Legend: Thoughts = <>
Stray thoughts = ()
Flashback **
Com links []
Ok, guys, All the disclaimers apply, that means all thanks goes to Marvel for the X-Men, I'm just making the story. And I do read all the other stories, and they're great, keep up the good work. They inspire me!
Chapter 41: Reversal
A kid ran through the streets of New Orleans, the ran down, washed out building. A group of people behind her tried to catch her. She took a detour and ended up in the backyard of one of the homes. She looked back to make sure no one was following, but fell! She fell into a pool and the group showed up, searching for her.
"Where is she?" One of them asked.
"The master wants her." another said.
As they spoke, the water in the pool rose up and the girl's face roared in the water. The group stood, afraid to move. The water sprang from the pool and washed them away! The group quickly retreated and the girl felt the noticed that she was in a bubble.
"Wow...that's quiet a talent." Professor Xavier said.
"I'll say." I smirked, " Now listen, you're in my bubble now. Calm down and I'll let you go."
"Ok." The girl said nervously.
I let her go and Professor smiled to me, " Where are your parents?" he asked as we walked away from the site.
I stood outside, looking out onto New Orleans. It was beautiful. I felt like I should stay there and be happy like all the other people walking around. I frowned to myself, thinking that it wasn't a possible dream. The world confused by everything that had happened. The mutants were angry. The humans were scared. The president apologized daily. None of this was enough. The mutants that had been so docile were speaking against the humans, were speaking out for their supremacy! The bodies of the mutants who died, the city littered with mutant bodies. Kids who have lost their families forever, parents who have lost their kids forever. It was a grim thought, a truly grim. People that I love, had loved, and could possibly have loved died. I couldn't shake the feeling that it was my fault. Comfort was not an easy thing to find, but here I felt it. Things had changed. Forever, they had changed. The Mansion had been rebuilt, but nothing could change the fact that it had been destroyed and that people had died. Kids had died.
"Beautiful, ain' it." Gambit said behind me.
"Yeah." I smiled, " How's the kid?"
"Da kid?" Gambit asked, " Does dat make you a grown up."
"No, that just makes me not a kid." I said, turning to look at him, " New haircut? Nice."
"Yah, I guess you coul' say dat." Gambit said, " How ya doin here?"
"Good. I like it here. It's nice." I said.
He stood beside me and looked onto the night, " Yeah, Gambit almost forgot how nice it is here."
"I've been thinking about where I want to go after the Institute. I really don't have anywhere to go. Guess I could go back home, but with my mom...gone, I can't live there. I just can't." I said quickly.
"Well ya a powaful pa'son, you could just stay at da mans." Gambit smirked.
"Somehow I don't think I can do that. Besides what would I teach?" I asked.
"Da true meaning of power." Gambit said.
"Yeah, I know that well, don't I?" I smiled, " I just keep on wondering what the next step is."
"Da next step?" Gambit asked.
"Rebuilding..." I said quickly.
"The mansion is rebuilt." Gambit said, staring over at me, " Oh."
"Life." I chuckled, " Genosha needs to be rebuilt, lives need to be rebuilt..."
"You not da only one dat lost somebody." Gambit said. I nodded, " You not da only one dat lost da same person."
"Who? Professor...Xavier?" I asked.
"Yeah." Gambit smirked, " For a mindreader, ya not so smart."
"Well, for a thief, you're not so sleek." I smirked, " Tell Xavier that I'm fine. I just need time."
"Time?" Xavier asked, " Something that is not on our side."
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
Magneto walked from the shadows, " I need your help." he said.
"Me?" I asked.
"Yes, I need someone with your expertise." Magneto said.
I looked at Xavier, " It is up to you." he said.
I stood, feeling as if I was making a choice. One choice that might affect everything. I shook my head, " Alright, only cause I'm not ready to go." I said quickly, " What are we doing?"
"We think that another force is taking control of Genosha." Magneto said direly.
"So this isn't a dominatrix-y type thing. I have a whip." I said, immediately wanting to take it back, " Yeah, ignore that."
"I was going to ." Magneto said quickly.
"Ok, so, we're going back to Mutant Town...." I trailed.
"Are you going to be ok?" Xavier said, as if he was reading my mind.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I?" I asked.
"Cause it's where..."
"No, Gambit. I'm good." I said carefully.
"Then we should leave immediately." Magento smiled.
"Right. I'll get my bags." I said.
"No. Just bring your suit." Magneto commanded.
"Alright." I said, nodding and following him.
As I sat on the helicopter, I couldn't help but feel I was doing something wrong. To help them in whatever plan they had was wrong. Or was it? I was once again surrounded by the Brotherhood, who seemed to marvel at me. I don't think it was me. I think it was more that I was helping in whatever this plan was.
