DreamWeaver : EPISODE 1 : Rely on the Tiger
NOTE: These are writings from the late ninety's, which means they are over a decade old. Thus they lack a certain- hmm, 'polish?', but they are also fond memories of my days on alt.comics.fan-fiction and I wouldn't trade them for the world. ^_^
_______________________________
{This is my first attempt at a fanfic. Please bear with me, it may be a
little shaky at first, but there _is_ a story in here! This is the first
eposode so I will include a brief summ-up so you will know what you are
getting into.
Sum-Up : This is the story of Daniel, a girl who is dumped into the X-Men
universe through an odd twist of fate (are there any other
kinds?) and her adventures, fights, arguments, etc... as she
tries to find her way back home. Nothing in this story is
there by chance, _everthing_ shows up again later in the story.
(But not in this eposode!)
All charactors are the property of Marvel Comics, except for those that
aren't. The story, however is _mine_, copyright 1996}
DreamWeaver
~~~~~~~~~~~
By Martha McMahon
EPISODE 1 : Rely on the Tiger
-----------------------------
It was a dark and stormy night. This might have been a truly remarkable
experience except for the fact that it had rained non-stop for the past week.
One can only appreciate so many dark and stormy nights. So it should come
as no suprize that somewhere around Wednesday Daniel had stopped
watching the lightning dance, and started watching the floodwaters creep up
the hill.
The forecasters swore up and down that the rain would stop any time now,
but Daniel watched silently as the denizens of the nearby game reserve
migrated towards higher ground. A silent, and soaked, parade of deer,
rabbits, raccoons, and now squirrels wound its way through her yard. One of
the deer paused as it passed Daniel's window and stared at her for a
moment, eyes wide and frightened. She touched a hand to the pane of glass,
and the deer turned and bolted. Daniel sighed, and sunk back down onto her
bed.
"Damn deer." She snapped at the ceiling. She hadn't been trying to
scare it, why couldn't they see that? The answer was the same as it had been
yesterday, and they day before... She was human, humans killed deer. The
deer might be a little slow, but they weren't stupid. She glared angrily at
the tiger poster above her bed.
"Tyger," she declared, "life is not fair." The tiger declined to
respond and she gave up, rolling over and fishing a comic from the pile
strewn next to her bed. Spider-Man. "Nope." She tossed it back into the
mess, and fished out another. This time it was ElfQuest : The Hidden Years.
"Huh, elves. Nope, not in a wolf-ish mood." She dropped the comic back into
the chaos and tried again. Ranma 1/2. She paused a moment and flipped
through it. "Been there, read that." She released it back into its natural
habitat, and actually used _both_ arms to scrounge. X-Men. She flipped
through it and rolled back over. "Only read this one seven thousand times.
Going for a new world record, drumroll please..." The tiger still neglected
to reply from its lofty perch, and silently stared down at her instead. She
gave up on it and withdrew into the comic.
Half-way through the comic the lights went out. A few mumbled curses
bounced around in the dark as Daniel searched for the flashlight. Had her
parents heard them, she would have been grounded until death. Locating the
flashlight, she resumed reading, praying that her parents wouldn't barge in.
So, of course, they did.
"Are you alright Danny?" Her mother called from the doorway.
Yes, thought Daniel, I'm dead. Go away.
"Danny?"
"I'm fine mom." She finally answered when it became obvious that the
intruder was not leaving.
"You could have said so Danny, you had me scared for a moment."
Good, though Daniel, and she waited for her mother to leave. She
finally did, and Daniel returned to the comic.
Three and a half comics later, a moanful creak came from the window.
Daniel looked over briefly. There was nothing there, even in the evening
gloom she could easily see the ancient oak that stood bravely at guard. The
last remaining sunlight cast a dancing leaf pattern on the wall. Daniel
watched for a little and then went back to reading.
A moment latter the floodwaters wore away the last supporting soil
around the roots of the previously mentioned oak, which came crashing
through the wall, tearing the tiger in half, crushing the bed, and compacting
most of the room down to the height of a small dog.
