MV1 comics
What If...# 151

This is another time and another place. Things you know of the first
Earth will only help you a little here. In the quest for peace and
justice for all, a group of heroes challenges the world they live on.
Forces of evil and magic close upon them but for the X-Men, it is why
they are together. In a world of evil and injustice, a light must come
into this world. . .X: The Third Earth.

_______________________________

Morning: 8:14 a.m.:

A man yawned as he exited the front doors of his castle. He was saluted
by guards as he walked down the corridors. He turned to see two suns
rise in the mountains, high and mighty. Birds flew through the sky. 
His brown hair flew in the breeze. He walked through bushes filled 
with flowers. He turned to his left, to smile at a woman in red.
She was walking with a young girl with red hair. His heart sunk in
sheer happiness. The man walked to them with a smile on his face.
"Hello, ladies. How are my favorite girls this morning?" The man
said proudly. The woman kissed the man passionately as the girl jumped
to hug the man.

"Hi, daddy!" The girl's embrace was tight.

The woman pulled the girl away from her father to kiss him again.
"She wanted to see you. So did I. Sleep well, Scott?"

Princess Jean was rather pump at this time, due to her pregnancy.
Scott did not care. He was happy to be a father. "I never have too many
problems as long as you are with me. As for this little woman," Scott
lifted his daughter, "I never mind her wanting to see me. And how are
you this morning, Rachel?"

"Fine, daddy. Can you have breakfast with us, daddy?" Rachel had eyes
that melted the heart of her father more than any fire on this planet.

Scott picked her up. "I would not do anything else this morning than
enjoy being with my favorite girls. Jean, where is little Nate?"

Jean turned to her husband. "Nate is with Justice this morning. They
are practicing Telekinetics again. I sent word that Nate should be here
by breakfast."

Scott nodded, kissing his wife. "Well, let me get to my morning
training. I shall see you all at nine."

"Bye, daddy!"

Scott waved to his wife and daughter as they entered the castle once
again. Scott looked at the garden he was in. Being the Prince of
Graymalkin had its privileges. Scott walked forward some in a slow
movement. In the shadows behind him, two yellow eyes were present.
Scott heard a cracking sound in front of him.

"I thought they would never leave." A blue furred man jumped from the 
shadowed bushes, attacking the Prince. Scott felt the force of a kick
to his jaw. Scott was stunned for merely a moment. Scott jumped to his
feet to face his attacker. He saw a man in blue fur with a nearly bald 
head. His eyes were yellow and he stood in a fighting stance. Scott
smirked at him.

"Well, well, Nightcrawler! You want a fight, you have one." Scott had
unleashed his sword. His eyes began to burn red with fire. He thrust
towards the furred man with speed and grace. The two locked in combat 
with each other until one or the other gave in. Scott and Nightcrawler 
fought with vigor. Scott began to slash at the blue man but Nightcrawler 
used his agility to his advantage.

During the whirl of battle, Scott was tripped by the tail of his opponent.
"Someone needs more practice against me, ja?"  Nightcrawler's voice was
filled with mocking laughter. Scott, on the other hand, retaliated silently. 
In an instant, Scott shot a beam at his friend. Nightcrawler taking a
hit to his side. Scott moved in with his sword, only to miss as the blue
mutant teleported with a cloud of smoke.

"Damn it! Kurt! Kurt! I hate it when he does that this close to me.
He really stinks when he does that." Scott was dropped from behind by
the eager Nightcrawler, his hand on his blade and his feet restraining
Prince Scott. "Not bad, but I can't help that I stink. But are you sure
it is not just your own swordplay?"

Scott laid a widespread blast on Nightcrawler, lifting him off his
feet. Nightcrawler landed only a few feet behind the man. The Prince 
said, "And who stinks now, Kurt?" Prince Scott had a smile on his
face. He put his hand out for Kurt to take.

"You only used that beam so you would not get sliced." Kurt
complained. As the two were laughing, Scott's brother Alex appeared.
Alex was very serious in his tone. "It is almost time for breakfast
and you two play like children. I wonder how father ever chose you to
be his successor Scott." Alex was very arrogant and bitter. He did not
like the fact that King Christopher had chosen Scott over Alex.

