Shao (Little Dragon): Part Four

by Tyna


DISCLAIMER: Marvel owns all the characters. No money is involved (story of my life). Thanks to a slew of people (especially Chi_Kokoro, Ken Barnes, Amy Hunt) who helped me with their suggestions so some of the ideas weren't mine also.

SUMMARY: Everyone had been worried about Jubilee. Now that they heard sheˇ¦s back her family rushed to make her homecoming a memorable one.

FEEDBACK: Please send feedback of any kind (praise, flaming, constructive criticism, etc.) to [email protected]

NOTES: Any bordered by triple characters (e.g. |||) means telepathic speech. Each telepath has a different signature. Phrases bordered by parenthesis mean the person is speaking in Japanese. Phrases bordered by * are thoughts. Any questions see feedback for my email address and I'll answer as best as I can. Archive at will


Matt and Myrial faced off in the Danger Room. Since neither of them could get a straight answer out of the senior members as to what was going on, they took their frustrations out on each other.

"Hey, no powers! We're supposed to be practicing our hand to hand techniques," Myrial complained and tried to hold as still as possible. Matt's net began to lose its integrity and faded altogether. They only worked if the subject struggled. He stood there calm and collected, a huge smile playing across his face like he at every canary in the mansion.

Myrial tapped into Logan's personality and schooled her facial features into a blank expression. *Okay punk lesse if yer as smart as ya think* she thought and covered her face with both hands making sobbing sounds. Through the cracks between her fingers, Myrial watched him approach guilt making is features look drawn. She waited till he got too close to activate one of his "magnets" and sucker-punched him in the gut.

The air was forced out of his lungs in a surprised grunt. He flew backwards, about two feet, landing heavily on his rear and slid two more feet on the slick metal surface. Stunned, he blinked tears from his eyes and struggled to regain his breath.

"I'm the best at what I do, but what I do ain't very nice," she quipped and shook herself from her rapport. If looks could kill Myrial thought she'd drop dead that instant.

"Everyone to the cafeteria," called over the loudspeakers. Matt forgot his momentary anger, jumped up and claimed Myrial's hand.

"That was Mrs. Summers and she sounded pretty urgent. Maybe now we'll get some answers." He didn't wait for an answer and made a mad dash for the door, pulling Myrial along with him, until she registered what he had said.

"Race ya!" she yelled and escaped before he could use his powers again.

"Hey!" he exclaimed and took off after her.

They ran through the halls recklessly, forcing bystanders to throw themselves out of the way as they to made their way to the cafeteria.

*****

"My dear Robert, I hope for your sake that that bucket does not make its way to the cafeteria." Beast couldn't hide his smile when Bobby fairly leapt out of his skin, his expression wide-eyed with surprise, and tried to hide said bucket behind him.

"Who me, Hankster? Would I do that?" Actually he was just giving back to its owner. He'd held onto it, originally, for sentimental value. He tried to get around Hank but the doctor blocked his path, his expression becoming more serious.

"We are all anxious to see her. Only the rescue party has had any contact with her. I regret being away during her recovery and look forward to making it up to our little girl," he said holding up a sizable quantity of twinkies from his personal stash. "Now about that bucket..." Hank accompanied Bobby in part for the company and also to make sure he didn't pull a prank. From what he'd heard, Hank wasn't sure Jubilee's frame of mind could take it.

" 'Alo mon amis, can a t'ief join you?" Gambit asked from behind the pair. He threw an arm over their shoulders, evidently in high spirits, and fell into step with them. The three walked on chattering away like old uncles. Bobby couldn't help but notice the elongated sack slung over Gambit's right shoulder.

Its seams were embroidered with intricate lattices. Jubilee's name was done in gold and black glittering threads where the handle met the top of the sack. Hilts, formed by carved ivory dragons, jutted out of the opening. Each one held an imperial jade apple. Their eyes were marquee garnets that were almost blood red.

"Didn't know you were the purse type," Bobby teased. He couldn't help himself

"Dere be many t'ings you don know, but Gambit t'inks you have ice for brains. Dis be de petite's swords. Logan, he ask me to hold dem when dey found her. Den he wan' Gambit to bring dem to de cafˇ¦ w'it de sack, he'd bought for her. Hear she changed, nest cest pas?"

