Excalibur
in
A horrorid Tale
by Ryan Jensen*
disclaimer: Although the bulk of the story is mine, it is inspired by a brief glimpse into an alternate reality presented by Chris Claremont and Alan Davis in Marvel Comics Excalibur #15, and uses the characters and situation presented there-in which is/are copyrighted by Marvel Comics. I’m just doing this for fun, no $$$.

The intangible Shadowcat, The demonic looking telaporter Nightcrawler, the shape-shifting empathic elemental, Meggan, the flying powerhouse Captain Britain, and the celestial avatar Phoenix... together they form the mighty mutant team Excalibur! Along with their friend Alstair Stuart of the British Weird Happenings Organization (W.H.O.) they have become lost in the endless realms of Cross-time. Jumping from one reality to another at the whims of the unfathomable Widget, Excalibur’s train flies through the mysterious tunnels of Cross-time hoping that the next jaunt will bring them home to their own reality.


As the wind howls and thunder rumbles lightning lights-up the night sky striking a metal rod upon a great and ancient castle where within it’s cold gray stony walls labors Doctor Alstair Stuart, albeit not the Alstair we have come to know, this man is dressed in a lab coat with hair slicked straight up and a wild and crazy look in his eye. One might say he is the very embodiment of the Mad Doctor seen in the movies right down to his hunchbacked lackey...
"IGORE!!" Calls the scientist. "It’s alive! Oh, Igore! It’s ALIVE!! All those nights studying under Dr. Essex have finally begun to pay off! At long last I have a creature of my own patterned after the writings of that great pioneer in the field of re-animation Dr. Victor Frankinstin himself! But what to call him... The Alstair Monster?" asks the Mad Doctor more to himself than to his hunchbacked servant. "No. I don’t think so." "The Stuart Monster?" he ponders as Igore cringes. “You’re absolutely right my deformed friend, defiantly not! Some people have all the luck with names." "Oh Well! On to the next experiment!" "Igore! Bring me the duck!"
"Heh, heh, yes Master! Heh, heh." As Igore hobbles off in search of Dr. Stuart next "patient."

CHAPTER 2
"Checkmate!" Shouts Alstair as Excalibur’s train rushes through the swirling colors of Cross-time.
"What?!" Exclaims Kitty as she examines the board. “That can’t be!"
"Oh-ho! But it is!" says Alstair coyly. "See? Right here. My black queen’s bishop has your white king in the corner guarded by my two black castles..."
"Rooks." Corrects Kitty.
"Rooks, right, whatever. The point is, your king is trapped!" Alstair points out gleefully.
"He is, is he?"
"Absolutely." Alstair says confidently.
"Even if I do this?" Inquires Shadowcat as she slides her white queen across the board capturing the black bishop.
"Huh? What?! Oh... Hmmm..." Stammers her opponent in this game of wits.
"What’s the matter Alstair? Did I slip through your little trap?" Teases Kitty.
"Hmmmm... Ah-ha!" he exclaims. "You have only delayed the inevitable!" as he moves a black rook overtaking her White Queen. "The bright lady falls before the dark castle, placing you in checkmate! This time for cirtain!"
"Hmmm... Yup, looks that way. Congratulations Alstair, looks like you win." Concedes Kitty. "Good game."
"Ha! Ha! Ha! The darkness reigns supreme!" Cackles Alstair in a mock-sinister tone.
"Very cute." Smiles Kitty.
"Oh, er, um, yeah, thanks." Coughs an embarrassed Alstair.

Suddenly the bright swirling colors of the cross-time tunnel give way to the stark darkness of the stormy night lit only by the occasional flash of lightening and the head-lamps of Excalibur’s train hurling through the sky on a direct collision course with the mountaintop castle.
"Looks like trouble!" comments Captain Britain as he flies out ahead of the train in an attempt to slow and thereby cushion the impact.

While within the castle...
"Igore! Where is... that... DUCK!!!!" Shouts this world’s Dr. Stewart as the oncoming head-lamps of Excalibur’s train flood through a tiny window hurling at tremendous speed toward the castle dispite the Captains efforts to stop it from an inedible *CRASH!!!!*
With a deafening crash, Captain Britain and the train come smashing through the wall of the old castle sending the Captain hurling out of control first into the duck Igore was carrying then with the duck, into various machines and tables of bubbling chemicals resulting in a crackle of energy preceding a brilliant explosion.
"My WALL! My EQUIPMENT!!!" Cries the Mad Doctor. "Look what you have done to my equipment! You big, stupid, offish interloper!"
But as the dust begins to settle, instead of the mighty hero, all that sits amid the rubble of machines and mortar is the duck... wearing the costume of Captain Britain! "Fascinating!" Exclaims the Doctor. "This couldn’t have worked out better if I had planned it!" He says, picking-up the duck.

