X-Pac's Forbidden Past
By:  Lily Vivian

Chapter 1

	Sean Waltman, the one and only X-Pac, brushed his scarf
back so that the long piece was hanging down his back, and clapped
his gloved hands together as he trudged through the 4 inches of snow.
"Damnit...it couldn't be much colder out here!" he lamented to the
man at his side, his best friend since childhood, Jesse James, much
better known as the Road Dogg.
	"Yeah, but this was YOUR idea, dude, so don't complain
to me about it!" came the muffled response, as Road Dogg pulled
his pine green muffler over his face and pulled his sunglasses down
a bit further.  "And you're gonna go friggin' snowblind if you don't put
your glasses back on!"
	Grumbling, X-Pac pulled his sunglasses back down to the
bridge of his nose, rather than letting them rest on the top of his black
tobaggan hat.  He also had a dark blue bandanna on his
forehead,
to keep his hair out of his face as well as to try to stay a little warmer.
He was dressed in layers, as was supposed to keep one warm in this
sort of weather.  He was wearing silver stretch pants, a long-
sleeved shirt, and a sweater, on top of which he had light green jogging
pants, a nylon black jacket, and a green and black scarf.  His gloves
were tough leather, the kind lumberjacks wore, and he also wore black
boots with about three pairs of thick socks.  Road Dogg was dressed
almost identically, but with a tan trenchcoat instead of a jacket, no
bandanna, and dark green mittens instead of gloves.
	And yet it's STILL freezing out here, X-Pac thought,
frowning as he pulled his scarf over his lower face, keeping on walking
down the snowy path.
	"Too bad that Billy couldn't make it...that schmo is down
in Miami soaking up the heat right now...the lucky bum!" X-Pac lamented,
referring to Road Dogg's friend and partner, Badd Ass Billy Gunn.
	"Why are we doing this, again?" Road Dogg asked.
	"Because the big guy's never played in the snow before!
I mean, come on...what kind of best buds are we if we don't show
our main man Kane what it's like to have a snowball fight?"
	"Or make snow angels..." Road Dogg said, starting to like
the idea more as they went.
	"And make snowmen!" X-Pac chimed in.
	"And snow forts!"
	"And eat icicles off the trees!"
	"Aren't we just a little bit too old to be getting this excited
over goofing off in the snow?"
	"Well, it won't be any fun for Kane if we don't have
fun, too!  Come on...don't you remember how much fun it was the first
time we played in the snow together?"
	"I remember that we were about six at the time."
	"But Kane never even saw snow as a kid!  He got
robbed, man...we've got to show him how much fun he's been missing
out on!"  X-Pac fell silent as they arrived at the end of the pathway,
and looked up at the mansion of the Brides.  He saw a few of them
were out, cleaning up the mess, and a couple were rolling in the snow,
tossing snowballs.
	And a short distance away from them, standing and looking
up at the falling flakes, there was a huge figure, in black pants and
boots, a red sweater, and a black-and-red jacket.  He was
wearing
his usual mask, and...X-Pac could scarcely contain his laughter at
this...black earmuffs.
	"That would probably be Storm's work," Road Dogg said,
also seeing the earmuffs.  "That girl is completely overprotective."
	"That's 'cause she's a Bride," X-Pac responded, walking
over to where Kane was standing.  He reached up and nudged his
friend in the side.  "Hey, dude, you ready to go?"
	Kane looked down, and his eyes smiled as he saw them.
He then looked up at the sky again and spread his arms out, catching
the flurries of snow on his black gloves and holding them out so that
X-Pac and Road Dogg could see the intricate-and completely different-
patterns of the large flakes.
	"He's been determined to try and catch two snowflakes
that look alike since Jayda told him that there weren't any out here,"
said a voice, and they turned to see Storm approaching, her hair streaming
out from under her light purple ski cap, and her blue and green ski
outfit bringing out her beauty even more than ever.  X-Pac smiled,
seeing how Kane seemed to brighten up as she neared, and as she
put her arms around him, he hugged her closely as well.
	"Kane got a head-start on us, Sean," Road Dogg said, smiling
a quirky little smile.  "I seem to remember us doing that exact same
thing."
	"Well, we need to move up to Lesson 2 in snow games,
then..."  X-Pac motioned, and he and Road Dogg got into a leaping
postion.  "Snow wrestling!!"  Storm quickly moved out of the
way, as Road Dogg and X-Pac tackled Kane, knocking him into the
snow and sitting on his stomach.  Kane responded instantly, rolling
over and flinging them both off.  He then grabbed X-Pac in a mock
choke-slam, depositing him gently on his back in the snow.  Jesse
responded by jumping into Kane and knocking him over, and the two
rolled through the snow, X-Pac laughing as Road Dogg was pinned
to the ground.  Kane sat there for a minute, then scooped up a handful
of snow and dropped it on his face.
	"All right, boys!" Storm said, pulling Kane up out of the snow
and watching as Road Dogg got up and X-Pac came trotting over.
"If you're going to do all that, then move out of the way, at least!  Go
play over there."  She pointed at a pratically untouched corner of the
yard, smiling at the silly men in front of her who were acting like they
were only 10.  As the three of them chased each other across the
yard, she smiled and picked up a chunk of snow, forming it into a ball
and tossing it into the air, watching as it splattered back into the ground.
Nothing pleased her more than seeing her love, Kane, being so happy
as he was now.  She didn't see the other Brides, but she knew that
they were all watching with satisfaction as well.