After a dozen questions, Gambit realized he wasn't getting any definite information. He urged them to walk faster so he could see for himself.

******

An ivory white limo sped along the freeway weaving in and out of traffic dangerously. It flew past a police car and should have been tagged. Emma turned away from the window and tried to relax.

"Ms. Frost, that wasn't a proper use of powers," Monet scoffed but didn't seem too upset by it. They had come to know it as her version of teasing.

### Who bloody cares, gel ### Jonothan Starsmore was getting tired of Monet's high an mighty attitude. He knew for a fact that she was just as anxious to see Jubilee as the rest of them and wished she'd give into her feelings for once. Her psychic aura was conflicted to where it began to leak. It was giving him a headache.

Emma quickly tuned out their arguing holding on to her icy exterior. Inside her stomach twisted in knots and her heart jumped against her ribcage like a caged animal. Jubilee was alive and well. Emma didn't know which she felt more, relief or dread. The girl had been one of her favorite students, not that she'd ever let anyone know that, and felt an enormous responsibility for what had happened. Emma still berated herself for not checking in with the X-mansion, for not going after her and for the fight that led to her disappearance.

*If only I had given in a little this would have never happened* she thought and was thrown forward against her seatbelt. Other shouts of protest erupted from her students, their gifts tumbling to the floor. Luckily, Emma had insisted on seatbelts so they didn't follow. Skin was helping them retrieve their packages when Emma glanced back outside.

The freeway was replaced by a compacted dirt and gravel road; rows upon rows of pines lining the way. In the rapidly shrinking distance Emma could see the mansion and her heart leapt from its cage to her throat; she couldn't wait any longer.

<<*Xavier, are we too late?*>> Her mental call was laced with anxiety and concern. She felt him brush her mind and opened up to receive his reply, calming a little from the close contact.

:::No Emma, you'll get here just in time, but you might want to have your driver slow down a bit. You're going to crash into our gate before it's given a chance to open:::

Emma's head snapped up. Paige was shaking her shoulders. "Uh, Ms. Frost...Ma'am..."

<<*Driver, do I really have to tell you everything? Use your brain man. If you so much as scratch my brand new limo I will first flay you to the four winds and then take it out of your pay. Slow down NOW*>>

Again everyone was forced into their seatbelts as the driver slammed onto the brakes half in necessity and half in fear. Packages flew into the glass separating them and the driver smashing against one another. The brakes locked causing the back to fishtail, spinning the long vehicle in a steady slide towards the red brick stone wall that housed a very solid iron-gate.

Sean, who had decided it was best for him to fly ahead, noticed the erratic movements of the limo and dove straight into its path. At the last second he pulled out hovering just above the roof and opened his mouth wide. Sound waves too high to hear lashed into the wall, shaking it down to its foundation.

In the meantime the limo continued to skid out of control. There was a hole in the wall now, wide enough for it to pass through but the debris was still in the way, not to mention the iron fencing. To reduce the rubble to mere pebbles he alternated between high and low frequencies but there was no way he could remove the fencing in time.

Monet launched herself out of the sunroof pushing her flying speed to its limits. She shot past a startled Sean her arms outstretched in front of her to snag the gnarled metal just before the limo sped through the hole. It came to a screeching halt, rocking slightly on its suspension.

Everyone piled out of the limo, looking a little haggard but none worse for the wear. Angelo dropped to his knees and kissed the ground. Emma tugged her clothing into place, smoothing her hair down. Her expression was not pleased. Jono staggered under the weight of their damaged packages. He set them down, trying his best to make the boxes look square again. Hopefully the goods inside weren't damaged but they'd have to wait and see about that.

The courtyard was deserted. No one came out to greet them.

"Hurry," Paige urged and picked up her package. The other followed suit and made a mad dash towards the cafeteria, even Monet. Sean and Emma were left standing shaking their heads at their students' impatience.

"I guess we'd better follow," Emma sighed and started to walk. Sean couldn't help notice that she kept picking up the pace as the got closer to the large building labeled "Cafeteria". He wasn't fooled by her outward appearance and had to stretch his legs to keep up with her. After a harrowing arrival, they were finally going to see Jubilee.