CHAPTER 3
"BRIAN!!" Comes Meggan’s shout from the door-way of the train. "What have you done to my sweetie?!" She screams swooping down toward the Mad Doctor.
"Another interloper! Rhanee`, deal with her!" Orders the doctor to the lancrathope at his side.
At the Doctors command, the lupine lancrothope takes on a most vicious form lunging to meet Meggans swooping attack.

"Looks like trouble." Observes Shadowcat from the train, "let’s check it out."
"Good idea, Katchen." Mentions Nightcrawler. "Watch over Phoenix, Alstair, that last jump took a lot out of her."
"Right, I’ll do that, Kurt." Responds Alstair.
"Ready Fuzzy Elf?" asks Shadowcat.
"Let’s go." Confirms Nightcrawler, as he takes her hand and they disappear in a burst of brimstone smoke and the sound of imploding air.

*BAMF!*
"Meggan! Wait!" Shouts Nightcrawler.
By this time, Meggan has this worlds twisted version of Rahnee` Sinclare held aloft by the neck. "Kurt?!" A surprised Meggan responds with a turn of the head. A momentary distraction, but that is all that is needed for the lancrathope to turn the tables gaining the advantage sinking it’s long sharp teeth into Meggan’s tender arm.
"Get away from her!" shouts Nightcrawler swinging at the were-beast as Meggan cries out. Clearly outnumbered, the werewolf retreats with a snickering laugh.
Loosing the calm collectiveness he sought to impart on the situation, Nightcrawler grabs the doctor lifting him up by the front his lab coat. "You have attacked us! Why?!" Kurt questions menacingly.
"Who Attacked who?" responds the Mad Doctor, far more annoyed than intimidated. "You crash a train through my wall, send your big oaf crashing clumsily into my experiments, destroying both equipment and supplies,(Although I must admit, the results WERE quite spectacular!) and you have the nerve to accuse ME of attacking YOU?!" he rants. "I was mearly defending my self and my lab from further damage!" "Now put me down you fool demon!" Demands the Mad Doctor.
"Point taken." Admits Nightcrawler sheepishly, letting down the Doctor. "And by-the-way, I’m not a demon, I’m a mutant."
"A what? Mutant? Yes yes, whatever." Mutters the Doctor as he begins resuming experiments with what equipment remains intact.
"Hold it!" Commands Nightcrawler grabbing his arm. “There’s still the mater of our transformed comrade you need to address."
"Which one?" Snickers the Mad Scientist.
"Wha--?" questions Nightcrawler as Meggan slowly begins to transform.
"Kurt? I don’t feel so... well." She whimpers. "It’s my arm..." "I’m changing...grr, and I...grrrrr...can’t...grrr...stop! GRRRROWL!!!!" At that, The newly transformed werewolf Meggan leaps from her teammates side and sets about hacking and slashing the lab in instinctive revenge.
"Curses!" Exclaims the doctor. "I hadn’t anticipated this reaction!" "STOP HER!"
As Shadowcat closes in and phases the bizirking werewolf teammate, Meggan turns and slashes Kitty’s jacket.
"Yipes! This isn’t going to work!" "Nightcrawler! Get ready to knock her out!" says Kitty as she tries an alternitate strategy by phasing Meggan’s claws into one of the tables and letting go thus solidifying the claws within the table.
With minor instinctive shape-shifting, Meggan frees herself from the table with a yank resulting in an incidental back-hand to Nightcrawler sending him sprawling across the room.
"We need someone with a tough hide to hold her!" shouts Shadowcat. "Any suggestions ‘Doctor’?!"
"Right! I’ll call Dr. Jeckell right away!" He responds.
"H-I-de you idiot! Not H-Y-de!" Scolds Shadowcat.
"Oh, yes, of course. Silly me." Laughs the Mad Doctor as he pulls a massive switch on one of the machines.
With a buzz and a clank, the metal straps that held the Frankenstin type monster to the table spring open freeing the newborn monstrosity.
"Hold her my creation! Hold the one who is destroying my lab!" The Mad Scientist commands the monster. At that, the monster rises from the table upon which it lay, obtains a collar and chain from the wall, and lumbers over to Meggan. With surprisingly quick reflexes, the Monster snatches one of Meggan’s hands in mid air, holding it above her head.
"Danke, herr... uh..." "Nightcrawler pauses, realizing that he knows not what to call the green lumbering monstrosity before him. "Pardon me, herr Doctor, but dose this have a name?" Inquires Nightcrawler jesuring to the Monster.
"No, no name." Says the Mad Doctor glumly. "try as I might, I just can’t come up with one." "Just call him ‘Monster’"
"Thank you, Doctor, I’ll do that." Responds Nightcrawler.
"All right, Herr Monster, if you would be so kind as to hand me the chain we can get things under control here.
Without a word, the monster hands the chain to Nightcrawler with it’s free hand.
"Danke." Says Nightcrawler as he takes the chain. "Now to put her out that we may put this on." As he attempts to knock out his teammate with a nerve jab to the back of the neck. "HEY! GOT IM HIML! That was close!" "She nearly BIT me!" Exclaims Nightcrawler jerking his hand away from her twisting snarling gnashing face in the nick of time. "Monster, if you would please?" He asks gesturing to Meggan’s thrashing head. "Oh, and the feet too, please. Danke." Adds Nightcrawler as the monster gently yet firmly steadies her face with his free hand and then likewise steps on her kicking feet.