Daniel was oblivious to this fact, for her the world had ceased to exist
the moment the tree hit the bed.
**********
There was silence. That in itself was rather unremarkable, because
Daniel was not making any noise, but considering the fact that she was
_trying_ to make as much as humanly possible, it was terrifying.
HelpHelpHelpHelpHelpHelpHelpHelpHelpHelpHelpHelp, she screamed
soundlessly into the darkness. Somewhere the message hit home and she
was answered by an unhappy rumble. She shut up.
Grmmggggnmnnnmgr? The voice queried.
Don'tkillme! Daniel thought panicking. The other voice was silent. She
wished she could shrink, so the voice wouldn't notice her. That was a pipe
dream, but something small...a mouse or cricket, something small and
harmless...She tried to think mouse-like thoughts.
Gnnnrgm? Mgnr. Grssmn. Gnnrggggm? The voice faded away and she
was left once more in silence. A few moments passed and she began to wish
that the voice would come back, it had been petrifying, but at least it was
something. She tried yelling again, but the voice was gone.
Hello?Anybody?Somebody?Hello?Help!Help!AnyonePleaseSomeone
Anyone! Once again she was interrupted, but this time it was not the
grumbling voice.
Who's there? The new voice asked, not snarling at all. Daniel tried
to move towards the voice, but found that it made little difference.
MememememDannyDanielDannyMemememe She cried, praying for
help.
Calm down Danny, there is nothing out here to hurt you. Remain calm.
She shut up. Now Danny, do you know where you are? She started to
reply, but the voice but her off. Nevermind. She paused, confused. You
talk too fast child, I can barely hear what you are saying. Try to think each
word out instead of yelling. Daniel thought for a moment.
Where...Am...I? She said, very carefully. The voice paused a moment
before answering.
I'm not quite sure, you seem to be drifting about in the astral plane.
Do you have any idea how you got here? Daniel thought back along her
day, from the visit with the deer to the last panel in the comic. After
that there was only darkness. Concentrating on remembering, she only caught
a whiff of the voice's shock.
Don't...know, She finally stated, S'all...black. She waited for the
other voice to reply... and waited... and then started to panic.
ComeBack!ComeBack!ComeBack!ComeBack!ComeBack!ComeBack!
She yelled, praying that the voice would forgive whatever she had done
wrong, and help her. I'msorryIcan'tremeber!Iswear! The voice cut in
immediately.
No child! I haven't gone anywhere, something you thought just startled
me that's all. I'm not leaving. Daniel once again abruptly cut off her
distress call.
Youcanheremethink? She asked incredulously. The voice couldn't have
tricked her, it was a _nice_ voice! She began to lose it again.
What? Oh no, no, I wasn't tricking you child, I though you knew, that's
what you've been doing all along! You can't talk out here, you think. My God,
how did you ever end up here? The voice trailed off for a moment, and she
though she could hear a mumbled voice pick up where the clear one had left
off. She didn't care. She _couldn't_ care. She curled up in a ball and
though very hard about home. Click your heels together Dorothy... But it
didn't work. She floated aimlessly, more out of helplessness than choice, and
waited for the voice to deliver its verdict. It was going to leave her here,
she knew. Just like all grown-ups, always.
But the voice did not go away, and returned quickly as it realized she
was drifting off. Don't go! Come here, we can help you, I think. I've been
talking to a friend of mine--
Thefuzzyvoice? Daniel interrupted, out of reflex. The other voice
seemed a little startled.
The fuzzy voice? I really don't know, but I need you to follow me
Danny, I can lead you back to my home, my world.
Whataboutme?IwannagoHOME! She panicked.
No, Danny, it's alright. We can help you, but only if you'll come
back with me. Please Danny. She drifted silently for a moment.
Tyger, Tyger burning bright, grant the wish I wish tonight. She
thought dreamily. Tyger I wanna go home. Tyger... The other voice droned
on, always asking her something but she couldn't remember what. She
drifted lazily in its direction. Tyger The voice was very close now, and
she obediently followed it back and down towards its home. Going home
Tyger, she thought Going Home.
