The X-S Series

Darqstar's X-S Series was a popular series about Hank McCoy's adopted daughter, the OC Sikudhani ("Siku") Edna McCoy: "The series that started it all. When Hank meets up with a blue furry baby with no family, what does he do? Adopt her, of course. Well, what would it be like to grow up with the X-Men? These stories might give you some clue..."The X-S Series or Growing Up X (Wayback Jun 29, 2004)
Many other writers and fanartists were inspired by Siku. The X-S universe grew rapidly, and began accepting contributions from other writers.Submissions of X-S Stories (Wayback, Mar 6/04) The series covered her life from a baby to a young adult, small events and memorable ones.
== The X-S Series (aka Growing Up X) ==
All links are provided via the Wayback Machine, Jul 29/04; blurbs are taken from the website and were written by Darqstar. Stories without an author listed were written by Darqstar. In chronological order.
* Unexpected Arrival - While out for a night on the town, an unusual infant is thrust into Gambit's care. What does he do? Take the child to her father, of course. Well, what if the child's birth mother claims this precious bundle belongs to Hank?
*Sounding Board Sometimes even the most secretive of men discovers it's good to have someone to talk to. Even if, or maybe because, she's a little too young to talk back.
*Dreams Of Blue - Rogue takes the time to enjoy the sunrise and share a few thoughts with Sikudhani.
*Temper Tantrum - by Leary - Infant Siku is feeling particularly fussy today. When all of Hank's efforts fail to soothe her, Sam comes to his rescue, realizing that all his years of helping with his brothers and sisters can come in useful with the X-Men too!
*When Daddy's Away - When Hank decides to attend a conference in New York City, he leaves Bobby in charge of his two-year-old daughter. Although he means well, someone forgot to tell Bobby why you shouldn't give a child too much sugar. Especially this child.
*The Big, Red, Truck - How do the X-Men deal with a two year old who wants to talk about the same thing for hours on end?
*Adventures In Babysitting - by Minmay Lynn - Hank has to go out for the evening, and all the X-Men are busy. Fortunately, a vacationing Jubilee is there to fill in as Siku's babysitter. Unfortunately, we all know how Jubilee likes her junk food, and we all know what junkfood does for a certain blue, furry, two-year-old. Will Jubilee survive the night? And will she ever want to babysit again?
*It's All Downhill From Here - Visiting the X-Mansion for summer break, Jubilee thinks her days are going to be easy. Little does she realize that there is a blue furry toddler who's determined to have her aunt "Ju-be" teach her how to rollerblade.
*Bedtime - by Denise K - Bishop has a very serious mission, to tuck little Siku in for the night. Although he's faced some rough times before, nothing has quite prepared him for this. Will both of them make it through this experience?
*Homecoming - Although Siku never realized it, every year, her and her Uncle Remy spend one special day together, celebrating something very important. Now that she's four, she learns what the day is all about.
*Show And Tell - by Indigo - Four year old Siku finally gets to go to school. But what will she bring for Show and Tell?
*Nightmare on Elmo Street - by Bethany and Bryan - Rogue is being tormented by one of Siku's toys?
*A Tale of Turkey - Four year old Sikudhani thinks she's in heaven when she and her daddy go to West Virginia to spend Thanksgiving at her grandparent's farm. Unfortunately, there are some Thanksgiving farm facts someone forgot to explain to the child...
*Just In Case - by Dyce - Having narrowly avoided serious injury, Beast writes a touching letter to his daughter Sikudhani, to be read after his death.
*There is nothing there in the dark that isn't there in the light - by Ms Marvel - Four year old Siku is terrified of the dark, until Aunty Rogue steps in to give her the weapon to combat all the monsters of the dark, even the boogieman!
*May, First Meetings - by Cloud - A visitor to the X-Mansion brings a very special playmate for Siku.
*Daddy's Girl - by Bethany - In his typical fashion, Hank solves every one of the X-Men's problems in one morning. What's going on here?
*Countdown to X-mas - To a five year old, there is a certain magic in the air at Christmas time. Sikudhani is no exception as she celebrates the season with her family and friends, watching as the holidays help to bring people closer together.