"Alex, we were having some fun. Plus, training never hurt anyone."

"But playing around does, Scott. You two had better learn that or
you will not survive for the future."

The two look at the departing Prince Alex with pity. Alex was so
cold most of the time. The two let their thoughts of Alex disappear as
they headed for the dining hall.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the dining hall, the Princess of Westchester, Jean, had sat on
her chair near her father in law, King Christopher, Princess Jean's
daughter, on the other side of her mother and next to her robotic
guardian, Nanny. Rachel walked to her grandfather and gave him a kiss.
The king was happy to receive a kiss from the young girl. His heart
smiled at his granddaughter. She was strong like her mother but had the
determination of her father, Prince Scott. King Christopher looked on as
Prince Alex walked in, bumping into his niece. Rachel looked up at Alex.
Rachel stood still as Alex smiled at Rachel.

"Good morning, Munchkin! How are you?" Alex said to Rachel. There was
something to Alex that bothered her but she kissed him on the cheek.
Alex turned to his father and sister in law to greet them. "Morning, Jean, 
father! Is breakfast ready?"

Christopher puts his hand out to the table, where there are lush
servings of food all over. Alex's mouth watered, then he took his seat.
Rachel ran around the room, laughing again when she looked out the
window. A bird looked at her. Their eyes locked. Rachel felt something 
was wrong with this bird and wanted to find out. She moved to the ledge 
as she lost her balance. Rachel screamed as she was caught by two sets
of hands. She looked up to see two famous people that she had come to
know.

"Are you all right, pumpkin?" Rachel saw the faces of her mother's
guard, Logan, and the royal Wizard, Wizard X.

"Thank you, Uncle Logan!" The two put down the young princess by her
mother, who hugged Rachel intensely.

Wizard X moved to the King.

"We must talk, my king."

Christopher looked at the wizard and nodded. Whenever the two of them
wanted to have a private conversation, the King would nod and let
Xavier, known as Wizard X throughout the land, go about their talk
telepathically.

'What news have you come to give me, Xavier?'

'The time has come to fulfill the prophecies of the past. A danger is
on the rise. My Cerebro detected it earlier.'

'Are you certain of this, Xavier? Can it be time?'

Xavier nodded, then psi-spoke, 'Soon, Magneto will be free once more.
Then all hell shall break loose upon the land. We must gather the
warriors we need. It is time. It is time for the X-Men.'

------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE SOUL SWORD QUEST PART I: GENESIS

created and written by Frankie Rodriguez

Prince Scott and Nightcrawler entered the dining hall, laughing and
smiling. Princess Jean moved to her husband and kissed him. The Prince
pulled out the chair for his wife to sit down again while Nightcrawler
sat by Logan. Prince Scott prepared to sit as his daughter jumped on
his lap. He playfully lifted the girl in his arms with sheer happiness.
This moment was something he always wanted to savior. He turned to his
father. "Morning, Father. How are you this morning?"

King Christopher stood quiet as his first son bid him good morning. 
Scott and Alex both felt that this was odd. Scott was about to say
something again when Vance entered the room with his son, Prince Nathan.
Nathan ran to both his parents with a smile on his face as well as
dirt. "Dad, mom!! I blasted a dozen bottles apart today! I am getting
better in combat, too. Isn't that right, Vance?" The boy, being only
ten, had as much enthusiasm as any ten year old could have. Scott and Jean
smiled at the young boy. Vance moved to the proud parents of the boy.

"He is taking his training seriously now. Nate's telekinetic powers
are far ahead of any average mutant on this planet. He will definitely
surpass the power of the two of you."

Princess Jean found little comfort in that, knowing that her powers
had been as much as a curse than a blessing at times. Scott smiled
proudly at his son, then motioned them to sit down. Scott turned to his
father once more.

"Father, isn't that wonderful?"

King Christopher was still zoned out.

"Father!"

Christopher turned to his first born. "I am sorry, son. You were
saying?"

"Good morning. I was saying how Nate was doing well in the study of 
his powers."