**********
There was a sharp jolt and Daniel's eyes snapped open, she was in the
middle of some sort of building, but no one was around. The walls were all
gleaming white and metal, bringing to mind the septic smell of a hospital.
"Where the hell am I?" She asked no one in particular as she got up. She
got no answer, nor had expected one. She looked around. This place is
enormous! she though, amazed. She tried to remember how she had ended
up in a hospital, which is what she finally decided it must be."Deer, comics,
noise," she replayed the events leading up to waking up, "dreaming, grumpy
voice, other voice, but how did I get here from my bedroom? And without
waking up?" She wandered along the wall until she came to a corner, and
then continued on. "And what was that freaky dream? That was too weird."
She missed having Tyger to talk to. She came to another corner. "Too many
comics. Maybe I'm still dreaming." She reached another corner. "And baby
makes three." She looked around again. "There _have_ to be doors here
someplace." She continued on. Another corner. She stopped. A nice, if large,
square room, with no doors.
She walked into the middle of the room, and glanced around. Still no
doors. "Alright people this is _no_ _Longer_ _FUNNY!_ "
**********
High above her in the control booth, Professor Xavier, Storm, and
Cyclops watched silently. At least until Daniel started yelling.
"I think," Storm noted, "that we have a problem." Xavier turned his
hover-chair to face the two.
"That is a incredible understatement Storm." He gestured back towards
Daniel. "Danny was a problem, but that was back when she was nothing
more than a lost o.o.b." Scott looked confused.
"O.o.b.?"
"Out of body," Xavier replied, "but it's no longer that simple. She
should _not_ have been able to do that." He pointed to Daniel's now pacing
form. "Normal o.o.b.'s leave their corporal body behind. They do not haul it
along like so much luggage." He sounded annoyed.
"I'm sure she did not mean it as a personal insult Professor." Commented
Storm, smiling. "From what you have told me she is little more than a lost
child."
"A little lost child?" Scott countered, "She reminds me of Jubilee, on
a sugar high and armed with a bazooka!"
"She looks harmless enough Scott, why don't you--" Storm's response was
rudely interrupted by an indrawn breath from Xavier. "Professor?" Xavier
simply pointed into the danger room.
**********
Daniel was facing away from the door, unable to see it through the
illusion, and didn't immediately notice the entrance of Jubilee. Jubilee,
however, did notice Daniel. The door slid shut with a clanking noise. Daniel
spun around to face it and saw Jubilee.
OhMyGod!It'sherIt'shercan'tbecan'tonlyastoryonlyacomic she babbled
mentally, causing Xavier no end of headaches. Her verbal response was only
a little more collected. "Who the _hell_ are you?" Jubilee looked faintly
startled.
"I," she replied snobishly, "am an X-Man. Who the hell are you?" The
two glared at each other for a moment.
"You're insane." Daniel finally announced. "There are no such thing as
X-Men, they're a comic book. Who are you _really_?" Jubilee looked like she
was having a small corinary.
"I am Jubilation Lee, an _X-Man_, and just who do you think _you_ are?
This is _my_ house." She snapped, advancing angrilly on Daniel.
**********
The trio in the control booth looked a little offended at the "my house"
bit, although Storm seemed to think it was funny.
"Don't you think we ought to stop this?" demanded Scott, "Someone
could get hurt." Xavier raised an eybrow.
"I think Daniel can take care of herself Scott."
"I was worried about Jubilee."
**********
Thisisjust_too_wierd though Daniel. WheretherehellamI? She
watched as Jubilee advanced angrilly. Thisisgettingwayouttahand She
summoned up what courage she had left and confronted the brat.
"I seriously _doubt_ this is _your_ house, even if you are and X-Man.
No, _especially_ if you are an X-Man!" She responded. "And trust me kid,
you don't look _nothin'_ like an X-Man." The last was an attack on Jubilee's
outfit, which was plain old workout clothes. Jubilee was nearing meltdown,
and simply stared at Daniel, looking like a dying fish, and trying to find
words.