*In Search Of A Friend - by Lori McDonald - When boredom overtakes Sikudhani and there seems to be no one around to help, she sets out to find herself a friend... and realizes that perhaps she should have looked closer to home.
*Rainy Night's Practice - by Da Wolfie Gal - After watching her aunts and uncles do it for years, five-year-old Siku decides she wants to play in the danger room too.
*Misunderstandings - Aunt Jean's pregnancy raises a lot of interesting questions for Siku... and some of the answers can make things even worse.
*A Shoulder To Cry On by Alicia McKenzie - When the birth of cousin Rachel leaves Siku feeling a bit out of sorts, she finds comfort from a very unexpected source.
*X-S The Secret Life Of Sikudhani McCoy - by David Hicks - When Sam interrupts a game of make believe to ask Sikudhani for a favor, he has no idea what he's unleashing upon an unsuspecting X-Man.
*The Tooth Fairy Never Knocks - Another milestone in Sikudhani McCoy's life, the day her first baby tooth falls out. Naturally, the X-Men want to make sure this event is celebrated properly. But sometimes, even the best of intentions can go a bit haywire.
*Child of The Heart - Six-year-old Sikudhani discovers that while in the mansion, she and her differences are celebrated, the real world isn't always so kind.
*Bad Day - Even a child can hate Mondays, and for Siku, this one particular Monday starts out to be the worst. Will it ever get better?
*The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of - Cierra gets a little more than she bargained for when she decides to have a "great adventure" and goes to visit Sikudhani.
*Critical Questions - When a member of the X-Men is seriously hurt on a mission, Sikudhani realizes how many risks her family takes, and how easy it could be to lose one of them.
*A Deal With the Devil - by Beast - When Siku is struck down by an incurable illness, Hank discovers how far he'll go to save his "Sunshine."
*Bad Hair Day - Sikudhani's best friend tries to make her wish come true, with disastrous results.
*X-S Stage Fright - by Airawyn - Siku's third grade class is putting on a play. Sounds simple right? Well, sometimes nothing is simple. Not only is Siku going to have to accept the idea of everyone watching her, there is a boy in her class who seems to live for making her life miserable. Even worse, her beloved uncles aren't being very sympathetic either.
*Great Responsibilities - by Supereub - When pushed beyond reason, eight year old Siku strikes out at someone, and learns that with great power comes...
*The Right Thing To Do - by Indigo - On the first day of summer, Sikudhani McCoy and Cierra Miles unknowingly do a heroic deed.
*When Friendship Interferes - by Cloud - It's been several years since Siku saw her friend May. But she's back now, and her parents have a lot of concerns about May's future.
*X-S Sleepless in Westchester - by Lestat - When a mean spirited child causes Siku to lose her faith in something she's always believed in, her uncle Charles helps her to find it again.
*Memories -- Cierra's Story - by Breanna Mac - When Sikudhani asks questions, Cierra Miles remembers her father and what happened to him.
*A Very Special Blizzard - After being snowbound for two days, nine year old Sikudhani is getting awful bored with this blizzard, until fate and uncle Logan step in to bring her a very special new friend.
*You Can't Teach A New Dog Old Tricks - A puppy can get lonely very quickly, especially when their mistress must go to school. When Blizzard expresses his unhappiness by constantly howling, it's up to Hank to try to make him be quiet.
*X-S Tick-Tock - by Mike Yun - Sam teaches young Siku a song, which reminds him of her.
*The Quality of Mercy - by Suzene C - In true X-Men spirit, Siku comes to the rescue of a green, furry, mutant.
*A Winter's Tale - by Alicia McKenzie - When a bad day at school and worries at home get to be too much for ten-year-old Siku, she finds a sympathetic ear in cousin Nathan, and someone to show her that there is still some beauty on a cold winter's night.
*X-S Brave Young Heart - by Shard - Eleven-year-old Siku learns that it's not just those in the front lines who make the sacrifices, when a friend risks everything to save her {Siku's} life.
*What I Want To Be When I Grow Up - Twelve year old Sikudhani writes a composition for school about what she hopes for her future.