Christopher just looked at him blankly. Everyone began to notice.

Alex asked, "Is something wrong, father?"

Christopher was trying to keep himself cool but he knew he could
not. "I have news. Trouble is on the horizon. We must prepare Graymalkin
and Westchester for the worse."

"What kind of trouble, my king?" Kurt began to inquire.

Christopher took a deep breath. "Danger that could swallow the world.
It is time that we prepare for his coming. For his return."

"Whose return?" Princess Jean cried out to her father-in-law.

Wizard X stepped forward. "For Magnus. For Magneto!"

------------------------------------------------------------------------

In a castle on the far side of the Savage Mountains, a man in black
robes waited for his spy to return. A knock was heard from a window not
far from him. The man moved towards it to see a bird, the same bird that
had been by the royal castle in Graymalkin earlier. The bird, a raven, 
landed on the hand of the black robed man. He closed his eyes to see what 
the bird had seen. The bird saw the young princess, and King Christopher. 
The young girl had been attracted by the bird. Was the bird found out? 
No.  Two set of hands, saving the young girl... Logan and-- Wizard X! 
The man opened his eyes.

"Well. So Xavier was there. That means... it is time. He will be free
soon." The man in black rang a bell that had a small hunched-over man
come to him. He was wearing green and looked like a frog.

"Yes, my lord?"

"Gather the Mutates, Toad. The time has come to prepare the way for
Magneto at last."

Toad nodded at the commands and went off . The man looked to the sky
with a evil grin. "This may prove most *sinister* to the Summers
royalty."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wizard X was now in a great hall where all the court would meet.
Gathered in that room were Vance, Logan, Nightcrawler, Prince Alex,
King Christopher and Prince Scott. The wizard turned to them. The 
first words came out of Scott's mouth.

"The X-Men?! What are X-Men?" Prince Scott asked the question all
but two wanted to know.

The wizard turned to the prince. "The X-Men are the chosen guard
that must defend this world from evil and injustice."

Prince Alex let out a sigh. "Xavier, no such group exists."

"That is where some of you will come in. The group is chosen by the
powers that Xavier possesses." The king entered the conversation.

Alex continued, "And these X-Men are suppose to stop Magneto?! Really? 
This sounds like some off-the-wall fantasy."

"That is a little hard to swallow," Kurt admitted.

Xavier turned to Prince Alex and Kurt. "This is no fantasy. Just like
the fact that your father and I had imprisoned Magnus long ago, this 
is all very real, and Magneto will be a very dangerous threat."

"So what are these X-Men supposed to do? Just stop Magneto?"
Logan said. His arms were folded.

Xavier shook his head. "The X-Men must also protect this world and
the soul sword."

Everyone but the king and Xavier jumped at his words. "The Soul
Sword?! But we don't know where it is?!" Kurt exclaimed.

"But you will, Kurt. You see, you are the first X-Man."

"What?!!!?!!" exclaimed Kurt, Scott and Logan.

Wizard X walked up to the blue-furred court member. Xavier put his
hand on Kurt's shoulder and smiled. "You see, it has been foretold
that you are the first to be an X-Man."

Vance asked, "What about me? Or the Princes?"

"Their futures lie in different areas. I am not sure but both are not 
to be X-Men at this time. As for you, Vance, you must stay as guardian
to both the two children of Prince Scott and Princess Jean." Xavier was
blunt and to the point in stating what he knew.

Nightcrawler turned to the King. " I am not sure if that is a good
idea. Who will watch Scott in my absence?"

"Scott will be taken care of. Even more so than ever," King
Christopher said with a smile.

Alex raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, father?"

"I have decided that the time for our kingdom to fortify itself is
now. That is why I will step down and Scott will take over as king."

Alex could not take this news. He lashed out on the men in the room.
Alex charged his power. "*I* deserve to be king. ME! Not Scott, father!!
Why have you done this to me!!!!???"

King Christopher was scared as Logan jumped on Alex, taking him
down. Scott stood in place in shock. Wizard X turned to Nightcrawler.
"You must begin your quest. The others that are to join you have been
selected with the help of a woman with powers of probabilities. She will
also be an X-Man."