"So, who are you supposed to be again?" Daniel asked.
**********
"I see your point." Xavier noted to Scott.
**********
"You...you..." Jubilee ran out of words, and her powers picked up where
the words left off.
"Oh, shit!" Daniel yelped, ducking the incoming "sparklies" in a rather
sloppy tuck-and-roll that would have shamed her gymnastics coach. Help!
She ended her roll up against something large and fuzzy...
And snarling.
"Tyger!"
**********
It had started when she was six. That was the year she had gotten her
first "Tyger", although it was then carring the name Kitty. Ever since then
she had collected pictures, minatures, books, viedos, anything that had a
bengal white tiger on it.
It had risen from a beloved toy, to as close to a totem as Daniel could
ever get. From her earliest memories it had awlays been a protector, and as
she grew it tranformed from a barrier between her and the dark, to someone
who would, and could protect her from anything. She had held tight to the
belief that if ghosts, demons, and things-that-go-bump-in-the-dark could
exist than it so followed that Tyger could protect her from them. The belief
had become so ingrained that she no longer questioned its validity.
Now she never would.
**********
The great cat stood over her, rumbling angrily at Jubilee. Daniel got
up from her where the tumble had left her and hugged the cat happily.
"Oh, Tyger, you came." She burried her face in his ruff, "Thank you."
Jubilee just stood there... Staring.... The sparklies trailed off
forgotten. Not much was going through her mind. Everything had sort of shut
down when the tiger, who was the size of a small horse, had appeared out of
thin air.
**********
It might have made her feel better to know that the occupants of the
overhead booth were in the same position. The trio had observed as the fight
escilated, Scott getting more and more jumpy as each insult was thrown, and
the other two watching calmly. Now they had slightly different expressions on.
Scott and Storm turned to look at the Profesor.
"This could be a problem." remarked Xavier as calmly as possible.
(End of Episode 1...)
_______________________________
"X-MEN" is owned, (TM) and © by Marvel. All rights reserved. No copyright infringement is intended nor implied.
Technorati tags: writing | fan fiction | fantasy | x-men | the unforgotten country | fanfic
_______________________________
{This is my first attempt at a fanfic. Please bear with me, it may be a
little shaky at first, but there _is_ a story in here! This is the first
eposode so I will include a brief summ-up so you will know what you are
getting into.
Sum-Up : This is the story of Daniel, a girl who is dumped into the X-Men
universe through an odd twist of fate (are there any other
kinds?) and her adventures, fights, arguments, etc... as she
tries to find her way back home. Nothing in this story is
there by chance, _everthing_ shows up again later in the story.
(But not in this eposode!)
All charactors are the property of Marvel Comics, except for those that
aren't. The story, however is _mine_, copyright 1996}
DreamWeaver
~~~~~~~~~~~
By Martha McMahon
EPISODE 1 : Rely on the Tiger
-----------------------------
It was a dark and stormy night. This might have been a truly remarkable
experience except for the fact that it had rained non-stop for the past week.
One can only appreciate so many dark and stormy nights. So it should come
as no suprize that somewhere around Wednesday Daniel had stopped
watching the lightning dance, and started watching the floodwaters creep up
the hill.
The forecasters swore up and down that the rain would stop any time now,
but Daniel watched silently as the denizens of the nearby game reserve
migrated towards higher ground. A silent, and soaked, parade of deer,
rabbits, raccoons, and now squirrels wound its way through her yard. One of
the deer paused as it passed Daniel's window and stared at her for a
moment, eyes wide and frightened. She touched a hand to the pane of glass,
and the deer turned and bolted. Daniel sighed, and sunk back down onto her
bed.
"Damn deer." She snapped at the ceiling. She hadn't been trying to
scare it, why couldn't they see that? The answer was the same as it had been
yesterday, and they day before... She was human, humans killed deer. The
deer might be a little slow, but they weren't stupid. She glared angrily at
the tiger poster above her bed.