"Quack! Quack! Quack!" Quacks the transformed Captain furious at the treatment of his lover.
"Relax, Captain, this is for her own safety, as well as ours. Who knows what further trouble she may get into if we don’t get her under control?" Explains Kitty as Nightcrawler exposes the back of Meggan’s neck, striking it in a cirtan place causing her to loose her grip on consciousness, then snaps the collar and chain around her neck, the free end of which he ties to a ring in the wall. "All right, We have this taken care of for now, but what do we do when she wakes up?" Kitty inquires.
"Oh, no need to worry about that. The chain and collar have been scientifically enhanced in that they prevent the wearer from attacking the holder of the chain or any of those upon whom that person’s sent is particularly strong from proximity exposure." Explains the Mad Doctor Stuart.
"Good." Says Shadowcat, "Now how about reversing these transformations?" She says gesturing to the costumed duck and unconscious werewolf that had been her teammates.
"What about them?" mentions the mad Doctor casually. "If you ask me, I think they look just fine. They fit in quite nicely here and got what they deserve for messing with my experiments."
"WHAT?!" "How DARE you!!" Shouts Shadowcat as she lunges at the Doctor phasing through the monster as it stepped in the way in a vain effort to protect it’s creator. Fortunately, her teammate, Nightcrawler is able to telaport close enough to grab her fist before she can strike the Mad Doctor.
"Hold it, Katchen, we don’t want to do anything rash." Soothes Nightcrawler. "Things are messy enough as it is." Then, turning to the Doctor pointing his finger, "We want our friends back the way they were."
"What do you say?" Prods the Doctor.
"What? Oh. Please." Says Nightcrawler.
"’Please’ What?" Continues the alternate Alstare.
"Please may we have our friends back the way they were?" Asks Nightcrawler now getting more than just a little irritated at the Mad Doctor’s casual attitude toward the whole situation.
"No." The mad Doctor Stuart says simply.
"Vas? What do you mean ‘no’?!" Questions Nightcrawler angrily. Almost ready to flatten the not-so-good Doctor himself.
"This had darn well better be good." Adds Shadowcat.
"I mean that after your companions had their way with my lab, I simply lack the necessary chemicals and equipment to restore your feathered friend." "The werewolf shouldn’t be a problem even with what little is left, but for the duck, special components are needed, as well as the equipment that they so casually destroyed repaired." Elaborates the Doctor.
"Oh, well that’s different." Acknowledges Nightcrawler. "What do you need?"
"Well..." Starts the Doctor looking around surveying the final damage. "Looks like you got off quite lucky. Most of this stuff I haven’t touched in years. It was no good anyway."
"What about what we need?" Inquires Nightcrawler impatiently.
"Just a minute!" says the now irritated Doctor. “So impatient!" The Doctor looks around another minute taking inventory of what’s damaged and what’s still salvageable. "All right, looks like all I will need for the process is a green flamingo..."
"A GREEN Flamingo?!" Shadowcat and Nightcrawler both exclaim in wonderment.
"Yes, a green flamingo. Quite rare, I believe only the old bald wizard Xavier has a few in a personal collection." Says the twisted Alstair.
^Xavier? As in Professor Xavier?^ Wonder Kurt and Kitty.
"Give us a minute to consult with our friends back in the train, if you would please." Nightcrawler tells the Doctor as he reaches out to Rachel through the teams psychic rapport.
~Rachel...~ Calls Kurt mentally.
~What’s the deal, Elf?~ Rachel responds.
~You think the crash was hard on you? The Captain crashed into some equipment and was transformed into a duck...~
~Yah, well, he’s always been a bit of a dork, what more could it have done?~ Asks Rachel slightly amused.
~Not a ‘dork’, Ray, a DUCK.~ Corrects Kitty.
~Seriously?~ Laughs Rachel. ~This I’ve GOT to see!~ As she starts to stand to look out the window, a vicious pain throbs in her head. "~Wow! *groan* my head!~" as she lies back down.
~You Alright, Ray?~ Kitty asks with concern.
~She took a bit of a bump to the head when we crashed, but she should be all right with a bit of rest.~ Comments Alstair.
~Ray, you take it easy.~ ~Me, Night, and Meggan have to go track down this worlds Xavier for a green flamingo, we shouldn’t be too long.~ Explains Kitty.
~This bump on the head must be affecting my telepathy, first I thought you called the Captain a dork and now I could have sworn you said you were going after a GREEN flamingo!~ Says Ray, holding her head.
~I did.~ says Kitty mater-of-factly.
~Right! The wonders of Cross-time! You three have fun.~ Communicates Ray.
~Sure thing, this should be VERY interesting!~ Muses Shadowcat.
"All right," says Nightcrawler, coming back into focus from the telepathic link, "we’ll do it."

