Chapter 3: What Lies Ahead

Reviews:

ghust95: Eh, I might change it so Jaune might end up with both, so long as I'm not making it a total Harem Story, I think its kinda fine for Jaune to end up with both Rogue and Wanda, but I'm still deciding on what to do wit the ships.

NinjaFang1331: Thank you!

headreviewer mk2: Wouldn't blame her either, but we'll see how their relationship develops.

GeneralSparda: No worries, Honestly, I see where your coming from and I do think I'll be toning her accent down in this chapter and in future chapter's though it'll still be there a little.

Monster King: I'm still thinking about RWBY and (J)NORE coming to the Evolution world in the future, but nothing set in stone as I kinda think of a good storyline for them to finally find Jaune and enter the X-Men: Evolution world.

NyaNyaKittyFace: Don't worry, we'll get more of Jaune and Wolverine in the coming chapters, and we'll see them bond over certain things and come to an understanding.

Guest: Sorry about that, I have no idea why it wasn't working.

Thisdude4: Thank you and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Josh Spicer: Don't know if your being serious or not, but thank you anyways... I think?

GothSimba: Glad you like the story, here's chapter 3!

A/N:

I decided to kinda cut back on Rogue's southern accent, I'm not gonna do the whole "Ah = I" thing anymore but the rest will be present, just like how Kitty in the show uses "Like" and "Totally" in certain parts of her sentence, but even that won't be overused.

I just got a few comments saying that Rogue's southern accent didn't really translate to writing form, and I get that, so just to make it easy, I'm not going to make it heavy like I did in the last two chapters.

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

In the quiet stillness of the Professor's office, Rogue and Jaune stood before Charles Xavier and Logan, having just finished recounting their unexpected encounter with Toad. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the polished floor, as the tension in the room settled in like dust.

Logan leaned back against the wall, arms crossed over his broad chest, brow furrowed in thought. He let out a low, rumbling hum that bordered on a growl as he turned his sharp gaze toward Xavier.

"So, what do you make of this, Charles?" he asked. "You think Magneto's pulling strings again?"

Professor Xavier folded his hands atop his desk and closed his eyes momentarily, deep in thought. "Possibly," he said slowly, his voice calm but measured. "But I find it curious… if Magneto was truly behind this, why send someone as conspicuous as Toad? We haven't made any moves against him, not recently, why spy on us now?"

Rogue shrugged. "Maybe he thinks we're on to him—just waitin' to make a move, could be he's just keepin' tabs en case we stumble onto somethin' he doesn't want us to know,"

Logan scratched at the stubble on his chin, his nose twitching instinctively. "Still doesn't add up," he muttered. "Toad's about as stealthy as a dump truck, If he really wanted eyes on us, he could've sent Wanda, or Pietro,"

The Professor nodded in agreement. "Precisely, and you would've detected Toad the moment he got within range—if Rogue hadn't spotted him first, of course." He gave her a small smile before continuing. "That's what leads me to believe this wasn't Magneto's idea, I suspect this may have been Pietro's doing, but why he'd act without orders is the real question,"

"Probably just bored and lookin' to stir the pot," Logan said with a scoff. "Don't think that kid has a long-term thought in his head, never struck me as the mastermind type,"

Rogue smirked. "Heh, you'd be right about that," she said, clearly amused by the jab.

"Whatever the reason, we'll keep a close watch," Xavier said, his voice steady. "But until we have more information, we can't act recklessly, if the Brotherhood is planning something, we'll find out in time, but for now… we wait,"

"Uh, hate to butt in," Jaune spoke up, raising a hand awkwardly, "but I'm kinda lost here, who exactly are the Brotherhood? And who's this Magneto guy I keep hearing about?" His voice drew the attention of Xavier, Logan, and Rogue.

Rogue shifted her weight, arms crossed as she leaned against the edge of the Professor's desk. "The brotherhood's a bunch of reckless punks who lak throwin' their weight around 'n makin' life harder for the rest of us," she said, her tone tinged with annoyance. "They claim they're fightin' for mutant rights, but all they're doin' is makin' things worse,"

"And Magneto, He's the one callin' the shots—most of the time, anyway," Logan told Jaune. "Real name's Erik Lehnsherr, he's powerful, real powerful, controls metal with his mind,"

"More than just powerful," Rogue added, "He's a full-on mutant supremacist, believes we're the next stage en evolution 'n that humans should git outta the way, thinks it's our right to rule,"

Jaune let out a long sigh and ran a hand down his face. "Wonderful," he muttered. "And here I thought the White Fang meant I'd seen the last of these extremist types,"

Rogue blinked, brow furrowing. "White what?"

"Long story, but to make it short, they were a Faunus rights group turned terrorist group," Jaune said. "Thought violence was the only way,"

Logan's eyes narrowed. "Sounds familiar," he muttered.

Jaune gave a weak laugh. "Yeah, guess fanatics are universal,"

"There's more," Rogue added with a frustrated sigh. "We still don't know if Mystique's back under Magneto's wing or doin' her own thing,"

"Mystique?" Jaune echoed.

"She's a shapeshifter," Rogue said bitterly. "She can mimic anybody—voice, face, the whole dang package, when she's 'round, ya never sure who you're really talkin' to, 'n believe me… ya don't ever wanna turn your back own her,"

At that, Jaune let his head fall back with an exhausted groan. "Are you kidding me?" he asked the ceiling like it had wronged him personally. "First Neo, now Mystique? Is there some cosmic joke where I'm just destined to be stalked by creepy women with identity issues?"

Rogue raised a brow. "Neo?"