"Tyger," she declared, "life is not fair." The tiger declined to
respond and she gave up, rolling over and fishing a comic from the pile
strewn next to her bed. Spider-Man. "Nope." She tossed it back into the
mess, and fished out another. This time it was ElfQuest : The Hidden Years.
"Huh, elves. Nope, not in a wolf-ish mood." She dropped the comic back into
the chaos and tried again. Ranma 1/2. She paused a moment and flipped
through it. "Been there, read that." She released it back into its natural
habitat, and actually used _both_ arms to scrounge. X-Men. She flipped
through it and rolled back over. "Only read this one seven thousand times.
Going for a new world record, drumroll please..." The tiger still neglected
to reply from its lofty perch, and silently stared down at her instead. She
gave up on it and withdrew into the comic.
Half-way through the comic the lights went out. A few mumbled curses
bounced around in the dark as Daniel searched for the flashlight. Had her
parents heard them, she would have been grounded until death. Locating the
flashlight, she resumed reading, praying that her parents wouldn't barge in.
So, of course, they did.
"Are you alright Danny?" Her mother called from the doorway.
Yes, thought Daniel, I'm dead. Go away.
"Danny?"
"I'm fine mom." She finally answered when it became obvious that the
intruder was not leaving.
"You could have said so Danny, you had me scared for a moment."
Good, though Daniel, and she waited for her mother to leave. She
finally did, and Daniel returned to the comic.
Three and a half comics later, a moanful creak came from the window.
Daniel looked over briefly. There was nothing there, even in the evening
gloom she could easily see the ancient oak that stood bravely at guard. The
last remaining sunlight cast a dancing leaf pattern on the wall. Daniel
watched for a little and then went back to reading.
A moment latter the floodwaters wore away the last supporting soil
around the roots of the previously mentioned oak, which came crashing
through the wall, tearing the tiger in half, crushing the bed, and compacting
most of the room down to the height of a small dog.
Daniel was oblivious to this fact, for her the world had ceased to exist
the moment the tree hit the bed.
**********
There was silence. That in itself was rather unremarkable, because
Daniel was not making any noise, but considering the fact that she was
_trying_ to make as much as humanly possible, it was terrifying.
HelpHelpHelpHelpHelpHelpHelpHelpHelpHelpHelpHelp, she screamed
soundlessly into the darkness. Somewhere the message hit home and she
was answered by an unhappy rumble. She shut up.
Grmmggggnmnnnmgr? The voice queried.
Don'tkillme! Daniel thought panicking. The other voice was silent. She
wished she could shrink, so the voice wouldn't notice her. That was a pipe
dream, but something small...a mouse or cricket, something small and
harmless...She tried to think mouse-like thoughts.
Gnnnrgm? Mgnr. Grssmn. Gnnrggggm? The voice faded away and she
was left once more in silence. A few moments passed and she began to wish
that the voice would come back, it had been petrifying, but at least it was
something. She tried yelling again, but the voice was gone.
Hello?Anybody?Somebody?Hello?Help!Help!AnyonePleaseSomeone
Anyone! Once again she was interrupted, but this time it was not the
grumbling voice.
Who's there? The new voice asked, not snarling at all. Daniel tried
to move towards the voice, but found that it made little difference.
MememememDannyDanielDannyMemememe She cried, praying for
help.
Calm down Danny, there is nothing out here to hurt you. Remain calm.
She shut up. Now Danny, do you know where you are? She started to
reply, but the voice but her off. Nevermind. She paused, confused. You
talk too fast child, I can barely hear what you are saying. Try to think each
word out instead of yelling. Daniel thought for a moment.
Where...Am...I? She said, very carefully. The voice paused a moment
before answering.
I'm not quite sure, you seem to be drifting about in the astral plane.
Do you have any idea how you got here? Daniel thought back along her
day, from the visit with the deer to the last panel in the comic. After
that there was only darkness. Concentrating on remembering, she only caught
a whiff of the voice's shock.
Don't...know, She finally stated, S'all...black. She waited for the
other voice to reply... and waited... and then started to panic.