CHAPTER 4
"Splendid!" Exclaims the Doctor, “Now all we need for you to fetch the green flamingo and bucket of sludge from the depths of the swamps of Ahmal..."
"HOLD IT!" Starts Shadowcat, "You never said anything about any bucket of swamp sludge!"
"You expect me to repair all the trouble you and your friends here caused with out some kind of compensation?!" Laughs the Mad Doctor, "You’re crazier than I am!"
"He DOSE have a point, Elf, We DID make quite a mess of the place." Mentions Shadowcat.
"Fine, It’s agreed." Says Nightcrawler, "We shall obtain both your green flamingo and bucket of sludge."
"Wonderful!" Says the Doctor. "We should have you on your way with in just a few nights!"
"Fine," Says Nightcrawler, “We’ll leave now." "How do we get to these places?"
"Oh no no no! You can’t leave yet! Your lovely young lady friend here simply isn’t dressed for the occasion! Why, a ‘normal’ simple human girl would only attract trouble, and make negotiations with the old wizard Xavier ever more difficult." Clamors the Scientist.
"What are you saying?" Inquires Nightcrawler.
"He says I need a disguise, Kurt." "What about him?" She asks referring to Nightcrawler.
"Oh, the demon..." He starts.
"MUTANT." Corrects Nightcrawler.
"Fine. The mutant LOOKS like a demon, and thus shouldn’t get any kind of grief from any of the locals." Continues the Scientist. "Now, about your new look..."
"A ghost seems natural enough." Points out Shadowcat.
"Oh no no no no NO! Ghosts are MUCH too difficult to bring back to corporeal form." "Not an option, simply not an option!" Warns the Doctor.
"Makes sense, I guess." "Even the combined knowledge of some of the greatest minds on the planet had a difficult time getting me back together. And I was still technically alive!” * Says Shadowcat, recalling how she was saved from the brink of total discorpreation by Reed Richards and Dr. Doom. "So, what DO you recommend?"
"Hmmm... I don’t know..." "Igore! What do you think my drooling friend?" "What should she be?" He asks of the slobbering hunchback.
"Uhhh...DEMON!" Cries Igore. "Demon! he-he."
"I believe that was my part." Nightcrawler says glumly.
"Yes, yes, he’s quite right you know. We’ll have to think of something else...but what?" Ponders the Doctor.
"Wolfman! Make her a wolfman, Master!" Shouts Igore.
"Again, dear Igore, we already have one." The deranged doctor says motioning to the still unconscious form of Meggan over against the wall.
"Dunno." Shrugs Igore fresh out of ideas.
"You know, perhaps a woman’s point of view could aid us in our search for a suitable new identity for you." Comments the twisted Scientist. "Alsaynde? Oh Alsaynde? Could you please come down here for a moment?" Calls out the Doctor looking upwards at the ceiling where a number of bats flutter around. "We need your valuable input!"
"Alsaynde? Where...?" Wonders Kitty aloud.
As if in answer to Shadowcat’s question, one of the bats that had been circling about the room flutters down dropping into the shape of a tall, pale, slender woman with a black hairdo with white streaks going up the side not unlike how Meggan’s hair was styled as the Goblin Princess during Inferno, arms held high and wearing a tight form-fitting black body-suit with a V-neck plunging all the way down to her navel accented by a deep purple cape with a spiny collar. "how may I be of service, dear brother?" She says with a toothy smile revealing two long razor-sharp canines.
Her sudden appearance startles Shadowcat as she lets it be known with a slight jump and a "Yipe!"
"Oh, so sorry to have startled you! I neglected to consider the effect my entrance would have on outsiders." Apologizes the vampiric Alsaynde. "Now, what was it you needed help with?"
"It seems our young friend here doesn’t quite fit in." Starts the doctor.
"You don’t say!" Comments this worlds Alsaynde putting her hand against her cheek with mock astonishment. "Well, let’s see..." "She IS quite pretty, so destroying those features by making her a zombie is out of the question." "A sor...cer...ess..." her voice trails off as another voice comes into her head.
~Bring her to me, Alsaynde.~ Says the voice.
"I...Of course! Why didn’t I think of it before! Come with me, I know just the thing!" As she leads Kitty up some stairs to a door leading into another part of the castle.
"Kitty?" says Kurt with concern as he begins to follow.
"Ah-Ah! Ladies only!" Scolds Alsaynde shaking a finger at Nightcrawler.
"I’ll be OK, Kurt, thanks." Assures Kitty as she follows the vampiric Alsaynde out the door which slams shut of it’s own accord behind them with a dull thud.