"Another long story," Jaune muttered. "Let's just say I've had more than my fair share of shapeshifting assassins,"

Xavier gave a gentle, knowing smile. "You don't have to worry about facing her alone, Jaune, you're among friends now, and whatever dangers lie ahead, we'll face them together," He told Jaune.

Jaune managed a small, tired smile in return, though the weight in his chest hadn't lifted. It never did, not completely. Still… hearing that, it helped. Even just a little.

"As we wait to uncover more about what the Brotherhood might be up to, I'd like to see how you handle yourself in a fight, Jaune," Xavier said, folding his hands calmly on his desk and offering a gentle smile. "If you don't mind, I'd like the others to run you through some exercises in the Danger Room tomorrow, consider it a bit of a… stress test, to see how you measure up against mutants in combat,"

Jaune gave a polite nod, his tone light but confident. "Yeah, I don't mind at all," Jaune said. "Sounds like a good way to stretch my legs,"

Rogue let out a low chuckle as she leaned against the desk. "Heh, sugar… ya really have no idea what ya just signed up for" she teased, a mischievous smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.

Jaune blinked. That smirk sent a chill of doubt crawling up his spine. He'd fought robots, Grimm, and soldiers—but something about the way she said it made him think the Danger Room was gonna live up to its name.

His brow furrowed slightly. "Actually," he said, shifting a little, "There's something important I should bring up. It might sound weird, but… is there anyone here who can repair a sword?"

Logan raised a brow. "A sword?"

Jaune nodded, growing more serious. "Yeah, it's been in my family for generations and more than that, it's… part of me, it broke not long before I landed here, and fighting without it just feels wrong,"

Xavier considered his words thoughtfully. "I'm afraid repairing weapons is not one of my strong suits," he said with a slight smile, "But we may have someone who could assist, there's a young man named Forge—very gifted with machines and materials, he may be able to repair your weapon,"

Logan crossed his arms and grunted thoughtfully. "Forge might manage it, yeah, but if not…" He glanced at Jaune. "I know a guy, little off the grid, bit of a hermit, but a master smith, if anyone can bring that blade back to life, it's him,"

Jaune perked up, eyes lighting with hope. "You know someone who can reforge my sword?"

"Yeah," Logan nodded. "But it'd take a few days to track him down, remote place, off the beaten path, but I'll wait to see what Forge says before I pack a bag, And knowin' him, he'll take an interest in that shield of yours too,"

Jaune blinked. "Wait—how do you know about the shield?"

Logan gave him a sly grin. "You landed hard, kid, The crater might've erased your tracks, but your gear was still intact, I had a peek,"

Before Jaune could respond, Xavier was already reaching for the phone on his desk. "I'll call Forge now. We'll see what he says—and if he's unavailable, then Logan can pursue his… alternative,"

Logan gave a small nod and turned to Jaune. "In the meantime, you can borrow one of my old blades," he offered. "It's not exactly a family heirloom, but it'll get the job done,"

Rogue arched a brow and looked at Logan with a smirk. "You own swords?" she asked, clearly amused. "Ain't claws enough for ya?"

Logan gave a low chuckle, the kind that hinted at a story or two he wasn't about to share. "There's still a lot you don't know about me, kid," he said with a crooked grin. "Besides, sometimes it's good to have a little variety."

Rogue rolled her eyes playfully. "Guess so," she said. Then she turned to Jaune and nodded toward the door. "C'mon, Jaune, let's git ya somethin' to eat, you've bin' crash-landing, meetin' new people, 'n gettin' a dose of all our problem's you've earned some lunch,"

Jaune gave a grateful smile, turning back briefly to nod at the two older men. "Thanks, Professor, thanks, Logan, I appreciate it,"

"Anytime," Xavier said warmly.

"Don't break my sword," Logan added with a smirk.

With that, Rogue and Jaune left the office, their voices fading as they made their way down the hall, Rogue already teasing him about what passed for food in the mansion's kitchen.

As the door clicked shut, Logan let out a low, amused chuckle.

Xavier glanced up from his desk, eyebrow raised. "What is it, Logan?"

Logan leaned back in his chair with a knowing grin. "Rogue called the guy him "Sugar", Chuck,"

Charles tilted his head, catching the significance in Logan's tone.

Logan's smirk widened. "I've never heard her call anyone that,"

"Ah," Xavier said, a faint smile forming. "You believe she's developing feelings for Jaune?"

Logan shrugged. "I've seen the way she looks at most people—wall's always up, but with him?" He shook his head. "She's already letting it down a little, kid's barely been here a day, and she's acting different,"

Xavier sat in thoughtful silence for a moment before giving a soft chuckle of his own. "Well, perhaps Jaune's arrival will have more impact than we first thought,"

Logan glanced toward the door. "Let's just hope he doesn't get himself killed before she figures it out."

As the day quietly faded into night, the Xavier Institute settled into peaceful stillness. The lights were dimmed, and the sounds of life gave way to silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of wind through the trees. Within the mansion, students and staff alike had turned in for the evening, seeking rest after another long day.

In one of the many guest rooms, Jaune lay under the covers, his breathing steady and even. The bed was softer than anything he'd ever slept on back home, and for the first time since his unexpected arrival in this strange world, he allowed himself a moment of true rest. The trials of the day melted into dreams, ones unburdened by battles, loss, or falling through the sky.

But while peace reigned within the walls of the X-Men's sanctuary… the same could not be said for their rivals across town.

At the Brotherhood's run-down boarding house, the night brought something far less restful.

In the pitch-dark hours, just beyond the fence of their property, a ripple shimmered in the air like heat off pavement—before a swirling portal burst open with a low hum. From its depths, two limp forms were hurled out like discarded garbage. Lance and Blob hit the ground with a heavy thud. Blob's sheer mass caused the earth to quake beneath him, jostling the very foundation of the decrepit house. A few loose shingles rattled off the roof, but somehow, no one inside stirred.

