Part 6

A week had passed. To Gambit, Bishop, and Betsy, it was a week of suffering and pain. To Generation X, it was the same. To the newly-named Brat Pack, it was fun. The important thing? It was over.

That’s what Betsy kept telling herself as the Avengers carted off the last of the little monsters. Beast had assured her that Gen X would be back to normal in no time. As she headed up to her room, Betsy replayed the whole disaster in her mind. Gambit and Bishop had been helpful at times, but Hulk had left them both injured. Maybe they deserved it. If Bishop hadn’t been so unsuccessful at caring for the kids, Betsy would never have been called upon. And it was Gambit who had drafted her, once he had been selected for the dreaded job. Angel even had the nerve to agree.

Strangely enough, the door to Betsy’s room was open. She always kept it closed, especially when others were in the mansion. Just as she touched the door, a wail could be heard. She threw open the door. There, on her bed, were the X-Men. Well, smaller versions of them, anyway.

Cyclops was the first to notice her. “Psylocke!” he cried, nearly falling off the bed. “You have to help us! We’ve shrunk!”

“Actually, I think we’re suffering from the same plight as Gen X,” Beast pointed out.

“It doesn’t matter!” Angel screamed. “Betsy, do something!”

Betsy grabbed the boy, dumped him in her lap, and proceeded to spank the living daylights out of him.

“OUCH!” he shouted. “Jean, make her stop! It hurts!”

“Maybe next time you’ll see what it’s like to baby-sit those creatures,” Betsy said, tossing him to the floor. “Who’s next?”

The X-Men shrunk back against the wall.

“Well?” Betsy asked impatiently.

At that moment, a very young Charles Xavier ran in. “Look! I can walk again!” he said, doing a little dance.

Betsy grabbed his arm. “You won’t be able to sit down for a week when I’m done with you, Xavier.”

His eyes grew wide. “No! Keep away from me!” He managed to slip out of her grasp and made a break for the door.

Xavier slammed into a leg and fell to the floor.

“Going somewhere, little guy?” Gambit asked, waving a glowing card in his face.

Bishop pointed a large gun at the boy’s head. “It’s payback time, twerp.”

Xavier swallowed nervously. They had blocked off the door. There was no escape.

Betsy drew her psychic knife again. “Each and every one of you little boogers is going to suffer the same things we did. Starting with Baldie here.” She grabbed Xavier’s collar and hoisted him up.

Xavier screamed as she slammed the pink weapon into his forehead.

To anyone outside of the school, it sounded like a creature dying in incredible pain. But to Bishop, Elisabeth Braddock, and Remy LeBeau, it sounded like justice.

Ev stood up and stretched his arms. It was good to have his old body back, after being a kid for so long. He’d never take being a teenager for granted again.

“Ev?” a voice asked quietly.

He turned to his bedroom door to see Nicole. Claudette stood behind her sister, looking very nervous.

“What is it, ladies?” Ev asked.

“Well...Claudette wanted to see you before we left,” Nicole said. “We’ll only be able to stay separate for a few more minutes. Then we’ll revert back to Penance.” She gently pushed her sister into the room and blocked the door.

Claudette looked up at Ev helplessly.

He smiled and picked her up. “Claudette, I imagine your sister has already explained why this would never work between us.”

The girl nodded sadly.

“So, if you ever figure out a way to age about ten years, give me a call.” Ev gently kissed her nose and set her down.

Claudette blushed and hid behind her sister.

“Thanks, Ev,” Nicole said as they headed out of the room. Then she paused at the door. “She really likes the yellow apples,” she added at last.

Ev smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

The End!

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