CHAPTER 5
Elsewhere...
A dark destiny is plotted in a small room lit only by the iridescent glow of a small orb set within a silver tripod inscribed with ancient arcane symbols about it’s edges, stands a man, old, but not ancient, yet clearly aged beyond his years. Such is the fate of one Charles Francis Xavier, for the dark deeds and works which he hath wrought pose quite the drain upon this man both in body and in soul. A drain which he seeks to recover with a vengeance.
"So, it has finally come to pass," muses the dark robed man. "The outworlders whom I have forseen with the aid of the orb of my crystal ball have arrived, with their aid, I shall escape the fate this world has cast upon me and reign with dark power once more with multitudes of worlds to conquer!" "Soon I shall have access to power beyond belief!" "Truly a shame," comments he as he picks a skull with a strange ‘M’ with the ends turned in at an angle formed upon it’s forehead "Yes, It’s truly a shame that you chose to oppose me old friend, for soon I shall have power beyond even your wildest dreams, while you, Eric Magnus Linshire shall be nothing but dust!" says this dark doplganger as mystic lightening crackles from his eyes reducing the skull to dust. "Little do they know, that with them they bear the means of my empowerment!" He says with an evil laugh as an image of Excalibur forms within the orb, which slowly focuses in on Widget.

CHAPTER 6
*Of all the many different worlds Excalibur has traversed over these past weeks, this is defiantly the WIERDEST!* Thinks Shadowcat, the cold stone walls of the tower echoing even her most gentle foot step as she follows this realities Alsaynde Stuart up the long spiral staircase winding it's way around the interior of the tower spiraling upwards into the uncertain darkness. *I mean, we've been here all of maybe fifteen minutes and the Captain has been transformed into a duck, and Meggan into a bezerk werewolf. Nether of which can be restored until we obtain a GREEN flamingo! And on top of that, to better blend in on this world, I'm following a vampiric Alsaynde with freaky hair, to be made over to look like goodness knows what!* She ponders.
"Oohhhh, I just KNOW you'll LOVE your new look!" Assures Alsaynde. "Not to mention the man who's going to give it to you. He's the man of your dreams."
*Man of my dreams, huh?" Whims Shadowcat to herself, *Around here, that would likely be Freddy Krugar!*
"We're here!" Announces Alsaynde as they reach the top of the stairs.
Before them looms a large wooden double door with large iron rings for handles and a stone dragon's head looming over the doorway with it's jaws gapping open.
"Right through here." The vampiress says motioning to the door. "He's expecting you." she says with a wicked smile as she transforms into a bat an flutters off.
"Right, thanks!" calls Kitty after the bat. "...I think." She adds more to herself eyeing the great dragon's head. "Don't stick around or nothin'." She mutters. Then looking back up at the Dragon's head in disdain, "Lockheed you're not."
At that, the stone dragon's eyes glow red.
"Um, OK, Well, lets see what surprise lies behind door number one!" As she grasps the handle of one of the big wooden doors and gives it a pull.
The door opens slowly with a deep groan.
"Havn't they ever heard of oiling a hinge in this place?" Shadowcat wonders to herself. "Hummph, guess it's just all part of the spooky atmosphere this whole place seems to have." she relents as she walks through the doorway into the room dark as midnight.
"Hello?" She calls. "Anybody in here?"
"WHAT?! HEY!!" Cries Kitty Pryde as the massive old oak door slams shut with a great thud behind her leaving the room in total darkness.
"There must be a light switch around here somewhere..." She mutters feeling around for the wall.
"Allow me." comes a deep male voice from somewhare in the darkness.
With a snap of his fingers, numorous standing torches ignite through-out the room casting strange shadows to eerily dance upon the walls.
"Good evening, Katherine, and welcome to my humble abode." Says the tall man with the flowing cape illuminated by the torches.
"It's you!" Shadowcat exclaims as she turns with a start, "DRACULA!"