The portal remained open for only a moment longer—long enough for three shadowy figures to emerge. Their movements were sharp, practiced, and silent as they slipped through the front door, which creaked open as if expecting them.

Inside, the house was silent save for the occasional snore or the hum of an old refrigerator. The intruders split off, moving with eerie synchronicity.

Two of them crept down opposite halls, stopping at the bedrooms of Toad and Pietro. Doors were pushed open just wide enough for them to slip through. With precision and care, they moved to the beds, injected each boy with a quick-acting sedative, and hoisted their bodies up effortlessly. Neither mutant made a sound as they were carried off.

But upstairs, something different awaited the third intruder.

They entered Wanda's room cautiously, eyes adjusting to the faint moonlight filtering through the cracked blinds. They moved toward the bed slowly, already drawing the syringe from his coat—prepared to put the scarlet-haired girl under just as easily.

But they had made a critical mistake.

As the figure loomed over the bed and leaned in to strike—they realized too late that the figure in the bed was nothing more than an illusion.

The soft hum of energy suddenly burst behind him.

Wanda stepped out of the shadows, the cloaking spell that had concealed her flickering and vanishing like mist. Her eyes glowed crimson as she raised her hand.

Without a word, she summoned a surge of scarlet magic that coiled and wrapped itself around the intruder like living rope. The figure thrashed in the air, struggling against the arcane bindings, but they held tight and dropped them hard onto the floor with a dull thud.

Their mouth opened, but before he could shout or cast, Wanda snapped her fingers—and a magical gag silenced him.

Wanda narrowed her eyes, storm swirling in her gaze. "Wrong room, pal," she whispered coldly. "And definitely the wrong girl to mess with,"

Before Wanda could cast another hex or interrogate the would-be kidnapper, a sudden sharp pain exploded across her back. She was hurled forward by a crackling, glowing harpoon of pure energy. It struck with enough force to blast her into her dresser, shattering it into pieces as she crashed to the floor, groaning in pain.

"Dammit, I said don't kill her, you idiot!" barked a deep, commanding voice from the hallway, tense with frustration and authority. "Sinister will skin us alive if we don't bring her back breathing!"

"What was I supposed to do?!" shouted another voice—this one younger, sharper, definitely that of a panicked teen. "She looked like she was gonna tear Vertigo apart!"

'Vertigo,' Wanda thought. 'That gotta be the name of the one I'd captured'

Through gritted teeth, Wanda pushed herself up, rage burning through the pain. Crimson light flared in her palms. With a furious snarl, she unleashed a violent burst of chaos magic through the doorway, sending the two newcomers flying backward with a blast of raw force that cracked the walls and scorched the ceiling. Their shouts echoed as they were thrown down the hallway like ragdolls.

But the momentary victory came at a cost.

The bindings she had wrapped around Vertigo flickered and faded, the magical restraint unraveling like threads in the wind. The intruder—now free—rose to her feet, smirking as she held out her hands and focused her mutant power.

A strange pulse filled the room.

Wanda staggered, her vision blurred, the floor beneath her seemed to tilt and ripple like water. Her ears rang with a high-pitched tone. Every instinct screamed at her—Vertigo was living up to her name.

"No—no, not now!" she hissed, trying to anchor herself with another surge of magic. But her control was slipping fast. The walls bent in unnatural ways, and her knees buckled.

She knew the signs. Her mind was being tampered with—twisted. If she lost consciousness, they'd drag her back to whoever "Sinister" was.

Mustering the last of her focus, she pivoted, stumbling toward her bedroom window. Each step was like wading through syrup, her balance shot to hell. She clenched her jaw, ignored the pounding in her skull, and threw herself through the glass.

The window shattered into a thousand fragments as she sailed through it, landing hard on the ground below. Pain flared in her shoulder and side, but the fresh air hit her lungs like a reset button.

The dizziness began to lift and her vision cleared.

"Holy crap!" Vertigo shouted from inside, rushing to the window in shock.

Wanda didn't wait. She pushed herself up and bolted, boots crunching against grass and gravel as she sprinted into the night. The chill bit into her skin, but she welcomed it—it kept her alert.

She didn't know who these people were or what they wanted with her, but one thing was clear: they weren't Brotherhood, and this wasn't some petty skirmish. Whoever sent them had resources, coordination, and powers that could rival her own.

But they underestimated one thing... She wasn't about to be taken. So Wanda ran, disappearing into the night like a ghost, her thoughts racing with one singular focus:

'Get help, regroup, and make those jerks pay!' Wanda thought.

XXX

XXX

XXX

The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the Xavier Institute, but deep beneath the mansion, in the metallic expanse of the Danger Room, the light was artificial—cold and clinical.

Jaune stood in the center of the training arena, gripping a simple arming sword lent to him by Logan. The weight was familiar, though the blade lacked the signature heft and balance of Crocea Mors. Still, the design brought back memories—memories of how his sword looked before it was reforged with Pyrrha's metal. The nostalgia was bittersweet, but he tightened his grip, letting the past settle in his chest without slowing his breath.

Above him, in the observation room, the X-Men watched intently through the glass wall. Cyclops stood with his arms crossed, Beast scribbled notes on a tablet, Jean observed with a measured expression, and Rogue leaned forward slightly with a smirk playing on her lips. Even Kitty and Kurt had come to see what the "new guy" could do.

Logan was already at the control console, arms folded over his chest as he leaned toward the mic and pressed the intercom button.