"Why, father!?" Alex cried out as he blasted Logan off of him. Alex
turned to his brother. He blasted Scott with his cosmic rays, but they
didn't affect Scott. Nightcrawler turned away from Xavier long enough 
to take down Alex with a swift kick. Alex lay on the floor as a woman
entered the room. She was dressed in red with long, brown hair. She 
looked at the men and said, "Hello. . .is this a bad time?"

"No. Everyone meet Wanda Maximoff. She will be the X-Man known as the
Crimson Mystic."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Toad entered a long corridor which led to the meeting room of the 
Mutates. The Mutates were a group that served Toad's master. It was
believed that the master of the Mutates caused most of their mutations
from regular mutant abilities to something a whole lot more. Each of the
Mutates were selected to be the master's personal guard. Toad looked at
each member. There was Dragoness. Her powers over the flame were quite
effective, as was her hard skin. Thanks to the Master, she had real
leather wings and had increased invulnerability. There was Feral. Her
killer instincts were useful to the Master as she murdered members of
her family. There was Sasquatch, once a humble scientist like their
master, but now a beast of power and rage. There was also Scorpion. He
was a madman with a vicious sting. The Master increased his abilities
tenfold, making him all the more dangerous. Sauron , besides Toad, was
the last of the Mutates. He was their leader. His powers of flight and
hypnosis were awesome. Toad feared Sauron most, but not as much as their
master.

"Mutates . . . the Master has ordered us to prepare for battle."
Toad stuttered the words out. Sauron was the first to answer.

"At last! We must be ready for battle. What are our targets?"

A black figure appeared before all the Mutates. It was their master.
"Your targets will be the Soul Sword and a group that will be known as
the X-Men."

The Mutates gasped in awe. "The legendary Soul Sword?! That has great
power, my lord," Scorpion answered.

Feral smiled. "Who cares? I want to rip apart these so-called X-Men."

"And you shall... soon enough," the black garbed man answered.
"Follow Nightcrawler and his followers and find that Sword. Then kill
that group."

Sauron smiled as best he could for a mutant that looked like a
pterodactal man. "As you wish."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The early afternoon rolled around as Nightcrawler and Crimson Mystic
were left on their way. They were on their way out of the kingdom as
they passed a familiar place. There, they had found the third X-Man,
known as Kitty Pryde Logan. She was the daughter of Logan, guard to Jean
in the Graymalkin royal palace. She was gathering her things when Logan
came to the door.

Nightcrawler's eyes locked with Logan. Logan and Kurt had been friends 
for years. Kurt is Kitty's godfather. But Logan never expected his 
first daughter to be one of the chosen. "Kurt, you can't be serious.
Kitty cannot be an X-Man."

Crimson Mystic reacted first. "I am sorry, Logan, but she is the one.
She is to be an X-Man. My probability was sure of that."

Kitty was packing her things. She was enjoying the fact that she
was chosen to be a warrior. Kitty had had a hard time breaking out on
her own, out of her father's shadow. She knew that this was her chance.
And she knew she had to take it. While she was putting things away in
one little bag, Logan and Kurt were arguing. Kitty and her sister,
Jubilee, were listening on.

"I absolutely forbid it. Kitty stays here."

Kurt turned to Logan. "This was not my choice. She is one of the
chosen. She has to go, for the fate of our world."

Logan unsheathed his metal claws, holding them up to Kurt's face.
"She stays!"

Jubilee and Kitty screamed in unison. "No!!" Kitty ran to her
father and pushed him away.

Kitty pointed at Logan, with their eyes locked in a stubborn stare.
"Daddy, I love you and uncle Kurt but being an X-Man is something that
was destined for me. I am tired of having to hide behind the Great
Logan. Logan, the warrior of no bounds. Think of what that has done to
me and Jubie."

Logan looked somberly at his daughter. He knew that she had a point
but did not want to accept it. "I am sorry you feel that way, darlin'. 
I didn't realize..."

"No, you didn't. I am old enough to make my own decisions and I am
capable of taking care of myself. You know I am, considering all the
training you put me and Jubie through. This is my chance and, as much as
I love you, I am going to take it." Kitty folded her arms, much the way
her father usually did.