Chapter 2

	He stared into the yard, and a wicked grin covered his lips
as he did.  He had been waiting for a chance like this one...for the
fools to lower their guard enough to allow him an oppurtunity to get
done what he had to.  He motioned, and his minions scurried quickly
through the bushes, getting into their positions and readying for the
attack at his word.
	"Remember," he hissed to them.  "We want the runt...
and don't kill any of them!  I want them all to be in top condition.  I
want to see just how far his powers can be stretched when we return."
	"Right," came a chorus of deep voices, as they finally settled
into position.
	"Now your time has come, little one..." he whispered, as
his eyes began to roll slowly back into his head.

	Kane laid in the snow and swept his arms and legs up and
down, smiling up at X-Pac and Road Dogg, who were both smirking
down at him in satisfaction.  He then sat up and stood, looking down
at the snow angel he had created.  The look in his eyes was enough
to almost melt X-Pac's heart-he had never seen his friend look so excited
and happy.  He looked back towards the Brides, then waved happily
at them.  "Let's...make...more...of these..." he said.  "Then...
write...the girls'...names...over them..."
	X-Pac burst out laughing.  "You're always the romantic,
aren't you, big guy?" he asked, slapping his friend's arm.  "Gee whiz,
Jesse, did you have any idea what we were getting into when we
invited this Romeo into the group?"
	"Not a clue...no wonder we haven't been able to get any
women lately!" Road Dogg added in, as Kane watched the both of
them.  "They've all been falling for Big Red's charms!"
	"What is it about the strong, silent type that overshadows
the puny, chattery type?" X-Pac asked, feigning puzzlement.  He then
laughed and knelt over Kane's snow angel, writing "Storm" above
it.  "Go get your honeys, Kane, while Road Dogg and me make a few
more of these chick magnets!"
	Kane's eyes smiled, and he turned and started across the
yard toward the Brides, almost in a run.
	"Man, this just feels good, doesn't it?" X-Pac asked Road
Dogg, as the two fell on their backs in the snow and started creating
two more snow angels.  "I've never seen Kane this happy before."
X-Pac frowned a little as he thought about it.  "For a while there, he
was just so miserable and depressed...I was worried that I might never
see him smile again."
	"You've actually seen him smile?" Road Dogg asked, trying
to lighten up his best friend's mood before it sank too far.  "What, did
the mask go transparent?"
	"You know what I mean!" X-Pac said, a grin entering his
voice.  "That Kane-smile!  The one where you see it in his eyes!"  He
sat up and surveyed the angel, then rolled over a bit and started on
a new one.  "I was really starting to miss that look."
	Road Dogg sighed as he began work on another angel
as well.  "Yeah.  I used to be a little bit weird about you hanging out
with him so much, but Kane's really an okay guy.  He's definately someone
that I would want in my corner."
	Yeah, X-Pac thought.  Now if I could just get the
Undertaker to leave him alone for the rest of his life, then every-
thing would just be hunky-dorey.

	Even as X-Pac was thinking these words, there was a quick
rustle of motion in the bushes.  "All right, Kane's left the two twerps
alone.  Get in there and get the toothpick, and disable the other one
as fast as you can...I don't want him to be a factor!"
	There was a bunch of movement to his left, and he sat back,
waiting for his minions to return to him with his prize.  Kane was too
far away to rescue his dear little X-Pac, and when he couldn't save
him, oh, the internal beating he would give himself...especially when
his friend destroyed his mansion and his Brides!  The Undertaker couldn't
help but laugh aloud as the battle began...