"Alright, kid," Logan's voice echoed through the chamber with that familiar gruffness. "Before we throw you in with the rest of the team, we wanna see how you handle some of the basics, let's start with a few rust buckets, think of it as a warm-up,"

Jaune smirked and looked up toward the glass, raising his sword slightly in acknowledgment. "Sounds good to me, they won't be a problem for me,"

"Heh, we'll see," Logan muttered with a half-grin as he hit a few buttons.

With a mechanical hiss, sections of the Danger Room walls slid open, revealing five humanoid training robots. Their heavy metallic frames clanked as they stepped forward, glowing red eyes fixed on Jaune. Though scaled down from the massive Sentinels the X-Men had once fought, these replicas still towered over him at nearly nine feet tall—powerful, intimidating, and built for combat simulations.

"They may not be full-size Sentinels," Beast commented from the observation deck, "But they mimic the programming—targeting speed, reaction timing, and coordinated group attacks,"

"Lovely," Jaune muttered under his breath, adjusting his stance.

The robots activated in unison, their servos whirring to life as they charged toward him with practiced precision.

Up in the watch room, Rogue chuckled and leaned toward Jean. "Ten bucks says he lasts longer than Scott did on his first try,"

Jean gave a soft laugh. "You're on,"

Back in the arena, Jaune's eyes narrowed. The sword in his hands felt right. His heartbeat steadied. "Alright then," he whispered to himself, feet shifting into position as the first robot lunged. "Let's dance!"

The first faux-Sentinel lunged with a heavy punch aimed straight at Jaune's head. But the blonde warrior was already moving—rolling to the side just in time as the machine's fist slammed into the ground, cracking the surface with a thunderous impact.

Jaune popped back to his feet, raising his shield. With a flick of his wrist, he triggered the Gravity Dust embedded within it. A powerful burst of force erupted from the shield's center, slamming into the Sentinel's midsection. The mechanical giant stumbled sideways with a metallic groan, momentarily off-balance.

But there was no time to breathe. Another one was already closing in.

The second Sentinel reached out with both arms, trying to seize him in a crushing grip. Jaune sidestepped at the last second, causing its fingers to snap shut around empty air. With a burst of motion, Jaune spun around and drove his sword into the robot's side. Sparks exploded from the impact, and the Sentinel jerked violently, its limbs twitching before it dropped to one knee and powered down, its core flickering out.

"One down," Jaune muttered, kicking the deactivated machine off his blade.

A sudden whine of energy cut through the air—blaster fire. He barely had time to react as the third and fourth Sentinels unleashed a barrage of glowing bolts from their arm-mounted cannons. Jaune ducked and rolled, weaving between the shots, his heart pounding as searing heat passed just inches from his armor.

He dashed forward, shield raised, intent on closing the gap. But before he could reach the gunners, the first recovered and charged, and the fifth flanked him from the opposite side.

Jaune made a snap decision.

With a sharp pivot, he sprinted toward the fifth, hurling his shield with all the strength he could muster. The disc spun through the air like a flying sawblade and smashed into the Sentinel's head, knocking it back with a cascade of sparks and a satisfying crunch. Without slowing down, Jaune slid in, caught the falling shield mid-motion, and followed through with a powerful slash across the robot's torso. His blade sliced clean through the weakened armor, cleaving the machine in half. The pieces dropped in a heap behind him.

"Two down," he said under his breath, chest rising with exertion.

He turned to retrieve his footing—but too late.

The first Sentinel struck from behind, its massive fist crashing into Jaune's side like a wrecking ball. The impact sent him flying across the Danger Room, tumbling end over end before he slammed hard into the floor.

"Jaune!" Rogue gasped from the observation deck, gripping the railing.

Logan, however, remained steady, his eyes narrowed. "Let's see what the kid's really made of," he muttered.

Down below, Jaune groaned and pushed himself up slowly, his vision swimming for a moment. "Okay… that hurt," he grumbled, tightening his grip on the sword.

Jaune narrowed his eyes at the remaining three Sentinels, his breaths coming steady but sharp. His aura shimmered faintly around him, a translucent veil of white energy flickering in and out.

'They hit hard,' Jaune thought, tightening his grip on the sword. 'Not hard enough to break through my aura completely, but enough to chip away at it if I get careless... I've gotta end this fast before I run out of cushion,'

With a determined shout, he charged forward, sword in one hand, shield in the other. The Sentinels responded immediately—energy cannons glowing before unleashing a fresh barrage of plasma blasts.

Jaune zigzagged through the danger, his body weaving in and out with practiced footwork. He deflected two blasts with his shield and tanked a third against his aura, wincing as the protective field around him rippled and dimmed.

Jaune finally closed the gap, the Sentinels ceased their blaster fire, opting instead for brute force.

The first Sentinel went for a sweeping kick aimed at Jaune's midsection, its heavy metal leg whistling through the air. Jaune ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding the blow, and retaliated with a swift slash at the joint. Sparks flew as his blade severed the mechanical foot, sending the bot staggering back and crashing awkwardly to the ground, struggling to balance on its now-mangled limb.

He spun just in time to face the third, which launched a powerful right hook. Jaune ducked under it, feeling the wind of the punch rush past his head. But before he could recover, the fourth Sentinel was already mid-swing with a rising uppercut.

Jaune took the hit square in the chest.

He was lifted off the ground and sent flying backward, his aura flaring violently as it absorbed the brunt of the impact. He crashed to the floor and slid several feet before skidding to a halt, coughing and blinking through the stars in his vision.

"That aura thing of his sure is handy," Kitty said in awe. "If it were me, I'd have been knocked out like, ten times already!"

"Tell me about it! He's totally killin' it down there!" Kurt said enthusiastically, his tail swishing behind him as he watched Jaune duck and counter through the Danger Room simulation.