Jubilee said, "Let her go, daddy. I'm still here."

Logan pondered for a second, then moved to Kurt and Wanda. "You two
swear to take care of her?"

Kurt said, "Of course. I am her godfather, herr Logan."

"We will, Logan. Count on it," Wanda says solemnly.

Logan nodded his head to Kitty as she screamed in delight. She finished
packing her things and began to follow Wanda and Kurt out the door.
Kitty looked at her father once more before leaving. Logan said, "Miss
ya, kiddo."

"I love ya too, daddy." Kitty gave Logan a kiss on his cheek as well
as Jubilee's and ran off to join the others.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prince Alex walked down to the basement of the Graymalkin royal
castle. He passed through guards who saluted him. He smiled at the
guards, thinking, 'They should serve me, not Scott." Alex found himself
in a private room in the lower levels of the castle where Wizard X 
could not find his thoughts. Alex had complete privacy here. He turned 
to a communicator, and turned it on. On the view screen appeared a man
known as Abyss.

"Well, Alex, nice to see you again. What's shaking at old Graymalkin?"

Alex bit his lip. "My father has decided that my brother will take over 
soon."

"Too bad. It's a shame that your brother can't die."

Alex smiled. "Maybe he can. Now, Abyss, I need a favor."

"What do you want, 'Lexy?"

Alex had an evil smirk on his face. "I want to be a Horseman of
Apocalyse."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Roberto DaCoasta was a member of the Nobles of Argentina. His
father was a wealthy man with power and respect. Through that power,
Roberto had become a very arrogant and self absorbed man. He was 
walking down the streets of the city called San Marina, enjoying the 
young women at his side. He went about laughing at power and demeaning 
others under him.

What Roberto did not realize was that he was also a wanted man.
Roberto did not know, but his father was a member of the Cult of the
Sun. His father and the other cult members believed that Roberto was
their new God, reborn on Earth. Roberto did not realize it but three men
were ready to kidnap him. The woman on his right told the other women to
leave Roberto and her alone for a minute. Roberto smiled as if he was
flattered, yet mockingly stated that this was not a surprise. The woman
took a small amount of dust from her side . She looked at Roberto and
blew the dust to his face. Roberto was disoriented for a few moments.
The man came from behind him, grabbing his arms and legs. The four
retreated with Roberto, without anyone giving any indication that they 
even cared.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kurt, Kitty and Wanda reached Platt's Valley. The sun set under the
mountain tops to the west of them. The three had travelled long this
day. Still, they had a far journey ahead of them. The wind blew
warmly in the area they were currently residing. Kitty took a deep
breath, smelling all the flowers and the trees. Nature had taken them
in, seducing the three with its gentle touch. Kurt pointed the group to
a clearing in which to set up camp. Kurt gathered wood as the two young
ladies prepared a place to cook and food to eat.

The three gathered around the fire to confer. Wanda spoke up first.
"What a day this has been."

"Agreed, Wanda," said Kurt, in a corner to the left of them. "This
will be a long quest for the Soul Sword."

Kitty turned to both of them while eating a slab of meat. "Do you
think we will encounter any type of villain or danger?"

"Danger is definite. As for villains, I doubt that very much. No one
knows that we are going after the Sword. If we encounter anyone, it will
*not* be for the sword." Kurt spoke bluntly about this.

Wanda laid down her jewels and a box from Wizard X. The jewels
were the only keepsakes of her family she had left. As for the box,
Xavier had instructed her that the box had something *only* for the
those who will be X-Men. She brushed her hair from her face to talk to
her companions.

"Kurt, Kitty... Do you think we will be able to defeat Magneto?"
This was a question that both had not yet really pondered. Kitty
found the idea to be frightening as Kurt echoed the answer he thought
appropriate. "I am not sure. The story behind the great battle with
Magneto has been spread across the land like a legend. It started back
nearly three decades ago. Magneto arose and fell upon the land like a
terror. He preached supremacy for all those with power, stating that they
were in fact born gods of this plane. His powers were awesome, as well
as destructive. All that power, all that fury, was used in destroying 
half the population of Graymalkin, Westchester and Pasadena. Magneto was
relentless. His soldiers marched onward as he planned on changing the
world in his own image. What was so frightening was that he almost
succeeded -- if not for King Christopher and Xavier. The two fought 
against Magneto until they found a way to trap him with the help of the 
royal court of Graymalkin."