ComeBack!ComeBack!ComeBack!ComeBack!ComeBack!ComeBack!
She yelled, praying that the voice would forgive whatever she had done
wrong, and help her. I'msorryIcan'tremeber!Iswear! The voice cut in
immediately.
No child! I haven't gone anywhere, something you thought just startled
me that's all. I'm not leaving. Daniel once again abruptly cut off her
distress call.
Youcanheremethink? She asked incredulously. The voice couldn't have
tricked her, it was a _nice_ voice! She began to lose it again.
What? Oh no, no, I wasn't tricking you child, I though you knew, that's
what you've been doing all along! You can't talk out here, you think. My God,
how did you ever end up here? The voice trailed off for a moment, and she
though she could hear a mumbled voice pick up where the clear one had left
off. She didn't care. She _couldn't_ care. She curled up in a ball and
though very hard about home. Click your heels together Dorothy... But it
didn't work. She floated aimlessly, more out of helplessness than choice, and
waited for the voice to deliver its verdict. It was going to leave her here,
she knew. Just like all grown-ups, always.
But the voice did not go away, and returned quickly as it realized she
was drifting off. Don't go! Come here, we can help you, I think. I've been
talking to a friend of mine--
Thefuzzyvoice? Daniel interrupted, out of reflex. The other voice
seemed a little startled.
The fuzzy voice? I really don't know, but I need you to follow me
Danny, I can lead you back to my home, my world.
Whataboutme?IwannagoHOME! She panicked.
No, Danny, it's alright. We can help you, but only if you'll come
back with me. Please Danny. She drifted silently for a moment.
Tyger, Tyger burning bright, grant the wish I wish tonight. She
thought dreamily. Tyger I wanna go home. Tyger... The other voice droned
on, always asking her something but she couldn't remember what. She
drifted lazily in its direction. Tyger The voice was very close now, and
she obediently followed it back and down towards its home. Going home
Tyger, she thought Going Home.
**********
There was a sharp jolt and Daniel's eyes snapped open, she was in the
middle of some sort of building, but no one was around. The walls were all
gleaming white and metal, bringing to mind the septic smell of a hospital.
"Where the hell am I?" She asked no one in particular as she got up. She
got no answer, nor had expected one. She looked around. This place is
enormous! she though, amazed. She tried to remember how she had ended
up in a hospital, which is what she finally decided it must be."Deer, comics,
noise," she replayed the events leading up to waking up, "dreaming, grumpy
voice, other voice, but how did I get here from my bedroom? And without
waking up?" She wandered along the wall until she came to a corner, and
then continued on. "And what was that freaky dream? That was too weird."
She missed having Tyger to talk to. She came to another corner. "Too many
comics. Maybe I'm still dreaming." She reached another corner. "And baby
makes three." She looked around again. "There _have_ to be doors here
someplace." She continued on. Another corner. She stopped. A nice, if large,
square room, with no doors.
She walked into the middle of the room, and glanced around. Still no
doors. "Alright people this is _no_ _Longer_ _FUNNY!_ "
**********
High above her in the control booth, Professor Xavier, Storm, and
Cyclops watched silently. At least until Daniel started yelling.
"I think," Storm noted, "that we have a problem." Xavier turned his
hover-chair to face the two.
"That is a incredible understatement Storm." He gestured back towards
Daniel. "Danny was a problem, but that was back when she was nothing
more than a lost o.o.b." Scott looked confused.
"O.o.b.?"
"Out of body," Xavier replied, "but it's no longer that simple. She
should _not_ have been able to do that." He pointed to Daniel's now pacing
form. "Normal o.o.b.'s leave their corporal body behind. They do not haul it
along like so much luggage." He sounded annoyed.
"I'm sure she did not mean it as a personal insult Professor." Commented
Storm, smiling. "From what you have told me she is little more than a lost
child."
"A little lost child?" Scott countered, "She reminds me of Jubilee, on
a sugar high and armed with a bazooka!"