Jean nodded, her arms folded, but a small, impressed smile tugged at her lips. "He's handling himself surprisingly well," she admitted. "Better than I expected, especially considering he's up against three Sentinels,"

Rogue smirked and leaned closer to Jean. "Mmhmm, 'n I believe someone is gonna owe meh ten bucks by the end of this," she teased with a playful elbow to Jean's side.

Jean rolled her eyes, but her expression softened with amusement. "You're really going to make me pay up over a friendly training session?"

"Absolutely," Rogue said with a wink. "A bet's a bet,"

Despite the joking, Jean couldn't deny the truth—Jaune was exceeding her expectations. His movements were instinctive but precise, clearly shaped by experience and not just training simulations. She could feel his focus, the steady stream of thought behind his actions. He wasn't just reacting—he was thinking, adapting.

Meanwhile, Scott stood beside Logan with his arms crossed, observing Jaune carefully through his visor. He hadn't said much, but there was no denying the flicker of admiration in his eyes.

"Gotta admit," Scott finally spoke, "The guy's doing better than I did during my first run against those bots,"

Logan let out a low grunt of agreement, his gaze sharp. "He moves like someone who's had to fight to stay alive, not just win a sparring match."

Scott gave a small nod. "Makes me wonder what his world is like end up with instincts like that,"

"Hard one," Logan replied simply, still watching Jaune fight with a hint of a smirk. "But don't start clappin' yet, he's still got two on their feet... Let's see how he finishes this,"

Back in the Danger Room, Jaune rolled to the side just as the fourth Sentinel's heavy arm came crashing down where he'd stood a second ago. Dust kicked up from the impact, but Jaune didn't hesitate—he pivoted mid-roll, came up on one knee, and slashed across the robot's right arm with a fierce swipe of Logan's arming sword. The limb detached with a shower of sparks, spinning away as the machine reeled.

Before it could retaliate, Jaune surged forward and drove the blade deep into the Sentinel's neck joint. With a grunt, he twisted the hilt and then yanked upward, prying the head off like the cap on a bottle. The mechanical skull clattered to the ground with a metallic thud as the rest of the robot slumped lifelessly behind it.

Jaune barely had a moment to catch his breath before the third Sentinel barreled at him with a punch. He brought his shield up just in time, the impact rattling his arm and sending him skidding backward across the floor, leaving faint drag lines in the ground. His forearm buzzed from the force, but his aura held steady. Gritting his teeth, Jaune dug in his boots and launched forward again.

This time, when the Sentinel raised its left arm to parry, Jaune anticipated it. He feinted low, then came in high and severed the arm cleanly at the elbow. Sparks burst out of the stump. With a quick spin, Jaune followed up with a powerful slash across the machine's torso. The blade bit deep into its reinforced plating, carving halfway through before the Sentinel staggered, convulsed, and collapsed into a sparking pile of scrap metal.

Breathing heavier now, Jaune turned—just in time to hear the distinct whine of a charging blaster.

His eyes widened. "Oh, come-!"

The first Sentinel had powered back up and was already aiming.

FWOOOOM!

A beam of searing energy lanced out toward him. Jaune threw his shield up, bracing himself. The impact hit like a freight train. He dug in, as the blast pounded against him. Gritting his teeth, Jaune growled through the strain and began to push forward, step by determined step.

Every second felt like a minute, but slowly, he closed the distance, eyes locked on the Sentinel's glowing barrel. When he finally got close enough, he sidestepped the beam with a burst of speed and brought his sword down in one clean arc, slicing through the blaster arm and sending it clattering to the ground in a shower of metal.

The robot seemed to pause, looking at its now-useless limb as if confused.

"Let me help you with that," Jaune muttered.

With one last push, he drove the blade into the Sentinel's faceplate. The lights in its eyes flickered, then went out. A second later, the head sparked violently and exploded in a small burst of electricity, the rest of the body collapsing to the floor with a metallic groan.

Silence returned to the Danger Room.

Jaune stood among the sparking ruins of the five downed Sentinels, chest rising and falling with effort, sword still in hand. He slowly lowered his shield and looked up toward the control room.

The test was over. He'd won.

Jaune glanced up at the observation window above and flashed a confident grin. "How was that?" he called out, still catching his breath but clearly proud of the outcome.

In the control room, Logan leaned forward and pressed the intercom button, a crooked smirk tugging at his face. "Not bad, kid, not bad at all,"

Rogue let out a low whistle as she turned to Jean with a knowing grin and held out her hand. "Told ya," She said. "Pay up, Red,"

Jean let out a sigh, already reaching into her pocket. "I hate when you're right," she muttered, handing over a crumpled ten-dollar bill as Rogue smugly pocketed her winnings.

Meanwhile, Beast was nearly vibrating with excitement as he scribbled something frantically into his notes, then adjusted his glasses as he looked up toward the combat floor. "Astounding! Jaune's agility, tactical adaptability, and raw physical coordination place him well above the average combatant—possibly even rivaling your own reflexes, Logan, and that Aura of his… truly remarkable! It functions as a passive kinetic shield, absorbing force with almost minimal recoil," He paused and frowned slightly. "Still, I would have loved to witness more of his Semblance in action,"

Logan chuckled and gave Beast a look. "Easy Hank, you'll have your chance to poke and prod later, for now…" He stood up straight and looked over at the gathered group of young X-Men with a mischievous gleam in his eye. "Alright team, time for round two, let's see how the golden boy handles a little heat from the real deal,"

Scott crossed his arms and grinned as the door to the training floor hissed open. "About time," he muttered with a note of anticipation in his voice. He started walking toward the exit, his tone casual but charged with energy. "Gotta admit, I'm kinda looking forward to this, let's see what the new guy's really made of,"

In a sudden bamf of blue smoke, Kurt appeared right beside him, keeping pace with an eager bounce in his step. "Haha! Ja, me too! I love a good spar—it keeps things interesting!"