	X-Pac sat up as he heard loud tromping through the snow,
expecting to see Kane coming back, but he saw instead that none
other than Mideon and Viscera were charging towards him.  He let
out a yell of warning to Road Dogg as he jumped to his feet-and was
grabbed around the throat in a sleeper hold.  He tried to pull away,
but Viscera's grip was far too strong for him to readily pull himself free.
He squeezed his eyes closed and pulled at Viscera's arm with every-
thing he had, but the sleeper hold was starting to sap his strengh, and
he could only kick his legs futilely as he started to drift into un-
consciousness...
	"Quit it!"  Road Dogg kicked Mideon in the crotch, then
started towards X-Pac and Viscera, but he was caught in mid-air by
the throat, and stared into the hate-filled eyes of the Big Show.  He
shouted in pain as he was choke-slammed into the ground, but he
started to try and get up anyway, to help X-Pac...but something red
whipped in front of him and slammed into the Big Show, sending him
reeling backwards.  Road Dogg then felt hands on his arms, helping
him to his feet, and he saw two Brides, Jayda and Laruna, were helping
him up, while Storm and Kane were standing almost toe-to-toe with
Viscera, who had X-Pac's head wedged between his arms.
	"Let him go now!" Storm said, she and Kane raising their
arms threateningly.  Road Dogg knew that both of them were pre-
pared to use their powers if their order was not followed.  "Let go of
him this second, Viscera!"
	Viscera only smiled as the Big Show and Mideon swept
past, taking their places beside him.  X-Pac was still struggling to pull
free, but he was starting to pass out as no blood was reaching his
head.  He was slapping at Viscera's arm and pulling backwards, but
all he was succeeding in doing was tightening Viscera's grip.
	"We're not here for you, Kane," Big Show said.  "We want
your buddy here...so just keep your nose out of our business!"
	Kane straightened a little, but left his arms in a position to
call up his powers if he had to.  "What...do you...want...with Sean?!"
he demanded of the three in front of him.
	Big Show smiled as he and the others backed away, towards
the bushes.  "You might see.  Your brother has decided you aren't
worth his trouble, but he wants your little friend here.  Stay out of our
way, and you'll be just dandy!"  He then motioned towards the bushes,
and there was a sweep of movement, and, before any of them could
react, they vanished in a swirl of dark power, taking a screaming X-Pac
with them.
	"Damnit, NO!!" Road Dogg yelled, pulling away from
the two Brides and going to Kane's side, shaking both of his fists.  "Why
in the hell can't they just leave us all alone?!"
	Storm looked up at Kane, who had lowered his arms and
was staring blankly at the melted patch of snow where his friend and
his enemies had been standing a mere second before.  "Kane, what
in the world could they want X-Pac for?  I know they weren't lying
about your brother not wanting to bother with you anymore, but...
why him?  I thought Undertaker considered X-Pac just a weak little
mortal."
	"He...does..." Kane said, clenching his fists at his sides.
He could feel the residue of his brother's power now...it was so obvious
that he was enraged for having missed it.  He could've done something
to prevent this, but he had been so preoccupied with playing around
that he hadn't had his senses up all the way.
	"Don't feel bad, Kane," Laruna said in a low voice.  "We
all missed it, too.  We were just not prepared for this to happen."
	Kane said nothing.  He knew it wasn't the fault of his Brides...
any more than Undertaker's actions were the fault of his Brides.
He was the protecter of the mansion and all those inside it, even if
they were guests.  That his brother had marched inside and casually
snatched away his best friend infuriated him to the point that he thought
he would explode.  He stared down at his feet, privately fuming.  After
only a second, however, he realized that being angry about it was
no help...he had to worry about finding X-Pac and bringing him to safety
before his brother could do any heinous deeds to him.  He had a feeling
of what Undertaker might pull, but he didn't want to say anything just
yet...not until he was absolutely certain.
	"What are we gonna do, Kane?" Road Dogg was asking
from beside him.  "We have to go and rescue Sean before it's too
late!"
	"If he is in the Undertaker's castle, it already is too late,"
Storm said quietly.  She was quite visibly shaken...she had thought
that Kane and his brother had come to a sort of agreement and a truce,
and she, the rest of Kane's Brides, and the Undertaker's Brides had
all been relieved that their loves had finally gotten to a peace.  However,
the fact that Undertaker could so readily invade their home gave her
the chills-and made her mad at the same time.  Perhaps she had trusted
the Undertaker's words once, but after this disgrace, she knew she
would have a nearly impossible task ahead of her to ever believe a
word he said again.
	"We can't wait, Kane!" Road Dogg was demanding.  "Try
to see where they've taken Sean!  I know you can do this, I've watched
you do it before!  Come on, Big Red!"
	Kane closed his eyes and tried to locate his brother, but
there was a strange sort of...static in his way.  He could vaguely
detect a prescense like his brother's, but he couldn't tell where it was
or anything else that would help.  "I can't...something's...wrong."
	Road Dogg was almost vibrating with fear and anger.  How
could the day have erupted into horror like this so quickly?  Only five
minutes before, he and his friends had been laughing and playing in
the snow, not a care in the world, and now, everything had just gone
so terribly wrong.  It seemed to Road Dogg that whenever he and
X-Pac got together with Kane, trouble brewed almost instantly.  Must
be some weird karma following us around...he thought bitterly.
"Damn!" he yelled, stomping his foot on the ground.
	Kane agreed whole-heartedly, but he said nothing-merely
stared down at the ground with his hands on his hips, wondering what
his brother could possibly want with his friend.