"She looks harmless enough Scott, why don't you--" Storm's response was
rudely interrupted by an indrawn breath from Xavier. "Professor?" Xavier
simply pointed into the danger room.
**********
Daniel was facing away from the door, unable to see it through the
illusion, and didn't immediately notice the entrance of Jubilee. Jubilee,
however, did notice Daniel. The door slid shut with a clanking noise. Daniel
spun around to face it and saw Jubilee.
OhMyGod!It'sherIt'shercan'tbecan'tonlyastoryonlyacomic she babbled
mentally, causing Xavier no end of headaches. Her verbal response was only
a little more collected. "Who the _hell_ are you?" Jubilee looked faintly
startled.
"I," she replied snobishly, "am an X-Man. Who the hell are you?" The
two glared at each other for a moment.
"You're insane." Daniel finally announced. "There are no such thing as
X-Men, they're a comic book. Who are you _really_?" Jubilee looked like she
was having a small corinary.
"I am Jubilation Lee, an _X-Man_, and just who do you think _you_ are?
This is _my_ house." She snapped, advancing angrilly on Daniel.
**********
The trio in the control booth looked a little offended at the "my house"
bit, although Storm seemed to think it was funny.
"Don't you think we ought to stop this?" demanded Scott, "Someone
could get hurt." Xavier raised an eybrow.
"I think Daniel can take care of herself Scott."
"I was worried about Jubilee."
**********
Thisisjust_too_wierd though Daniel. WheretherehellamI? She
watched as Jubilee advanced angrilly. Thisisgettingwayouttahand She
summoned up what courage she had left and confronted the brat.
"I seriously _doubt_ this is _your_ house, even if you are and X-Man.
No, _especially_ if you are an X-Man!" She responded. "And trust me kid,
you don't look _nothin'_ like an X-Man." The last was an attack on Jubilee's
outfit, which was plain old workout clothes. Jubilee was nearing meltdown,
and simply stared at Daniel, looking like a dying fish, and trying to find
words.
"So, who are you supposed to be again?" Daniel asked.
**********
"I see your point." Xavier noted to Scott.
**********
"You...you..." Jubilee ran out of words, and her powers picked up where
the words left off.
"Oh, shit!" Daniel yelped, ducking the incoming "sparklies" in a rather
sloppy tuck-and-roll that would have shamed her gymnastics coach. Help!
She ended her roll up against something large and fuzzy...
And snarling.
"Tyger!"
**********
It had started when she was six. That was the year she had gotten her
first "Tyger", although it was then carring the name Kitty. Ever since then
she had collected pictures, minatures, books, viedos, anything that had a
bengal white tiger on it.
It had risen from a beloved toy, to as close to a totem as Daniel could
ever get. From her earliest memories it had awlays been a protector, and as
she grew it tranformed from a barrier between her and the dark, to someone
who would, and could protect her from anything. She had held tight to the
belief that if ghosts, demons, and things-that-go-bump-in-the-dark could
exist than it so followed that Tyger could protect her from them. The belief
had become so ingrained that she no longer questioned its validity.
Now she never would.
**********
The great cat stood over her, rumbling angrily at Jubilee. Daniel got
up from her where the tumble had left her and hugged the cat happily.
"Oh, Tyger, you came." She burried her face in his ruff, "Thank you."
Jubilee just stood there... Staring.... The sparklies trailed off
forgotten. Not much was going through her mind. Everything had sort of shut
down when the tiger, who was the size of a small horse, had appeared out of
thin air.
**********
It might have made her feel better to know that the occupants of the
overhead booth were in the same position. The trio had observed as the fight
escilated, Scott getting more and more jumpy as each insult was thrown, and
the other two watching calmly. Now they had slightly different expressions on.
Scott and Storm turned to look at the Profesor.
"This could be a problem." remarked Xavier as calmly as possible.
(End of Episode 1...)
_______________________________
"X-MEN" is owned, (TM) and © by Marvel. All rights reserved. No copyright infringement is intended nor implied.
Technorati tags: writing | fan fiction | fantasy | x-men | the unforgotten country | fanfic