X-Force: Beyond Omega
Ch: 163 [Into the snow]

Aron sighed and flicked his fingers.

In a flash of magic, Hela's outfit changed. Her dramatic gowns vanished, replaced by a form-fitting winter jacket, padded snow pants, fluffy gloves, and a white scarf wrapped neatly around her neck. Her boots clicked into place with a shimmer of magic, perfect for the snow-covered slopes. And cute pink goggles on top of her head.

"What in the..." she started.

Before she could finish, a glowing portal opened behind her.

Without a word, Aron gave her a gentle push.

Hela stumbled backward through the portal and fell right into a giant pile of snow.

THUMP.

Her muffled voice came from the heap. "I swear on the bones of Odin, I will bury you for this!"

The Aron that pushed her grinned once, then vanished.

The original Aron stood beside Natasha on the mountain, both already at the top of one of the highest peaks. The wind was brisk but fresh, and the sunlight danced over the snow like diamonds.

Natasha adjusted her goggles and glanced over at him. "Was that necessary?" She watched the situation on the little holographic screen before them that Aron created using magic.

"Absolutely," Aron said, already securing his skis. He closed the screen. "If I didn't, she would've still been yelling at her wardrobe an hour from now. Then, when she finally chooses one and finds out that everyone is gone, she'll sulk around."

Far below, the others were already enjoying themselves.

Pixie was teleporting down the slopes in bursts of pink sparkles, whooping as she narrowly avoided running into anyone. Kitty was laughing behind her, half-skiing, half-phasing through snowbanks just to mess with people.

Logan was belly-sliding down the mountain headfirst with Magik right behind him, both yelling insults at each other the whole way.

Goldy was on a snowboard. He wasn't very good, but he was having the time of his life, barking and tail wagging as he somehow avoided every obstacle.

Jubilee had claimed a section of the mountain and built a full-blown snowball launcher. With Jean's help, she was using telekinesis to create massive snowballs, which she then launched at unsuspecting victims.

One nailed Scott right in the chest as he tried to organize trail groups.

"Really?!" he shouted, brushing off snow. "That was sabotage!"

Emma, from her crystal throne under a pine tree, sipped hot chocolate from a golden thermos. She watched it all with a bored expression, though a small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth when Goldy faceplanted into a snowdrift.

Hela had dug herself out of the snow pile. She stood with her arms crossed, glaring at the mountain. Snow clung to her hair. Her scarf was slightly crooked. A child ski troop whizzed past her, one of them waving cheerfully.

"Nice costume, lady!"

She blinked. Then turned and started walking up the slope, dark energy swirling lightly around her boots. "I will learn to ski," she muttered. "And then I will ski better than all of them. Especially him."

Back on the peak, Natasha bent down, tapped the tips of her skis, and grinned. "Last one down has to will serve the winner."

"Be careful what you wish for. Power or no power, I'm gonna win," Aron said while cracking his knuckles. 

"Oh, we'll just see about that," Natasha was ready to rumble.

They stood side by side. Below them, the rest of Genosha's wild crew was already turning the mountain into a full-on winter playground.

Aron took a deep breath.

"Alright," he said, adjusting his gloves. "On three?"

Natasha smirked. "One."

"Two."

"Three!" she shouted and took off before he could say it.

"Cheater!" Aron called after her, already pushing off to chase her down the slope.

Snow sprayed around them as they weaved between trees, zipped over bumps, and sped down the mountain. Natasha leaned forward, cutting a sharp turn and sending a wave of powder flying behind her.

Aron caught up fast, smiling to himself.

They passed by Logan and Magik, who were still racing with wild yells. Logan was rolling sideways now like a snow-covered log, laughing like a maniac. Magik summoned a tiny demon to push her faster, which Logan immediately tackled into a pile of snow.

Not far off, Pixie was teleporting mid-slope. She blinked ahead, giggling, then shouted back at Kitty.

"Beat that, phase-girl!"

Kitty rolled her eyes, grinned, and sank into the ground like a ghost, gliding through the snow. She popped up in front of Pixie a second later.

"Tag, you're it!" she laughed and took off again.

Meanwhile, Jubilee was aiming her snow shooter. Jean was beside her, hiding under the cover.

"Left side, incoming!" Jean called out.

