"A Walk in the Clouds", or "X-Caflowne: an X-Men outtake on Visions of Escaflowne" by jyooleeh

Chapter 1

"Jubes? Ev is being sweet on me¡¦ does he like me?"

"Jubilee? If I asked Sam out, would he say yes?"

"Lee? Can ye do that thing with the cards again? Ach¡¦The dance is comin' up and 'aye need to know if Sean is in me forecast."

Jubilation Lee was running through the crowd of students at Westchester Academy. Her fellow classmates would always ask her to read them their love forecasts. Since her grandmother gave her a set of tarot cards 3 years ago, she had a knack for being right about the love lives of her friends. But right now she was late for a competition and her best friend and gymnastics manager, Paige Guthrie, was going to throw a hissy fit for her tardiness. Jubilee was hoping to scare her from behind, but Paige caught a glimpse of her bright pink shirt and quickly turned around.

"JU-BI-LEE!!" she screeched. "Ya're late! Ya know that ah'll get yelled at by your coaches¡¦ why can't yah be on time fo' once? Gwaaaah!"

"Paige¡¦ c'mon, Hayseed! I'm here now, isn't that good enough?" Jubilee batted her eyelashes, and gave her a sad puppy-dog look. "I'm weeely weeely sowwy¡¦"

"Lordy, Jubes, ya're such a dork! Now-" Paige pulled Jubilee's sweat pants down to her knees.

"AAAHH! PAIGE, WHAT IF I WASN'T WEARING MY LEOTARD UNDERNEATH?!!" she screamed.

Paige shrugged her shoulders. "Now, your event's in 5 minutes. Start stretching¡¦ you're up after you know who¡¦" She had a bright smile on her face that matched Jubilee's.

"Jono? He's up?" She turned her head to see Jonothan Evan Starsmore stretching his legs on the bench nearby. He was the school's gymnastics star, her mentor, as well as her crush of 3 years. Her heart raced as he waved hi to them. She felt her cheeks blush furiously red.

Paige grabbed Jubilee's arm, snapping her out of a lusty daydream and whispered loudly. "Jubes! He's about to start!"

Jono was on the pommel horse, undoubtedly his best event. He had grace, speed, and agility. His competitors stood amazed at his talent; Jubilee was transfixed on his fluid motions. When he dismounted, he had completed a nearly flawless performance, and everyone was thrilled, including the judges, who had awarded him with a 9.97, undoubtedly the highest mark ever received for that event in the state. Ecstatic that he had done so well, Jubilee ran over to congratulate him until Paige reminded her that she was up for the vault.

'Later,' she thought. 'I can tell him later.' She took a deep breath and walked over to the chalk pit to dust her hands with a fine layer of powder, and stretched. It was her turn now, and she began her sprint. While she was running, she envisioned a spark of electricity shooting down from the sky, and before long, a short, stocky boy appeared before her. He was wearing armor and carried with him a big sword. Jubilee's eyes were frantic. She tried to stop running but she couldn't. When she phased through the mirage, she fainted.

When she woke up, she was startled to find herself in the school's infirmary, with Jonothan sitting bedside.

"J-Jono? Wh-what am I doing here? I-I-"

"Shh, gel. You had a fainting spell. You'll be okay." He crinkled his eyes and smiled at her.

"Uh- Jono? Congratulations on your event¡¦ it was cool." 'It was cool? Did I just say that? Stupid, stupid, stupid!' Jubilee began cursing herself silently.

"Thanks, gel. Ya know, yer not so bad yerself. I've seen a at practice. Ya just gotta train a bit harder. Ya totally have the drive fer it."

Jubilee blushed. He complimented her! 'I should have fainting spells more often!' she thought. All of a sudden she felt his eyes upon her and she shifted uncomfortably. That is, until she saw what he was looking at.

"Neat, huh? My grandmother gave this to me when I was little. She said she had it when she was my age. I like how it glistens in the light."

"May I?"

Jubilee fumbled with the silvery clasp and handed it over to Jono. "It's unbreakable, I think. It's got diamond-like qualities, in a metallic sort of way-"

Just then, Jono decided to place his face near hers.

"Gel, I-" Jubilee's stomach was twisting in knots.

"Hey, Jubes how...!!!" Paige looked at the two in shock. She accidentally barged in on something that could've been a moment between the two and quickly ran out of the door embarrassed.

* * * * *

"Paige, wait up! What's gotten into you? Why are you acting like this?"

Paige blinked away the tear that was starting to form. "Jubes¡¦"

"Are ya still mad at me for being late? Is that it? I'll make it up to ya with some Ben and Jerry's- hey! And I know how much you love those McNuggets¡¦ they're 89¢ today! We can grab some and-"

"Jubes, it's not that. It's-"

"Paige- what's up? I've never seen ya so bummed before."

"Jono's leaving at the end of the month to train in Dallas for the Nationals- there were some scouts out in the gymnasium and¡¦ Jubes- he's going, and we're never going to be able to see him again!"

"No¡¦" 'He doesn't even know how I feel about him¡¦'

Jubilee raced home after hearing the news. She was devastated. Her heart heavy, she felt big tears welling up in her eyes. She then felt around her backpack for some kleenex but her fingers grazed her box of tarot cards. She had never tried them on herself, but she had to know if her and Jono were ever going to be reunited somehow. She then began a reading on herself.

The cards only confused her more. They told her of a separation "Yeah, separation from Jono', and the next card was bewildering. She looked at the card.

"La Luce," she whispered. The card was a picture of a leaning tower. Instantly she was drawn into a vision, of fire and mass destruction.

'It's so hot here¡¦ what's going on?'