"So, what's the deal?" I asked.
"Oy, you didn't tell 'em?" Toad asked.
"Tell him what?" I asked.
"You will be arguing..." Magneto said.
"Arguing?" I asked.
"What would be the fun of that?" Sabretooth growled.
"How's the face?" I smirked.
Sabretooth growled.
"W're here." Toad croaked.
I walked down the newly rebuilt main street of Genosha with a sense of dread. I wasn't scared, but there was tension everywhere but there was something else. A quiet feeling. I watched as two mutants headed in the same direction we were and they stopped, staring and bowed. Magneto and the guys kept walking and I followed quickly.
"What was that all about?" I asked.
"You are a hero here, my boy." Magneto said quickly.
"Why?" I asked.
He stopped and glanced at me, " You saved us all." he said.
"I had help." I said quietly.
"Yes, indeed, and they are heroes here too." Magneto smiled, " But you are legacy."
"Legacy?" I asked.
"No one ever told you about your mother. Charles and I, being who we are, and you being our grandson makes you destined to change the world." Magneto explained.
"My mother, what about my mother?" I asked.
"She was magnificient." Magneto smiled as we reached a church.
I gazed at the church's beauty, in awe of such a beautiful sight, " Why are we here?" I asked.
"That's where the meeting is." Blob grunted.
"Right." I said, entering the church. As I entered, the meeting was alright in session and everyone stopped to look back at us. I looked around, noticing some familiar faces and then I looked at Magneto.
"Welcome, Magneto, young Mr. Xavier." the mutant at the front said.
"Rawlings. Pane Rawlings." I said quickly.
"My apologies. I am Roscar. I am the mayor of Genosha." Roscar smiled.
"Umm, what's this meeting about?" I asked.
"Our decision to Attack the human population." Roscar smiled.
There was an awkward silence, then whispers of the other mutants drowned out my own thoughts. There had been rumblings of something like this happening, but I never dreamed that it would come to fruition.
"That's...that's not possible." I said, shocked.
"Oh, but it is my boy." Magneto said, causing me to turn to him, " Xavier suggested you for the job."
"You want me to argue that you shouldn't?" I asked.
"If you can't come up with anything, then we attack tomorrow." Roscar shouted.
"NO." I said quickly, " I..."
"After all the people you have lost, can you come up with a reason, just one reason why we shouldn't?" Roscar asked.
"They attacked us." I said. There were nods, as they agreed, " Wrong. Nobody voted on that. One man took it upon himself to attack us and you blame everybody? It's not fair."
"They killed my parents." Rictor said.
"Rictor?" I asked, " You've been here all this time? We didn't know where you had..."
"This 'human' group, named the Right, brain-washed me after this...guy, kidnapped me and killed..." Rictor began.
"But that's like them condemning all of us for the actions of..." I looked at Magneto, " Some of us. Come, I implore you, think about this."
"We have thought about this!" Roscar shouted, " The time for talk is over."
"No!" I shouted, causing them to stop, " I have a say in this! I lost my friends, my enemies...my mom. I lost so many people and if we're going to vote, then I say..."
"So, you're saying you lost more than we have?" Roscar asked.
"I'm saying that I've lost what you lost, but I still see the bigger picture." I said angrily, " If this is what you stand for, then I don't stand with you."
"You would turn your back on us?" Roscar asked, " Then you are weak."
I telekinetically grabbed him and slammed him against the wall, " One thing I'm not is weak." I said, dropping him. I felt myself lose control just for a few seconds, " I'm sorry, but...I'm not weak. I know why you're doing this."
"Cause we hate them." Rictor growled.
"Because you're scared." I said simply, " So are they. Humans are probably more scared of us. Give me two weeks. If by two weeks I can't convince you that they do not deserve that, then you can do whatever you want."
"All in favor, say aye." Magneto said loudly.
"Aye." rang through the church.
"You have two weeks." Roscar scowled.
I felt intense, searing pain and I went on one knee. Something was happening to me and I could feel it.
Jean <Pane!>
Pane <JEAN! Is it really you?>
Jean
"Are you okay?" Toad asked, helping me back to my feet.
I shook it off and stood, " Yeah, I just had a little...I don't know.." I said quietly.
I found myself sitting by the lake, causing waves to crash and I heard someone walk up.
"How are you," Xavier asked, " I heard about your situation, StormCat."
"I'm mighty." I smiled, " I'm not StormCat anymore."
"Oh, then who are you?" Xavier asked.
"I'm Legacy." I said, looking back onto the lake.
TBC
Well, if you liked it please tell me so I can start work on the next one.