Jubilee aimed her launcher and fired. A snowball the size of a basketball soared through the air and hit Pietro right in the face.

He stumbled and skidded in the snow, wiping it off. "Okay! That's it! You want a snowball war? You've got one!"

Pietro sped up the slope, making three snowballs along the way without stopping, and tossed all three at once. Jubilee ducked, but Jean took one right in the side of the head.

"Rude," she muttered, floating higher and raising both hands. The snow around her started lifting.

"Jean, no!" Jubilee laughed. "No telekinetic avalanches!"

Nearby, Storm was calmly skiing down the mountain with a soft breeze guiding her. Snowflakes followed her like little stars, glittering in the sunlight. A few people stopped just to watch her pass by.

Emma reached down, snapped her fingers, and a psychic bubble gently caught a tumbling raccoon before it hit a tree.

"You're welcome," she said without looking.

Goldy slid past on his snowboard, howling happily, his tail wagging like a flag. He lost balance at the bottom and flipped into a snowbank, but popped back up like nothing happened. A squirrel rode on his back, holding onto his collar like a rodeo champion.

Chat and her critters were busy exploring the high mountain.

Back on the slope, Hela was slowly, painfully making her way down the beginner trail. Her skis wobbled. Her arms flailed. But she didn't fall.

Yet.

A little girl passed her with ease and waved.

"You're doing great!" the girl chirped.

Hela scowled. "I'm a goddess. I should be flying through the air, not slipping down a hill like a clumsy goat."

Still, she kept going.

"I will conquer this mountain."

At the bottom of the slope, Natasha skidded to a stop, sending snow flying as she raised her hands in victory.

"First!" she shouted.

Aron came sliding in a second later, smooth but clearly behind. He lifted his goggles and shook his head.

"Fine. You win. What's my punishment?"

Natasha leaned close, whispering in his ear with a smile.

"I want you to eat me out, right now. Find a nice spot."

"Right now?" He asked.

"Yup!" 

"Fine, give me a few minutes."

[Meanwhile...]

Wanda crept through the snow, quiet as a whisper. Her white coat blended into the snow thanks to her stealth magic. She made her way behind Emma, who was still seated on her crystal throne, sipping from her golden thermos like she owned the whole mountain.

She did not notice the gentle hum of magic building behind her.

Wanda grinned.

With a flick of her fingers, a pile of snow lifted from the ground, hovered silently above Emma's head, then dropped all at once.

Fwoomp.

Cold, fluffy snow poured over Emma's head and shoulders, burying her from view.

There was silence for half a second.

Then a very sharp inhale.

Emma slowly stood up, her fur coat now soaked. Snow clung to her hair, face, and the inside of her thermos lid, which had fallen into her lap.

Everyone nearby stopped what they were doing.

Jubilee gasped. Kitty clapped a hand over her mouth. Even Pietro paused mid-snowball throw.

Wanda, by that time Emma noticed, had already used her reality manipulation to shift her position with Jubilee, and she tried to look innocent, brushing a bit of snow off her glove.

"Who... did... that?" Emma asked in a slow, calm voice that somehow made everyone more nervous than if she had shouted. She then turned around and saw Jubilee.

"Eeh?! Huh?" Jubilee herself was confused. 

"You brat..." Emma grumbled as the snow around her began to float up in the air, swirling around her. "I'm gonna bury you right here, right now."

Jubilee reacted on her instinct and used her launcher, shooting multiple volleys of snowballs before running away. Emma flew behind her, shooting ice balls. 

"Who the hell did that?" Jubilee yelled. "Jean save my ass."

"No one can save your ass, now," Emma yelled as she continued to throw snow balls at her.

"Hehehehe!" Jubilee laughed as she dodged everything. Then she turned back and poked her tongue out. "Noob."

Emma's nerve snapped as her left eye twitched. She raised a psionic wall before Jubilee.

"Offf!" Jubilee crashed.

Jean then flew down before Jubilee, "That was Wanda. I saw her shift her place with Jubes." She pointed at a running Wanda.

Emma stopped, "That bitch." Then she slowly turned back.

Her psionic energy surged.

Jubilee reloaded her launcher. "So, it was her. I'm so gonna blast her."

"Running, somewhere... Huh? Wanda?" Jean teleported before her with a sinister smile.

And so, the chase continued... They managed to pull Emma out of her throne and into the game.