To her side, buildings of stone were toppling over. Everything was set ablaze. To her side, she saw two gigantic robots fighting in the distance. Then, without warning, the ground beneath her crumbled, and she fell with it. She looked upward, toward the light, screaming for help. Then a flash of bright white came from the light in the form of an angel, who would be her savior. She couldn't see the face, as it was shrouded in shadows, but he had beautiful wings.

She snapped out of the vision. "What the heck? Strange¡¦," she muttered. She flopped onto her bed and began to think. She had to do something. She had to tell him. Tonight. Before it was all too late. She then packed her duffel bag and crept out of her house.

* * * * *

That night, Jono walked into the gymnasium for what was probably going to be his last time, remembering all the competitions he had participated in during his years at the Academy. His hard work was finally paying off, and he was getting the attention he deserved. He heard a noise coming from the back and he turned around, shocked to see Jubilee. He still had her necklace in his hand.

"Jono? I- I found out you were leaving and I wanted to¡¦ I mean, if- Jono, if, uh-" She chewed on her lower lip nervously. C'mon, Lee, you might never see him again, and ya have to do this now!' JONO IF I DO THIS VAULT AND STICK THE LANDING, WOULD YA BE MY FIRST KISS?" She didn't mean to shout, but she was just so darn nervous! "I mean, uh, youreallydon'thavetosayyesoranything,Idon'twanttoforceyouintoanythingyoud on'twanttodo-"

Jono's eyes crinkled as he smiled. "Sure, gel. Would be glad to."

Jubilee felt her legs reducing to a pile of mush. 'Kiss first. Weak knees, later.'

She was about to run when she saw more lights switch on. Paige was there to support her. Jubilee smiled. Paige was such a caring friend. She chalked up her hands, stretched a bit, and set forth, wearing a pair of jean shorts and a pink tank top. (Like she was going to have her first kiss in a leotard. Psh!) She then began her sprint. She failed to notice the spiral cloud rising through the gymnasium ceiling. As she prepared to jump on the springboard, a boy landed in front of her. She screeched. Instead of phasing through him, she ran into him and fell to the ground in a violent thud.

"Jubilee! Are you okay?" Paige and Jono raced over to their friend.

"YOU!" she cried, shouting in Logan's direction. "He's the boy from my dream¡¦ how can this be?"

"What? What are you saying, Jubilee?" asked Paige.

"GET OUT OF HERE, GIRL! A BEAST IS COMING AND I DON'T NEED YOU OR YER FRIENDS TO DISTRACT ME!"

"Beast? What beast?"

"Gel, you can understand what he's saying?"

Before Jubilee could answer, a mist began to fill the room. A vortex appeared, bringing forth one of the scariest creatures the three had ever laid their eyes upon. The creature let out a great bellow before charging after them. The boy ran out in the front of them and quickly drew his sword.

"HEY! YEAH- YOU, BUB! WANNA PIECE O'ME? YER ASS IS MINE!"

The monster was huge, taking up a generous portion of the floor exercise mat. He had huge metallic claws and a feral grin stretched from ear to ear. His blond hair was wild and covered most of its body. The boy fired an arrow into his eye, causing the beast to wrench in pain. In his anger, the beast swung his arms frantically, hitting the boy. He flew several yards, vomiting blood. Jono, Paige and Jubilee took off when the boy said he would distract the beast. They made such a clamor trying to get out of the place that they were spotted by the beast. He took off after them, and the boy gripped onto the beast's hair unnoticed.

Paige was trying to catch up to Jono and Jubilee and tripped over a rock.

"Paige!" cried Jubilee.

"I- I think I twisted it!!"

"Gel- climb onto my back!"

They began to race for their lives again. The beast was only a couple of yards away now, and the three ran to hide in a gazebo. Jubilee ran back out to see how close the beast was from their location and caught a glimpse of the boy gripping onto the back of the beast. He flipped over the beast and stood in front of it.

All of a sudden, Jubilee saw a vision of claws slashing down the boy's body- he was going to be killed! She had to do something¡¦ While the boy was distracted by an attempt to be kicked down, a quick paw came downward.

"LOOK OUT!" screamed Jubilee.

The boy looked up and nearly escaped death. The armor he had been wearing was split in the front. Now was his chance. While the beast was hunched over, he scrambled to the back of the beast and thrust his weapon into the base of its neck and cutting its way around. Blood sprayed forth from the slain beast drenching the boy. He walked in front of it and cut into its heart, pulling out a silvery rock. Within seconds, the blood and beast began to evaporate.

Jubilee and the others ran out. She ran up to the boy. "Are you okay? Where did that thing come from? Where did you-"

"Quit yer yappin'. You and yer friends nearly cost me everything, but I guess you're wanting some sort of reward for helping-."

The audacity- how dare he! She had just saved his life! Jubilee's blue eyes twinkled in anger.

"WHAT?" She slapped him hard. He growled. "Listen, you JERK! I was worried about you! You were about to be killed and I warned you! I should've never done it but I did and- and-" She broke down in sobs. Suddenly, a beam of light shot down from the sky and enveloped the two, drawing them up.

Jono ran toward he column of light, trying to grab for Jubilee's hand. "JUBILEE!"

"JONO!" Their fingers nearly touched, and the necklace found its way into her hand.

"JUBILEE! Come back!" cried Paige, who fell to her knees..

The column, Jubilee, and the boy, vanished into the sky.

TO BE CONTINUED¡¦

(Ya know, I've read it over, and it's almost exactly like the anime. Sorry, I guess I really couldn't stray from the main ideas, ya know? Like mecha and tarot cards and all that shizz¡¦ it's just that I watched it again the other night, and I kept thinking that certain characters would make great substitutions for others¡¦ well, let me know what ya think. If ya want to see something different, I'll try to fix things up in the second installment. If some parts of it sound hecka cheesy, dude. I am sorry. It can't be helped, yeah?)