed it," Ren warned.
"Unlikely," Beast told him. "Mesmero may be powerful, but his plans often end with disaster due to him not fully thinking everything through."
"This is our chance then." Weiss tapped a button on the gauntlet, activating the tracking function and scrolling to Ruby's name. When she tapped the gauntlet's screen, a holographic projection shot into the air, displaying a map of the United States. An image of Ruby's face appeared with an arrow marking her location. Everyone squinted their eyes as they focused in on her location.
"Washington D.C.?" Jaune questioned. "What are the Brotherhood doing there?"
"Oh my stars and garters," Beast breathed. "I think I know what Mesmero is planning."
"What?" Nora asked. "What's he doing?"
Beast activated his comm. "Professor, please bring everyone to the War Room. I believe I have discovered Mesmero's plan."
"Thanks to Wiess, we have determined that Mesmero and the Brotherhood are in D.C.," Beast began, bringing up a holographic map on the circular War Room table. "Because of this, I believe I know what Mesmero is planning."
"What's he doing, Beast?" Kitty asked, still seeming a little shaken from her time under Mesmero's control. "And why did he want us to be his minions?"
"Look here." Beast tapped a button the console and the image changed to that of a middle-aged man in a suit and glasses. It appeared to be a news headline that read "SENATOR KELLY TO SPEAK ON ANTI-MUTANT BILL."
"Senator Kelly?" Xavier questioned.
"Yes. He's making a speech tomorrow morning about a bill in Congress that would seek to form a Mutant Registration Division to register all mutants…and hunt down any that resist."
"Is he speaking on behalf of the bill?" Ren asked.
"If this was a few years ago, you bet your ass he would," Logan answered. "He used to be wildly anti-mutant. But after we saved his life from Magneto, he began to realize not all mutants are bad. Now he's mostly responsible for shooting down most of the anti-mutant bills."
"And he's one of the most vocal supporters of the X-Men," Beast added.
"So…Mesmero's going after Kelly," Logan concluded. "And he's going to get the X-Men to do his dirty work for him."
"What does that mean?" Jaune asked.
"Think of it this way, mes ami," Gambit explained. "If you saw a sitting United States senator getting assassinated by the mutants he's been defending for years—especially those that are supposed to be heroes—what would you think?"
"Sabretooth said that Mesmero wanted to ruin our reputations," Logan remembered. "That's why he took control of the X-Men. He's going to use them to kill Kelly."
"And with Kelly dead, killed by the very people he's been speaking in favor of, anti-mutant hysteria will spread like a wildfire," Beast concluded.
"We've got to stop him," Nora decided.
"Senator Kelly's speech is tomorrow morning," Xavier said. "However, it would be beneficial to stop the Brotherhood before that moment to prevent innocent bystanders from getting hurt."
"Do we have exact coordinates for their location?" Rogue asked.
"It's some sort of warehouse in the middle of the city," Weiss answered.
"Probably a staging ground where the Brotherhood can gather before launching their attack at the speech," Logan guessed, crossing his arms. "We're going to have to hit them fast before Mesmero realizes we're onto him."
"What about Senator Kelly?" Jaune asked.
"We'll have to warn him," Kurt decided.
"Will that be enough? I mean, what if Mesmero already has a backup plan in case we get there first?"
"Yes, you're right," Xavier decided. "Hank, Kurt—when we reach D.C., I want you to get to Senator Kelly and protect him."
"Yes, Professor," Beast answered.
"Everyone else will converge on this warehouse. Stop the Brotherhood," Xavier ordered.
"It aint going to be easy," Logan warned. "We're going to be outnumbered. We've got the rest of the X-men to deal with, plus the Brotherhood and the kid Mesmero took."
"What about the Avengers?" Nora asked.
Beast grunted slightly. "We, ah, prefer to keep mutant matters…in house."
"I might be able to get a friend to come and help," Kitty spoke up. "He's bound to be ticked about what happened to me. He'll be more than willing to help us out."
"How soon until he gets here?" Logan asked.
Kitty smiled. "How soon until we leave?"
"As soon as we can," Logan answered. "So go suit up."
As the rest of group left the room, Logan approached the Remnantians. "Things are going to get rough out there," he warned. "You kids ready for a fight?"
"Born ready," Nora declared.
"We're not backing down," Ren added. "Mesmero has our friend. We're going to get her back."
"You understand that your friend is going to try to kill you, right?" Logan asked. "You're going to have to fight her and subdue her."
"If it comes to that," Weiss answered. "But one way or another, we're getting Ruby back."
Logan smiled slightly. "I think I'm starting to like you kids."
"I knew you'd warm up to us eventually," Nora declared.
Logan glared at her. "Don't push your luck, kid."
Nora gave a snappy salute. "Right!"
Logan started for the door. "Meet at the Blackbird once you're ready then. Tonight, we shut Mesmero and the Brotherhood down for good."
A lot of exposition this chapter so the RWBY characters can learn a little more about the history of mutants and the X-Men, but the stage is set for an all-out brawl!
While the histories I gave for the Brotherhood and the X-Men are a little...abridged, Rogue's past is mostly comic accurate, even the parts where the rest of the X-Men didn't like Xavier giving her a chance to join the team. In fact, many of them threatened to quit because of it! As for how Wolverine began to trust her, the story I gave is generally what happened. The X-Men went to Japan for Wolverine's wedding, and Rogue took a fatal blast meant for his fiancé. The only big change here is that in this story, Gambit was already around at the time.
Including Robert Kelly was certainly an interesting choice. He's mostly been seen as a villain for obvious reasons. However, this version of Kelly is based on his appearance in Season 2 forward in the X-Men 90s series, where he is more sympathetic to mutants.
There were a few cameos this chapter for some younger X-Men characters. Can you identify all four of them? And, on that note, who do you think Kitty is going to bring in to help? I will say that I had completely forgotten about this particular character, but when I remembered him, I knew I definitely had to have him show up.
But anywho, that's all from me. Until next time, this is Guest 1138, signing off.