Jean followed behind the two with a soft smile and a raised brow. "Boys and their need to test each other," she said with a playful shake of her head.

Rogue nudged Jean gently with her shoulder, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Oh don't go actin' lak ya're above it, you're just as curious as the rest of us," she said.

Jean rolled her eyes, but her grin gave her away. "Maybe a little,"

"Just a little?" Kitty Pryde chimed in, skipping ahead slightly. "Come on! This is totally gonna be awesome! Jaune's got that medieval knight vibe going, and I'm dying to see how he stacks up against us!"

As the team filtered out of the control room and into the corridor leading to the Danger Room floor, Logan leaned back in his chair, arms folded, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Beside him, Beast set down his tablet and looked to Logan thoughtfully. "So… any predictions?"

Logan's eyes never left the monitors. "The team's solid. They've trained for this. But the kid's been fighting monsters back in his world since he was what—fourteen? He's got grit. Raw instinct."

Beast raised a curious brow. "So…?"

Logan smirked. "I think they'll hold their own just fine—but I've got a hunch blondie's gonna throw them a curveball or two."

Beast chuckled, already flipping to a new page in his notes. "Now that will be fascinating to document."

Down below, Jaune adjusted his grip on the sword Logan had lent him. He could hear the soft hiss of the entrance doors opening behind him, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

The next round was about to begin.

Jaune stood at the center of the Danger Room, casually spinning the arming sword in his hand as the X-Men team filed in through the entrance. His shield was already strapped to his arm, and a confident glint sparkled in his eye as he sized up the group.

"You guys know how to handle someone with a weapon, right? I'd hate to hurt anyone," Jaune said.

Scott grinned and adjusted his visor. "We've had our fair share of sword-swinging opponents," he replied. "Just don't go full medieval and start chopping off heads—we'll get along fine,"

Jaune chuckled and gave his blade one last flourish before sliding into a ready stance. "Fair warning—I'm not holding back,"

The room buzzed with tension for a split second—and then chaos erupted.

Scott fired off the first few optic blasts, rapid and precise. Jaune raised his shield just in time, the beams slamming against it with resounding force. Sparks danced across the surface of the metal, but Jaune didn't flinch. Instead, he darted to the side, weaving between shots, trying to flank the team.

As he moved to circle around them, a sudden burst of smoke signaled Kurt's arrival directly in Jaune's path. The blue-skinned mutant lunged forward with his arms outstretched, aiming to teleport Jaune straight into the air—where Jean was already hovering, ready to catch him in a telekinetic grip.

But Jaune caught sight of Kurt just in time. He didn't slow down—instead, he smirked.

Kurt's eyes widened. "Huh?"

Before he could react, the twin crescent emblems on Jaune's shield pulsed with violet energy. A concussive wave of force exploded from the shield, slamming into Kurt mid-leap and sending him hurtling backward like a ragdoll. He crashed into the far wall with a loud thud before crumpling to the ground in a groaning heap.

"Nice try Kurt," Jaune muttered—just before one of Scott's blasts nailed him in the ribs.

Jaune let out a grunt as the impact knocked him sideways, his aura flaring momentarily to absorb the worst of the blow. He staggered, struggling to get back to his feet—just as Kitty phased up from the floor right beside him, her hand reaching out to grab his ankle.

Her intent was clear: phase him into the ground, trap him.

But Jaune's instincts kicked in fast. He rolled to the side just in time, narrowly avoiding her grasp. As he came up on one knee, he twisted his body and lunged forward, slamming his shield into Kitty's midsection with a solid wham.

She yelped and stumbled backward, her concentration breaking as she reflexively phased through the floor again to avoid further hits.

Jaune stood, breathing a little heavier but still focused, scanning the room for the next attack.

The next attack came crashing in—quite literally—as Rogue launched herself toward Jaune like a missile, her fist cocked back and eyes locked onto her target. Jaune barely had time to react, sidestepping just as she came barreling past him. The sheer force of her landing sent a tremor through the floor.

Jaune didn't hesitate. He spun on his heel and swung his shield, aiming to bash her aside like he had with Kitty—but Rogue was quicker than she looked. She rolled fluidly to the side, narrowly evading the attack, and popped back up to her feet in a smooth, practiced motion.

Now facing him head-on, Rogue raised her fists and settled into a boxer's stance. Her knuckles cracked audibly as she gave him a smirk that was half-challenge, half-teasing.

Jaune grinned in response, tightening his grip on his weapon.

But he didn't get the first move.

Rogue blitzed forward again, fists flying. Jaune swung horizontally to intercept her charge, aiming to catch her in the ribs and knock her off balance. His blade cut through the air—and through her.

For a heartbeat, Jaune thought his strike had landed, but there was no resistance. No contact. Rogue had passed through it like smoke.

His eyes widened. 'She phased?' he thought.

It clicked instantly—she must have absorbed Kitty's powers before the match started.

'Clever,' he thought, but that realization came half a second too late.

Rogue's fist slammed into the side of his jaw, his aura flaring as it absorbed the hit. The blow sent Jaune stumbling back a step, and before he could regain his footing, a second punch drove into his gut, knocking the wind from his lungs.

Then, with a surprising burst of strength, Rogue seized his sword arm with both hands. With a twist and a sharp pivot, she flipped Jaune clean over her shoulder. He hit the ground hard, the air knocked from his lungs as his back slammed against the metal floor.

Rogue loomed over him with a smug grin. She raised her foot, ready to stomp down and end the match right there.

But Jaune wasn't done yet.

