Massachusetts.  A warm April morning.  A rare event these days.  The town slowly woke up, and with it the children of the townspeople  They had an habit of waking up early.  Especially since this was the last day of the April fair.  They ran out on the streets, holding a few dollars given to them by their parents.  Just enough to pay the unlimited entrance fee.  And in the Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters, things were no different.

"But it's the LAST day, Mr. Cassidy!", desperately pleaded young Franklin Richards, nearly on his knees before the Irish man.

"I told ye, lad, I just can't make it, I've too much work to do!", Sean said, patting him on the head and entering his office.

Artie's mental pictures showed a picture of the three kids, Artie, Leech and Franklin, in a ride of the fair, with a big X on it.

"No, Artie, we're still going, right, Franklin?", Leech tried to reassure his friend.

Franklin looked at Emma's closed office door.  He approached it and knocked.

"Leave me alone, kids, I can't make it either.", came Ms. Frost's voice.

Franklin was close to abandoning the idea and proposing something better to do when salvation itself stepped in.

"Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Frost, we're all going into town.  We'll be back around 5 tonight.", Jubilee shouted as she walked down the corridor.

"To town?  Bring us to the fair, Jubes?  Please?", Franklin asked, seeing the opportunity.

Jubilee looked down at him.

"I'm not sure, little guy, we're headed so...", she started.

"Jubilee, the only way you're allowed off the school grounds is if you bring these three to the fair.", Sean said, coming out of his office.

"Wha...", she started to retort.

"You heard him!", Emma added from inside her office, not even bothering to come out.
 
 Jubilee sighed.  She was smart enough to realize she had lost.

"All right, kids, come on...", she said, walking away, the trio cheering happily all around her.

****

    Mondo looked at his friends as they all waited for the two cabs set to lead them into the city.  He wanted to join into their conversations right away, but couldn't.  He has something to do first.  He looked away and headed into the woods.  Mondo hated this.  It was wrong.  It felt wrong.  Everything in his life that had come before was yelling at him to stop this.  But he also knew what would happen if he did.  And he didn't want that either.

"I'm here.", he said as he reached a small clearing.  "Is it time?"

"No, Mondo, not yet.", the shadows answered.

Mondo nodded, a part of his mind very thankful it wasn't now, and headed back to his friends.

****

    Mondo returned to the others as the two cabs arrived.  Jubilee, Everett, Franklin, Artie and Leech got into the first one.  Paige, Mondo and Elizabeth stepped into the second one.  Jono was about to enter, when he suddenly stopped and almost fell backwards.  A sudden spell of dizziness hit him, and for a second it seemed as though the world was a giant spinning wheel, never stopping.  His legs felt weak, and he took a few steps back.  Paige looked out the window.

"Jono?  Are you all right?", she asked him, worried.

He shook his head, in an effort to clear it.  It helped, a little.

*Yeah, Paige, I'm all right...  Just a little tired.  I went to bed late last night...*, Jono explained, regaining some composure.

Paige looked at him a few seconds, then nodded and returned her head inside the car.  Jono stepped in the cab, and they were away.

****

    The fair was a pretty busy place that day.  People all around walked in groups, trying out different rides or ability games.  When they first stepped out of the cab, Artie, Leech and Franklin had stood breathless at the sheer intensity of it all.  Franklin had seen fairs before, but not nearly as populated as this one was.

"I'm beginning to think we should have stayed home, with all these people around.", Paige said as she came out, staring at the multitude of people.

Jubilee's eyes were almost as wide as the kid's.

"Come on, Paige, this could get fun...", Jubilee said, smiling.

Elizabeth looked around, and gave Jubilee a weak smile.  This was reminding her of another fair she went to once.  With Kyle.  She sighed and started walking alongside the others, her mind remembering painfully.  It had been one of the greatest days of her life.  Spent with the man she felt back then she would spend her entire life with.  She shook her head, disgusted at her own stupidity.  How could she have not seen this coming?  It had all been too beautiful.  Too perfect.  Where had been her negativism when she really had needed it?  She sighed and followed the rest of the group as they reached the fair grounds.  Jubilee looked at Elizabeth, guessing at what was going through her friend's mind.

"Are you all right, Elizabeth?", she finally asked.

Elizabeth snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Jubilee.

"Oh, sure I'm all right...  Just fine...  I was just thinking of the past, that's all.", Elizabeth reassured Jubilee.

Jubilee nodded, before getting suddenly yanked away by the arm.

"Everett, what are you doing?", she asked him, shocked.

He was taking her towards the ride known as the "Twister".

"Taking you for the ride of your life, lady...", he said, looking back at her and grinning.

She smiled in return and followed.  Everett was obviously challenging her will to go, and he was going to be surprised at how far she was willing to go.

"You don't know what you're talking about, Ev...", she responded, hurrying up after him.

Jono looked at the two of them run off, and then caught the name of where they were heading.  The twister.  He looked away, trying desperately to control the world, trying to stop it from spinning.  The effect was getting stronger every time it returned.  He used a tree to support himself trying to clear his head.  He could feel something within him stirring, trying to break it, like when his powers had first emerged.  And it was all he could do to hold it back in this time...  Like in his nightmare...