CHAPTER 7
Back in the lab...
Alstair Stewart wanders the lab admiring the equipment, and it's productions.
"So you actually created all this, and even gave life to your very own Frankenstin monster? Fascinating!" Comments Alstair.
"Yes, I have done it my self, and it still amazes me at times." comments Alatair's counterpart native to this Earth. "But, my monster lacks a name. I just don't know what to call it. The Alstair monster?"
"Mmmm...No..."
"The Stewart Monster, perhaps?"
"Alstair is the better of the two, thus-far." Injects Nightcrawler. "Perhaps a name of it's own?"
"A name of it's... Why, I never considered that!" Exclaims the Doctor.
"Yes," Adds Alstair "Strange is it not? How we scientific types will often over look the obvious in search for more complicated answers?"
"Yes," his mad counterpart agrees, "Quite strange indeed!"
"Now, what are you going to name him?" Asks Nightcrawer.
"Hmmm..." ponders the mad scientist. "How about 'Herman'?"
Alstair and Kurt shudder.
"What?" questions the Doctor. "What's wrong with 'Herman'?"
"It's just a TV comedy show back home depicted a monster like yours named Herman, It wasn't terribly bright." responds Alstair.
"oh. I see." acknowledges the Doctor. "Any suggestions?" "Fred?" "Joe?" "Edward?"
Nightcrawler and Alstair look the monster over carefully.
"HO-HO!!" laughs Nightcrawler.
"What?!" bolth Alstairs question at once.
"Look!" says Nightcrawler, one hand on Alstair's Shoulder the other pointing at the monster's face. "Look at the face, notice the brow? the Chin? the nose?" Who's it look like?" he says with a grin.
"I don't... Ohhhh... Ha-ha! You're right!" laughs Alstair. "Hey Doc, have we got a name for your friend here! ho-ha!"
"What? What is it?"
"Call him Dai, Dai Thomas! Ho-ho ha-ha!" laughs Alstair.
"It, uh, SOUNDS good, I guess." Admits the scientist. "But, what's so funny?"
"Sorry, Herr Doktor, Inside joke! Ha-ha! You'd have to know him! he-he!"
"Well, the name works anyway. Wouldn't you say Igore?"
"DAI! DAI!" shrieks Igore.

CHAPTER 8
Dracula's tower...
"I don't know what kind of game you're playing, you monster, but Excalibur has trashed far nastier villains than you!" Threatens Shadowcat. "If you thing for one minute...!"
"Calm yourself, my dear. There are things here you do not yet understand." Starts the Count. "Surly you have noticed variations in personalities of the many cross-time counterparts you have encountered in your journeys."
"Well... yeah..."
"Then believe me when I say that I hold a greater grasp upon my humanity than my dopplganger upon your world." Says Dracula, gently taking Kitty's hand, dropping to one knee, and kissing her hand.
"Oh-My!" stammers a startled Shadowcat. "But, um, but how do you know of our crosstime journeys?" she asks suspiciously.
"My dear lady, there are a great number of secrets held from the general populous of your world. many of which they, as a whole simply are not ready for. while those who have experienced these things individually are often considered the fringe lunatics. Why, to here the tales you could tell, many would have you committed!"
"Good point, but it still doesn’t explain how you have been able to follow our exploits."
"True. Allow me to show you the Orb of Eternity." He says as a great glowing ball set with in a golden tripod ring with strange symbols inscribed upon it rises through an opening in the floor.
"Wow!" Shadowcat lets out in a breathless gasp.
"The Orb was left in my care by a powerful Warlock when he chose to go into a deep meditative hibernation. It shows me things which are to come, and reveals many secrets of the multiverse. An anomaly such as your friends could hardly go unnoticed." "Especially when they are accompanied by one of such beauty as yourself. He says with a warm smile, looking into her eyes. "Such beauty should not lie hidden and concealed beneath a mask." he says soothingly, as he removes the mask from her blushing face. "Come, let us dance."
As the torches dim, soft, haunting music fills the room and Katherine Leeann Pryde is caught-up in the embrace of the former Romanian Prince as they glide around the room.
^I can't believe I'm doing this!^ Thinks Kitty to herself as the normally strong willed Shadowcat looses herself in the music and embrace of the Lord of the Night. Loosing herself in his strong arms...soothing smile...warm eyes...almost incandescent eyes. Eyes that drew her in... slowly wearing away her resistance... her very will.
His smile... so inviting... almost with out thought, her lips meet his. A kiss of fire stroking the flames of desire deep with in her. More. she needs more. As her tongue slides across his teeth, a small nick from one sharp fang sends her desire burning ever higher. She isn't herself, this isn't her, she knows, she knows and she does not care. Slowly, almost instinctively, she opens up her jacket bringing it down around her shoulders revealing her graceful neck. No words are spoken, none are needed as Katherine Pryde slowly, arching her neck gently slides her fingers down along her juggler, and slowly closes her eyes in anticipation. With his arms around her, one hand on her back, the other cradling her head, he leans forward gently penetrating her soft flesh with his fangs drinking of her warm, sweet blood as Katherine Leeann Pryde, Excalibur's Shadowcat, fades into the calm dark oblivion of unconsciousness.