With a grunt, he raised his shield just in time to catch her stomp, the impact rattling through his arm. He pushed upward, forcing Rogue off balance and sending her tumbling backward.

He scrambled to his feet, sword at the ready—but didn't have a chance to catch his breath before another optic blast from Scott lanced across the room and struck him in the side.

"Guh!" Jaune winced, his aura shimmering as it absorbed the hit.

He stumbled but caught himself, then raised his shield again as two more blasts came in hot. They crashed against the metal surface with sharp clangs, but this time, Jaune was ready.

Without warning, a puff of sulfur-scented smoke exploded behind Jaune, followed by the unmistakable sound of teleportation.

"Peek-a-boo!" Kurt's voice rang out cheerfully.

Before Jaune could react, two arms wrapped around his torso, and in the blink of an eye, the world around him blinked away.

A split second later, the two reappeared nearly ten feet above the ground. Jaune's eyes widened at the sudden altitude, just as gravity yanked them both downward.

"Wait! Kurt!" Jaune shouted.

But the agile mutant had already kicked off Jaune's chest mid-fall, flipping in the air with casual grace. With another BAMF, Kurt vanished in a puff of smoke, safely teleporting back to the ground below—leaving Jaune to plummet solo.

Jaune gritted his teeth and braced for impact—only to suddenly stop midair with a strange, floating sensation. He blinked in confusion, limbs tensed, until he noticed a faint telekinetic glow surrounding him.

Turning his head, he spotted Jean standing calmly with her hand extended, a confident smirk on her face.

"Uh... thanks?" Jaune muttered, still hovering awkwardly.

Jean's smirk grew. "Don't thank me just yet," she replied coolly. "Now Scott!"

Scott, already lining up the shot, nodded and grinned. "With pleasure,"

A beam of crimson energy lanced from his visor and struck Jaune midair, blasting him sideways.

"Gah!" Jaune grunted as he was flung out of Jean's telekinetic grasp. Before he could even hit the ground, Jean caught him again—and this time, she didn't go gentle.

With a flick of her wrist, she hurled him straight at the wall like a cannonball.

"Ah!" Jaune cried out as he slammed into the reinforced metal with a clang, dropping both his sword and shield as he crumpled to the floor.

Groaning, Jaune tried to push himself upright—but Kitty emerged from the ground beside him with a mischievous grin.

"Surprise again!" she chirped, and then delivered a spinning kick right to his jaw.

The hit snapped his head to the side, sending him sprawling across the floor and onto his back. His vision blurred for a second, his aura flaring faintly as it tried to absorb the brunt of the strike.

Before he could gather his bearings, a shadow loomed over him.

Scott stepped into view, visor glowing faintly as he looked down at Jaune with a triumphant smirk.

"Don't even think about it," he said, his finger hovering near the trigger.

Jaune slowly tilted his head up, blinking through the haze of fatigue and the ache thrumming through his limbs. Standing over him, Scott kept his visor aimed down, but Jaune could see the rest of the team closing in behind him—Jean, Rogue, Kitty, Kurt—all forming a loose circle around the downed knight.

Despite the bruises and exhaustion, a crooked grin tugged at the corner of Jaune's mouth.

He let out a breathless chuckle. "Alright, alright... you got me," he said, raising both hands in mock surrender. "I yield, you win,"

Scott let out a short laugh and powered down his visor with a soft click, the glow fading from the ruby-red lens.

"Smart choice," he said, his tone light and teasing. Then, without a hint of arrogance, he extended his hand. "Nice work out there,"

Jaune didn't hesitate, He reached up, grasped Scott's hand firmly, and let the other teen haul him to his feet.

"Thanks," Jaune replied with a grateful nod, brushing some dust from his tunic. "You guys fight like a unit... I can respect that,"

Scott gave him a proud grin. "So do you, you held your own longer than most would've," He said. "That aura of yours? Definitely a game changer,"

Jaune shrugged, still smiling through the soreness. "Yeah, but it only gets me so far when I'm getting juggled between teleporters and telekinetics,"

"Then you're learning fast," Jean added as she stepped up beside Scott, her expression warm. "You kept adapting the whole time,"

"Glad you think so," Jaune said, wincing slightly as he rolled his shoulder. "Because I'm definitely going to feel this tomorrow,"

Laughter echoed throughout the Danger Room as the tension from the friendly spar dissolved. The group shared smiles, their camaraderie strengthened by the exercise. Even Jaune, despite the bruises and fatigue, couldn't help but grin as he leaned on his shield like a crutch.

But then the atmosphere shifted in an instant.

A sharp, blaring alarm sounded through the room, shrill and urgent. Red warning lights flashed from the corners of the chamber, bathing the space in a pulsing glow.

Everyone snapped to attention.

Jaune straightened, his brows knitting together. "What the hell is that?"

"Emergency alarm, but I don't know why it's going off," He looked up toward the observation deck. "Logan! What's going on!?"

Logan's voice cracked through the intercom, edged with urgency. "Not sure yet Summers, but Charles needs everyone topside, now! Move it!"

Scott didn't hesitate. "Let's go!" he barked, turning on his heel and sprinting toward the exit.

The others followed immediately, all business now. They moved with practiced efficiency, racing down the corridor and filing into the elevator in seconds. As it shot upward, the team stood in tense silence, the flashing red lights reflecting off the metal walls around them.

Inside the tight space, adrenaline still fresh in their veins, the air was thick with questions.

Jaune glanced at Rogue beside him. "You think it's Magneto?"

She frowned slightly, arms crossed, the playful spark from earlier gone. "Wouldn't rule it out," she said.

Scott turned his head toward them, his expression sharpening. "Magneto? What makes you think he's involved?"