"Jono?  Are you okay?  Is something wrong?", Paige asked him, trying to hold him up.

He looked up at her, and for a second thought of telling her, but decided otherwise.  He didn't need her help.  He had trouble to think.

"Jono?  Jono?", Paige called, looking desperately to see if the others were near.

Jono looked at her.  He wanted to be alone.

*Leave me alone, Paige!*, he shouted.

And then he pushed her back.  He didn't really know what he was doing, he was struggling to stay up, and Paige had tried to help him.  In his normal state of mind, he would never had done it.  But he wasn't in his normal state of mind.  She fell backwards and landed on her butt, shocked.  It had hurt.  She angrily rose and walked away.

"Fine, JONO!  Be that way!"

Jono looked at her go, his head finally clearing.

"What have I done..."

****

    "Angelo, I want to try that one too!", Franklin said, running to a ride.

Angelo followed the young boy, passing by Jubilee and Everett as they stepped down from the Twister.

"HA!  Told you I'd be able to do it!", Jubilee teased the one at her side.

Everett looked away innocently before setting his gaze on Angelo as he ran after Franklin, Artie and Leech.

"Last one there is a one legged ugly alien!", Franklin said, taking the lead in their small race.

Angelo seemed to hesitate a second, and Everett saw it.

"Hey, Angelo, you look like you're getting along pretty well with these kids, huh?", he shouted.

Angelo looked back at the two of them as Artie and Leech started running. He stared at Jubilee, then at Everett again, and snorted.

"That's a funny thing coming from you, Ev.", he said, looking at Jubilee again, before running off after the others.

Jubilee's eyes became slits as she watched him go.

"What does he mean by that?", she asked out loud.

Everett watched him go, then looked at Jubilee again, before taking her arm and taking her somewhere else.

"You know him, he's probably pissed at something...  Come on..."

The two walked away.

****

    Mondo looked at the many activities offered to him.  Although on his tropical islands there were many carnivals, none had ever been like this.  So many people lived here, it was a wonder at how they managed to have a personal life.  He sighed.  He did miss his islands for that reason.  He enjoyed being here, but he knew it wouldn't last.  The black man wouldn't let it last.

"Come try our "Shoot the hoop" game!  You, mister in the T-shirt, won't you give it a try?", a man shouted, trying to get his attention.

Mondo looked at him.  Why not?

"Hey, all right, I'll try!", he said.

He had so little time left, he might as well enjoy it.

****

    The Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Sean Cassidy's office.

The office around him was silent and darkened.  The Irish man sat at his desk, thinking of a life he could have led.  Of a daughter he missed deeply.  In his hands he held a photo of her, framed.  He kept it on his desk all the time, right beside Moira's.  Two girls he missed deeply.  Both for different reasons.  He shot a glance at the paperwork waiting for him on the side of the desk and sighed.  Sean rose to switch the light on.  There'd be enough time for remorse and guilt later.  Now, he had a job to do.  A boring job, but someone had to do it.  He came back to his seat, placed the two pictures right, and got to work...  Remembering he had to resolve himself to calling Theresa soon.

****

    Emma sat somewhere in the school.  Silent.  Even her thoughts were silent for once.  She was looking at photos too, but for a different reason.  In her hands she held two pictures.  One of M, one of the Hellions.  All of them dead.  And deep down, she knew it was all her fault.  All because of her uselessness.  She remained silent.

****

    Back at the fair, Angelo followed the three kids at a bit slower pace.  In his earlier enthusiasm, the L.A. native had forgotten one important thing about kids.  When it came to having fun, they had even more energy then teenagers.

"Hey, guys, wait up, I need to catch my breath here...", he shouted to the joyful kids as they ran around.

Franklin turned around and saw Angelo slowing down.  He signaled to Artie and Leech, and they all stopped and walked back towards Angelo, who was grateful those kids weren't uncomprehensive brats.

"Thanks, kids.", he said, looking around a bit for the others.

And then he saw it.  A small poster, showing the image of a drawn enormous man, and the promise that they would hand 100$ just like that to the man or MEN who could move the "Immovable Man".  Angelo smiled darkly.  That was an hundred bucks he just knew him and the rest of them could get easily.  He turned to face Franklin, Leech and Artie.

"You kids stay right here, okay amigos?  I'll be right back!", he told them before running off in search of the others.  And already thinking of what he would do with a hundred dollars.

And so, around five minutes later, they all stood before the poster, wondering why in the world Angelo had gathered them here.

"I tell you guys, this is a good hundred in our pockets for sure!", Angelo said, trying to convince the others.

"I don't know, Angelo, we're not supposed to use our powers that way.", Paige retaliated.

"Yeah, but...", Angelo began.  He never had time to finish.

"Come on, guys, it could be fun!", Jubilee chimed in.  "We'll use our powers subtly.  Nobody will notice."

The others seemed doubtful when a man with a large brown trenchcoat and brown hair wearing sunglasses approached them.

