"But now she will come Bensha."
"And--?"
"She control's the skies."
"I own them."
"But--"
"Enough! How dare you question my actions?!?"
"Forgiveness great one."
"I shall destroy them both, through a single means. I shall claim my rightful place. I will rule K'dall. . . as was meant to be."
"Of course, Bensha."
(Note: Bensha = "My Lady" for someone without an official title)
* * * * *
As it turned out, Cable's powers were needed after all. Her mind focussed only on M'Rin, Storm had forgotten that Cable and Gambit were susceptible to the extreme effects of windburn caused by travelling through the air. Had Nathan not exacted a telekinetic forcefield around them, both he and Gambit would have been burned to a crisp by the gale force winds they were travelling on.
Cable had telepathically informed Gambit of the situation en route. The two were surprised at how quickly they reached the Savage Land.
"Don't t'ink I ever move dat fast my whole life." Gambit commented, as they touched down. "Blackbird don' even move like dat."
"The Blackbird doesn't have emotional motivation." Cable replied.
The three were standing beside a large lake. Storm brought out her Cameo Crystal and held it in front of her, facing the waterline. Storm always had the crystal with her, although from the look of some of her outfits, Cable really had to use his imagination to figure out where she kept it.
Storm turned around slowly, towards the land first, the crystal always in front. When her arm came to face the lake she stopped.
"Today it is under water."
"It moves?"
"What? What moves?"
"The juncture. And yes, it is somewhat of an astrological phenomenon and so it moves."
"So how we get dere?"
She stepped into the shallows of the lake and raised her arms. A water vortex formed in the center of the lake. Before her companions could comment, the three were airborne again. Storm carried them up and into the center of the vortex, which looked to be almost a mile downwards. As they descended, Remy, was surprised to see a glowing sphere shaped object on the lake bottom, instead of rocks, sand or mud.
"Hold your breath!" Storm yelled when they were a few meters from the object. They entered the sphere feet first, and both Nathan and Remy were thrown off balance by the sudden reversal of direction. Up was now down and down, up. The three were under water, at the bottom of a different lake. Because of the sudden shift in their equilibrium, Nathan and Remy were curled up, their arms wrapped around their heads. Storm, who had been though this before and could adapt more quickly now, grabbed the two by their arms and swam for the surface.
The three found air and made their way to shore.
"A warning might have helped." Cable said as they caught their breath.
"My apologies. I have been through the juncture so many times that I often take the reversal for granted."
Storm stood and used her winds to dry them off.
"So, we t'rough d'lookin' glass?"
"Welcome to K'dall, gentlemen."
"Perdy."
They were walking through a forest clearing. Storm inhaled deeply enjoying how fresh the air was.
"So where are we headed?"
"The grand palace. The best healers are there."
A shadow passed over them, much like a cloud. Cable passed it off as such, continued walking beside Storm. Gambit, on the other hand stopped in mid stride, watching the skies. He turned, so his back was to his friends.
"Uh-- Storm. . ."
"Yes, Remy."
"P-please tell me dat d'big dog flyin' right at us, be d'one dat's your friend."
Storm and Nathan turned.
"C'Jime." She whispered.
The massive flying Warhound was descending towards the trio. The two newcomers were expecting a minor earthquake when he landed, yet C'Jime landed so lightly that the leaves on the surrounding trees hardly moved.
"Oath. . ."
"Mon Dieu."
Storm approached the massive beast as his placed his head on the ground. At 5'11", Storm was just the height of C'Jime's nose.
"C'Jime, it is good to see you my friend."
"And you tiny Windrider, though the times I would wish to be better."
"As would I Soaring Skyboots Slyfox. Tell me how my mother fairs."
"Ill indeed, bright one. She is now abed and the healers fear she will give to the shadow. I am come to retrieve thee as was known you would wish to be at my lady's side."
"Of course."
C'Jime's large black eyes looked past Ororo to her companions, who had not moved an inch.
She followed his gaze. "These are my friend, C'Jime. Family really. You may refer to them as Cable and Gambit for now."
"Greetings to you both, small friends. For family, I am thine as to my lady, Storm."
"Nice to meet you too."
"Pleasure."
They had both heard tales of the grand Warhound, but neither could have fathomed the sheer size or grace of him. And to hear this creature speak!
"My friends, we should be on our way." The three boarded the large ship that was nestled on C'Jime's back.
"Greetings Princess."
"Welcome, Princess."
"We shall be underway at your word, highness."
"Thank you. The word is given."
The trio was in what could be called a cross between a bridge and a throne room.
C'Jime lifted off, just as gently as he had landed.
"Princess?"
"You are aware of the saying 'blood is thicker than water" are you not, Nathan." He nodded.
"That saying has no foundation on K'dall. By M'Rin publicly naming me her daughter, she has bestowed upon me the all the rights, privileges and titles of one following in her line. The daughter of her heart, if not her blood."
"So what 'bout d'royalty part. T'ought, M'Rin was a Warlord or somethin'."
"M'Rin is by birth, Empress of K'dall. It is during wartime that she takes the mantle of Warlord of the Skies. It is similar to how the President of the United States is also the head of the military."
"Goddess, X-Man, Windrider, Storm and Princess; how many names are you planing to collect Ororo?"
"You are a fine one to ask Nathan."
To be continued. . .
Okay, I know it's a little chunky, but I wanted to get a lot of this information out of the way so I could get on with the story. It'll get better, promise!
Comments? Questions? Write me! (Please! I love mail!) jimgi@sympatico.ca (Remember to write "Gates" under "Subject". Thanx, Bye!