"I remember hearing the story. Father told me of it a long ago,"
Kitty said to Kurt.

"That is true. Christopher and Xavier locked Magneto away, hoping that 
he would never be free but Destiny, prophet mistress, foretold that a
time for his freedom will come about. When it is, dark soldiers will 
free Magneto and the world will be in pain."

Wanda listened to the story closely. She knew that the people chosen
with her powers, along with Wizard X's, were determined to be the 
warriors needed to stop Magneto. She listened on, feeling a slight tap 
on her leg. She looked down, and the jewels and box were gone. She got 
angry, turning around. "Kurt, Kitty -- we have a thief."

The two got up quickly, falling into defensive stances. "Spread out
and find him."

Kitty turned to her right to hear running in the bushes. She began to 
run after him. "Over here guys!" Kitty glided into the sky. She jumped
on a tree branch, swinging upward. She then, like her father taught her,
pushed herself down. Her legs caught the feet of her opponent. The thief
flipped away from her. Kurt popped up behind the thief to give him a kick.
The thief turned to Nightcrawler, bringing out his staff. Kurt whipped
out his sword and the two went at it. The thief thrust with his staff, 
only for Kurt to disappear. Nightcrawler slashed at the thief, only to be 
kicked in the face. The two continued as Kitty ran at the thief, pushing 
him down to the ground.

"Get up! I've been itching for a fight." Kitty loomed over him as the 
thief threw blades at her. The weird thing about these blades was that
they exploded as soon as they hit something. Thankfully, Kitty made her
body intangible, letting the blades pass right through her. Kurt was
surprised as the thief flipped to the side. Kurt popped up behind him,
landing a haymaker.

The thief slumped on the ground. Blood dripped off his lips. Kurt
stood over him, pointing his sword at the thief's throat.

Kurt said commandingly, "Move an inch and I'll kill you."

Wanda just observed the fight, not sure of her place, then she heard
the voice of the thief. " You won't kill me. You wouldn't, you noble 
pig. Gambit does not bow to anyone. Much less a devil spawn like you."

Kurt gritted his teeth as he prepared to slash the chest of the thief. 
Wanda came up to him. "No! Don't hurt him!"

"Wanda why?" Kurt said. The thief smiled at Wanda.

"That is Gambit... our next X-Man!"

------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEXT: Will there be more tales of X : The Third Earth? Write to the 
author and ask for more!

------------------------------------------------------------------------


DECLARATIONS X
Hello there. Welcome to the first of what I hope to be a long line
of issues of this new world. I am excited as this is more and more
becoming my baby. X: the Third Earth has a lot going for it. All the
characters turned inside out and under my whim. A new world to plan
battles and legends. And my complete control over it. X: the Third Earth
started out to be a continuation of Kitty's fairy tale. After a while,
it became more and more different with every thought I had. At first, I
wanted Kitty to lead the X-Men , but then I wanted to do something with
Kurt that would make him a mainstay but not an accessory like the Bamf.
Then I thought of how close Wolverine is to both Kitty and Jubilee. I
wanted to play with that too. I wanted the Summers Family to have a big
part and decided to make them all royalty. The more I thought about it,
the more I returned to the old cartoon Thundercats.
With that thought, I transformed the entire MV-1 on its ear creating
X: the Third Earth. In the coming months of the first year, you will see
plenty of familiar faces in different ways. Some old friends that were
good are now evil and vice versa. The Mutates will be an ongoing threat
for the first year of X until the Horsemen come into play. All this will
lead to the return of Magneto along with a couple other surprises. So
Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. Oh... and be careful what you
wish for around here. You might get it.
All comments please send to Declarations X at frankiekr@yahoo.com.
I hope to hear from everyone soon.

Frankie Rodriguez 10-24-98