Rogue shrugged, but her tone was serious. "Toad was snoopin' around yesterday, Jaune 'n I spotted him," She replied. "We told Logan 'n The Professor, but they didn't seem too worried at the time 'n said to let it be till we knew more,"

After what felt like the longest elevator ride of their lives, the doors finally slid open with a hiss. Without missing a beat, the team bolted down the hall, through the foyer, and out the front doors of the mansion. Logan and Beast were already waiting outside, having taken a quicker route.

The sight awaiting them at the wrought-iron gates—now bent and forced open—was enough to ruin any sense of calm.

Walking through the broken threshold were three familiar figures: Wanda Maximoff, Lance Alvers, and Fred Dukes—better known as the Brotherhood's Scarlet Witch, Avalanche, and Blob. The trio approached with tense, guarded expressions, stepping deliberately across the manicured lawn.

Scott was the first to react. He brought a hand to his visor, ready to fire at a moment's notice. Jaune instinctively gripped his shield and sword hilt, moving slightly in front of Kitty and Jean. Logan, beside them, growled low in his throat as his claws slid out with a sharp shnk.

"What are you three doing here?!" Scott called out, voice hard and commanding.

Lance stepped forward, his own stance wary but not aggressive. His eyes locked with Scott's in a silent standoff. "Easy Summers, we're not looking for a fight," he said evenly.

Scott scoffed, narrowing his eyes. "Oh yeah? Then what do you call busting through our gates?"

Lance opened his mouth to retort, but Wanda quickly stepped in front of him, raising her hands in a calming gesture.

"We're sorry about the gate," Wanda said, her voice steady but urgent. "But it's an emergency,"

The tension in the air thickened as she continued.

"We were attacked last night," she said, glancing between the X-Men. "Whoever they were, they took Toad and Pietro… and they tried to kidnap me,"

A flicker of surprise and concern passed over several of the team members' faces.

Jean stepped forward slightly, her tone skeptical. "And you think we had something to do with it?"

Wanda shook her head firmly. "No. Unless you know anyone by the name of Vertigo… or Sinister,"

At the mention of the names, Logan's expression turned to stone. His claws retracted with a soft hiss as he stepped forward, speaking with uncharacteristic seriousness.

"We don't," Logan said.

Before anyone could say another word, a quiet hum echoed across the courtyard as Charles Xavier's wheelchair approached from the mansion's main entrance. The Professor stopped behind the group, his composed gaze sweeping across both the X-Men and the unexpected Brotherhood visitors.

"What is going on here?" he asked calmly, his voice even but carrying a note of concern. His eyes landed on Wanda, and his expression shifted subtly—concern deepening into worry. "Wanda… what's the matter?"

Wanda stepped forward, her usual confidence laced with distress. "Pietro and Toad were kidnapped last night," she said, her voice sharp with urgency. "They took Lance and Blob a few nights ago, but brought them back last night… and then took my brother and Toad, they tried to take me, too,"

The weight of her words hit like a thunderclap. The group went still.

Xavier's eyes widened, his calm mask cracking for a moment. "What!?" he exclaimed, clearly shaken. "Did you see who they were?"

Wanda shook her head, folding her arms tightly across her chest as if trying to shield herself from the memory. "No… it was too dark, but the woman who tried to kidnap me called herself Vertigo, and she said something about someone named Sinister… Said he wanted us taken back alive,"

The moment that name left her lips, Xavier froze, the color draining from his face. "Sinister!? Are you sure that was the name you heard!?" he asked, his tone a mix of disbelief and dread.

Wanda nodded solemnly. "Yeah, I heard it clearly,"

Logan stepped forward, his brows furrowed and his voice low and gruff. "Chuck… do you know who he is?"

The Professor nodded slowly, as if the answer weighed heavily on him. "I'm afraid I do… If it truly is him, then we may be dealing with something far worse than any of us imagined," he said, exhaling a deep sigh. He turned his attention back to Wanda, his voice urgent but still gentle. "Wanda… is there any way to contact your father?"

Wanda shook her head, frustration flickering in her eyes. "No," She replied. "Only Pietro knew how to reach him,"

Hearing Wanda's response, Xavier's expression grew even more grave. The hope of reaching out to Magneto—an uneasy ally at best—had just slipped away with Pietro's disappearance.

"Then I fear we're on our own," the Professor said quietly, the weight of the situation evident in his voice. He turned his chair back toward the mansion, his usual calm now laced with urgency. "Come in, all of you, we have much to discuss,"

Without another word, Xavier rolled toward the entrance of the building, the heavy silence of the courtyard broken only by the shuffle of boots on stone as the group followed behind. The X-Men moved with practiced unity, while the Brotherhood trailed a few steps back, tension still thick between the two groups despite the shared threat.

Jaune walked somewhere in the middle, glancing from the mansion doors to the overcast sky above. His hand instinctively rested on the hilt of his sheathed sword at his side, though they were no longer in combat.

He let out a quiet sigh, his brow furrowed as a chill ran down his spine.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," he muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone else.

Rogue, walking beside him, caught the words and gave him a sideways glance. "You 'n me both," she replied.

As the doors of the Xavier Institute closed behind them, it felt like the calm before a storm—one that none of them, not even Xavier, fully understood yet.

XXX

XXX

XXX

Looks like our hero's can't even catch a break.

Now, I said that the first major Arc of the story was going to be the Dark Pheonix storyline and it still is, but I'm introducing Mister Sinister and his Murauder's now to set up both the "Mutant Massacar" Arc and the "War with Murauders" Arc of the story, while also setting up the appearance of Madelyne Pryor.

Anyway! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and are waiting to see what happens next because it's gonna be exciting!