"Are you interested in participating, because the Immovable Man is just coming on stage!", the man said, pointing to a stage to the team's right.

All the team saved Angelo turned around to see.

"Yeah, we'll participate.", Angelo said.

"Then step right up on the stage.", the man said, pushing them forward with uncanny strength.

Franklin, Artie and Leech looked at each other, then decided to stay back from the stage, since Leech would cancel everyone's powers.  Everyone got on the stage and waited, as the man with the trenchcoat stepped up with them and took a microphone.

"LAAAADDDIES AND GENTLEMEN!", the man shouted into the microphone.  "WE HAVE CHALLENGERS TO FACE THE IMMOVABLE MAN TODAY!  PLEASE GIVE THEM ALL A ROUND OF APPLAUSE!"

The few spectators who had gathered applauded, then turned at a huge door where no doubt the Immovable Man would come through.  And a few seconds later, the doors began to open.

"And here he is, ladies and gentlemen, the IMMOVABLE MAN!", the presenter called as the giant man came forward.

All the members of Gen.X gasped, and Paige, Jono, Everett and Elizabeth shot Angelo and Jubilee vengeful glances as they recognized the figure they had studied about in classic X-men class.

The Blob.

****

"SO, you kids think you can take me ON!", the Blob shouted, almost bursting with laughter.

"Guys, you really think we can take on the Blob?", Elizabeth asked, suddenly not sure she knew enough about her powers in such a situation.

"Well, Angelo, it was your idea, why don't you go first?", Everett challenged.

Angelo gulped and took a step forward.

"So, um, all I have to do is make him move, right?  Even if it's only an inch?", he asked the presenter, who nodded in response.

Angelo took another step, determined to show them all he could do it.

"Shouldn't we do this as a team?", Paige told the others.

*No, I just want to see how he does against him.*, Jono said ironically.

Angelo ran straight for the Blob, slamming into him, sending tendrils of skin unseen to wrap around the Blob's legs and try to ruin his balance.  To no effect.

"You'll have to do better then that, kid.", the big man said, throwing Angelo away with a swing of his arm.

"Let's go, guys!", Paige shouted, and, as one, they struck.

Paige morphed into rock and slammed into the Blob, giving Jono enough room to allow him to send a TK blast.  Which wasn't enough to move him.  Everett synched with the Blob, taking some of his mass and trying to use it against him, but found himself moving too slow to accomplish anything.  Jubilee blinded him with one of her small bursts of energy, but nothing came of it.

"So much for sublety.", she said as she struck.

And a few seconds later, they all joined Angelo to the ground.  Only Elizabeth, who had stayed back, was still something.

"You're our only hope to save ourselves from humiliation!", Jubilee shouted.

Elizabeth didn't know what to do really, so she just went for something simple.  Try to go into Blob's mind and force him back.  But the result wasn't quite what she expected.  A powerful blast came out of her forehead the instant she entered Blob's mind and tried to gather some information.  She absorbed some of the behemoth's psychic energy and gathered it together, creating the beam she was now generating.  It hit the Blob full strength, and he was forced to move his foot slightly backwards to stop himself from falling.  Silence fell on everyone.

"WE DID IT!", Angelo suddenly shouted.  "HE MOVED!"

Triumphantly Angelo and the others rose, and Angelo hugged Elizabeth.

"Thanks Chica, I owe you one!", he said, then went to the presenter while the others slowly approached behind him.

"We want our 100$.", Angelo said to the presenter.

The Blob came to them, picked up an 100$ and gave it to them.

"Here you go, kids, you merited it.", he simply said before heading back to his lodge.  "You coming, Calvin?", he shouted at the presenter, who nodded then followed him.

"Guys, can we let them walk away?  That's the BLOB, a wanted criminal, and that guy must be the Mimic, judging from his appearance and the fact that he called him Calvin...", Paige stated, watching the two go.

"Well, they didn't really cause trouble...", Everett said.

"Naw, they even gave us the money.", Angelo added.

"I say we let them go this time.", Jubilee said.

"I agree.", Elizabeth seconded.

*Whatever we do, we'd better get away from here.  We've already attracted enough attention.*

Paige looked at all of them, then nodded.  And together they started walking away, with Franklin, Artie and Leech running all around them.  And unnoticed by all, a man watched Angelo leave, then went looking for a phone.  He had news to report to someone who'd be glad to learn that HE was still alive.

****

    Los Angeles.  The city of Angels.  Torres sat at her desk when the phone rang.  She picked it up, and listened as a one of her men reported on something rather unexpected.  She nodded, her face brightening at the mention of something, then, after giving a few instructions, hanged up.

"Well, that's interesting.  Looks my old friend Angie is still alive after all.", she said darkly before looking out at the city.

****

    France.  On the other side of the ocean.  A big forest surrounding a small villa in the middle of nowhere.

When Penance opened her eyes after the flash, she knew exactly where she was and what she had to do.  She wasn't lost anymore.  She had SOMEONE to find.  And a friend helping her.  She started running straight ahead, heading for her destination, where Penance knew SHE waited.  She wasn't lost anymore all right.  She had a purpose now.  Penance continued running.

End