Chapter 3

	X-Pac struggled valiently, fighting to get free of the three
men carrying him, but they were too strong.  Big Show had him by
the arms, and Mideon and Viscera each had one of his legs, carrying
him towards a stone table.  He twisted and bucked and kicked as
hard as he could, trying to break loose, but the Big Show merely tighten-
ed his grip and dug his fingers into X-Pac's arms, making him yell in
pain.
	"Quit moving, you damn little runt!" Viscera growled, as they
hoisted him into the air and slammed him on his back onto the table.
Big Show and Viscera then held him down, and Mideon reached under
the table, taking out a handful of chains.  Quickly and efficiently, he
secured the chains around X-Pac's chest, waist, and legs, leaving
the youngster tied onto the table.  X-Pac squirmed, trying to get up,
but he was completely immobile.
	"Welcome to my home, young one," a voice said, as a dark
figure entered the room.  X-Pac saw black hair, a dark beard, and
fierce gray eyes contrasted against a pale face.  The man was dressed
in a long black robe, and as he got to X-Pac's side, his eyes began
to roll back into his head, showing nothing but the whites.
	"Taker!" X-Pac spat, still attempting to wiggle out from under
the chains.
	"The same."  Undertaker looked down at him, his expression
completely blank.  "Good of you to join me for a visit...you have my
thanks."  He started to study a strand of X-Pac's hair, still completely
emotionless.  "It's good to welcome you back...Sean."
	X-Pac grimaced as the Undertaker looked into his eyes,
and his fists clenched by his sides.  "What the hell do you want with
me, dead man!?"
	"I'd have thought that you'd have figured it out by now,
little one.  What with your features and all...but perhaps you have your
brother's brain powers."  Undertaker considered.  "Of course, you
don't know what he looks like...not really.  So I guess that means you
could have some brains after all."
	X-Pac was baffled as well as angry.  "What in the hell are
you babbling about?!"
	The Undertaker only smiled, and motioned at the other three,
who left the room without a word, all of them smirking about some inside
secret.  When they were gone, Undertaker turned and looked back
at X-Pac.  "You don't really understand your past, Sean Waltman.
You don't know, because if you did know, you would never have been
able to face Kane.  You wouldn't be able to look at him without turning
away in shame or attacking him in fury."
	X-Pac debated yelling out the same question, but merely
laid still, deciding to save his breath in case he needed it.
	"You see, Sean, there's a reason why you don't look like
the rest of your family.  There's a reason why you're so different, and
there's a reason why I've come for you, to collect on the powers you've
kept latent for your entire life.  You see...Sean...you were adopted."
	X-Pac blinked, then opened his eyes wide.  "Come again?
Adopted?"  His face went sarcastic.  "Right.  And I bet that you know
who my real parents are, too."
	"Exactly.  I've done my homework on you, little one...I was
looking for a weakness of yours I could use to get at Kane, and I found
one that could affect him like no other.  I found out about your adoption,
about your real parents...and your real siblings...or rather, your real
brothers."
	"You're kidding."  It wasn't a question.
	"Oh, no, I'm not, Sean.  You see...Mother and Father only
wanted two children...and they chose Kane over you, runt.  You were
twins...obviously not identical...you got the genes from our mother
for shortnes, I guess," Undertaker said with evident amusement.  "Twins
of sin, and since our parents already had me, they had to choose be-
tween one of you.  Kane made the cut...and I'm afraid, little half-brother...
that you didn't."