Chapter 9
The lair of old wizard Xavier...
The aged wizard sits hunched over his glowing crystal ball watching the proceedings in Alstaire's lab. "My prize green flamingos?! They would DARE to seek MY green flamingos?! This must not be! My vision of the future IS cloudy, yet this much I DO know, that the green flamingos are a key component in my forthcoming claim to limitless power! They MUST be stopped!"
The finger tips of two female hands clad in long black gloves begin messaging Xavier's temples. "you need not concern yourself, with such trivial fools, my master. Under your wise guidance, your Ex-Men shall of course protect your sanctuary and all that which lies within." Purrs the voice belonging to the gloved fingertips.
Xavier reaches up, taking one of the gentle hands in his and kisses it. "Ah... my darling Shadow Queen, how right you are. Nothing will stand in my way! This Excalibur will come for my flamingos and they will fail...leaving me with the final piece in my plan of ultimate power, the Widget!"
"And then we shall pluck the fruits of ultimate power and no-OH-OH-OWWWW!!" She cries as Xavier grips and twists her hand painfully as he turns his throne around.
"'WE?' Miss. Gray? Do NOT delude yourself, girl, The power shall be MINE and mine ALONE! IS that clear?"
"Yes. Of course. Explicatly, Master." She says slowly turning away.
"You are dismissed." he says with a wave of his hand.
He shouldn't have done that. He shouldn't have hurt her. Shouldn't have cut her off and sent here away like that. ^He hadn't always been so cruel. Long ago, he had been such a sweet man. A mentalist studying the ways of magic. then he started turning toward the black arts, under the tutelage of the demon Amal. It was a thrill at first, a path of such darkness, but it soon soured. Xavier had returned once saying his learning under Amal was completed, and things Havn’t been the same since. he became cruel and controlling... MENTALY controlling. He began using his mentalist abilities to control others... to control me.^ But Xavier's power has grown weak over time. His control is not what it used to be, his slaves are beginning to slip... and it will cost him...dearly!^

CHAPTER 10
A field... a wide open meadow... a little girl sits gathering flowers. As the sun begins to set a dark mass approaches the little girl offering her a box. A black box with shimmering flowing ribbon of such a deep red one would compare it to life blood. The little girl smiles up at the darkness bearing gifts and in her innocents unties the ribbon opening the box. With in is a darkness. A darkness that flows out, growing, encompassing the little girl...suffocating her... transforming her...As night falls, where once sat an innocent little girl now stands a larger figure, a dark hooded cloak obscuring it's features until the figure raises it's hands clad in long rich ebbon gloves pulling back the hood to reveal a woman of long flowing hair and skin pale as the soft moonlight which fell upon it, eyes hauntingly beautiful as they gave off a soft ruby glow in the night. The woman... Katherine Pryde.
Shadowcat slowly stirs, her eyes gradually opening to wakefulness only to see nothing. Outreached fingertips feel the silky smoothness of satin-lined padding mere inches away at every side. She pushes gently upon the panel before her which slowly opens allowing the cool night air to fully refresh her, rousing her to full wakefulness as a gentlemanly hand takes hers helping her out of the place where she had been sleeping and onto the cold stone floor. Kitty turns for a moment to view the luxurious and delightfully peaceful chamber in which she had awaken... a coffin... and the man who's hand she still held in hers...Dracula, Lord of the Vampires.
"Had I thought you could you could grow no lovelier, Katherine... it would seem I was sorely mistaken." Dracula smiles leading her over to an intricately carved wardrobe with a variety exquisitely tailored outfits. From the richest in formal ball gowns to daringly sensuous outfits of satin and leather appropriate for the Hellfire Club. "For you, my dear, any attire you so desire is yours for the picking."
Kitty's pulse races as she unthinkingly runs her tongue across her teeth... feeling now her own newly formed fangs. Fangs.. she has fangs... Dracula's kiss... his bite... had been so intoxicating... a firy passion she had never felt... the way he made her feel.... so desirable... so sexy... the way she still feels in his presence. But his bite... her fangs... was she a vampire now? Like him? She wondered as she looked the variety of outfits over, admiring their style, feeling the fabric... deep down she can feel it... a darkness with in her, yet not wholly a part of her...
"You look troubled, Katherine. Is something the matter?"
"you've made me feel like I've never felt before..."
"You are a vampire now, Katherine, there is an inherent darkness in such. You can control IT or it can control you..."
"Like Logan and Creed's savageness."
"Very much so. The darkness of the vampire is kept held at bay by three things... First and formost, the character of the individual, the bed of native soil... a soothing subconscious link to the vampire's mortal past, and the drinking of warm sweet blood... preferably that of the innocent." He says, gently lifting her chin gazing into her beautifully iridescent ruby red eyes and their lips meet in a deep firy kiss.
"Aren’t I a bit young for you?" Kitty teases with a smile.
"My dear, I have lived for five-hundred years... your great grandmother is technically a bit young for me." He laughs. "I mearly take in those whom I deem worthy. And you, Katherine, are not only worthy of the gift of immortality in your keen intellect, but quite inciting as well."
"Five centuries have left you quite the charmer." She smiles as she turns her back to him selecting one of the more daring selections of attire from the wardrobe as with a wink over her shoulder, she phases free of her Shadowcat costume, letting it fall to the floor.
"What do you think?" she asks, turning around holding the outfit up against her body. The old Kitty Pryde would never have done anything so blatantly provocative, but the darkness of the vampiric nature caresses her soul, bringing out a far more sensual and sexy Shadowcat.
"You would make the attire wondrous." Dracula approves, looking her up and down. "Perhaps you would care to see for your self?" he asks as he pulls a sheet from over a full length mirror in the corner.
The vampiric Katherine Pryde turns admiring her self in the mirror. "I thought vampires..."
"Didn't cast reflections? Generally we don't, they fade over time." his hands caressing her soft shoulders.
"Mmmmmm...now if you'll excuse me, I'll slip into something... a little more appropriate." she winks as she slips behind the screen. Sliding in one leg... then the other.. sliding the body of the outfit up around her hips... her waist... and finally her breasts... a perfect fit! She pulls on the red high heels with the flared tops, then raising her arms high above the screen, she slides the long dark fingerless gloves before sliding around and leaning against the side of the screen seductively. "A perfect fit." she smiles.
"Indeed." As he wraps her shoulders with the broad-collared cape she had selected as she reaches up, latching the clasp.
"You truly make a delightsome vampiress, Katherine." Assures the Vampire Lord, obviously pleased with his new prodigy.
"I wonder what Kurt will think? Or Alstair..." She wonders aloud caressing her new fangs with her tongue.
"Shall we find out?" As Dracula escorts his new convert to the door.

CHAPTER 11

“Ubligach! Kitty?!” Nightcrawler stammers. “You look... you look...”
”Dosn’t she.” grins Dracula as Kitty smiles, revealing two long sharp fangs.
”This IS only temporary, I trust?” Kurt glares at Dracula. “That... is entierely up to her. Provided she
refrain from the partaking of another’s lifeblood, my gift will fade as the first rays of the
morning sun warm her flesh. She will be a mere mortal once again.”
”And that’s JUST the way we like her, thank you very much.” “Alstair is attending to
Rachel. This ...other Alstair has filled me in on where we are to go...”
”Shall we then?”offers Kitty, extending one arm toward Nightcrawler, taking
the chain keeping Meggan under control in the other, as they depart out the door,
Lockheed and Widget flying behind.

CHAPTER 12
Xavier’s Lair...
”Let them come...” mutters the sick and twisted man who is the Charles Xavier of this world. “They will seek my
flamingos, they will find their deaths at the hands of my Ex-Men!” ~GO! My Ex-Men! go forth and SLAY them!~ goes the telipathinc
command to his minnions, Jean Grey, his Shadow Queen, Waren Worthington III, The Raven, the brooding one-eyed Cyclops,
the Banchee, the psychic vampire known only a Rogue... the Inhuman Ex-Men! To Be Continued . . .