*To Be Or Not To Be - by Da Wolfie Gal - Thirteen year old Sikudhani has a date. None of the X-Men are too happy with this idea, but sometimes you just have to accept that children grow up.
*Circles - by Jill G - It's Sikudhani's first track meet. She has the usual fears and concerns any young woman would face, but on top of those, some of the opposing members think she has an unfair advantage, being a mutant.
*Some Enchanted Evening - Fourteen year old Siku has a blind date with Cierra's cousin, Ted. However, before any date with Siku can take place, this boy has a few "uncles" to meet. Welcome to the mansion, Ted, and good luck.
*Until You Walk A Mile In Her Shoes - by Suzene C - Sikudhani is sixteen now, and she's still in a rivalry with Bethany. But... people grow, people change... and although Bethany may seem to "have it all" Sikudhani learns that perhaps she {Siku} is the lucky one after all.
*If You Believe In Forever - JF Jackson and Darqstar - This is the very first X-S Novella. It's Siku's seventeenth birtday and her Aunt Kimber takes her, Cierra and her father to celebrate. There are plenty of surprises in store for Siku, and not all of them are planned. Certainly Hank nor Kimber planned for her to meet the man of her dreams...
*Return Post - by Dyce - In a sequel to 'Just in Case', Sikudhani accidentally stumbles across the letter her father wrote years before, and finds that it gives her the strength to face her own fears.
*When the Walls Grow Thin - It's Halloween and Sikudhani gets a very unexpected visitor.
*Ice Check - Sikudhani's college friends check out a good looking guy.
*Angels In The Snow - Christmas is just around the corner, but things aren't very cheerful at the X-Mansion. There's a blizzard that could keep away loved ones, and memories of loved ones who will never be there for Siku to deal with. If that wasn't enough, Hank has been doing some serious thinking about his future...
*We Are Gathered Here... - The big day finally arrives for Hank and Kimber and everyone is happy for them. So who in the world would want to kidnap the bride? And why?
*Moving On - Sikudhani realizes that sometimes, in order to move on with life, you have to share your past.
*When The Night Comes - by Bethany - Siku's roommate worries that she {Siku} never wants to go out at night, but seems to spend most of her time "studying."
*A Deep Breath - by Indigo - Although Siku has seen him only in the summer when school's out, Joey is counted among her dearest friends for nine years. But this summer, he has a special surprise and a gift for Siku.
These stories are listed together, because your really need to read the first to understand the second.
* Don't Fear The Reaper - An alternative look at Justine's (From Through The Valley Of Shadows) future, if Magneto had never rescued her.
* Coming Out Of The Dark - Someone very special in Siku's life has come back.
== Beyond X-S ==
These are stories that take place in the same universe as X-S, but Sikudhani is not a major character. Stories by Darqstar unless otherwise credited.
* Shades of Christmas - It's just before Christmas and Gambit is spending a lot of time away from the mansion. What could he be doing? Bishop just has to find out.
* What God Has Brought Together - This is a four story "subseries" focusing on the relationship between Bobby Drake and Kelsey Quinn.
* Cameron's Turn - While Scott is busy in the danger room and Jean is in major need of a little sleep, Cameron comes to the rescue to watch out for little Rachel. He soon discovers that watching out for small children is a lot easier said than done.
* Another Chance - by Kara Larson - Scott takes some time to reflect on his infant daughter. Who turns out to have some very special people watching out over her!
* First Words - by Kara Larson - Another story about young Rachel. The title rather says it all, doesn't it?
* What Is Meant To Be - by JF Jackson & Darqstar - When faced with one of the greatest disappointments in her life, Rogue decides to leave the X-Men. But a certain Cajun thief isn't willing to give up so easy. Maybe he can be the one to show her that disappointments can be overcome.
* A Precious Gift - A young, pregnant woman confides in Remy and asks him for some... unusual help. Finding parents for her unborn child!
* If We Could See Tomorrow - by J. D. Stephens - The day finally comes for Bethany when she can no longer hide her powers.
* Moments Like These - Kimber has some interesting news for Hank. Too bad he's not awake enough to listen properly!
== Alternative X-S ==
These are stories that don't fit into the normal "X-S" continuity, for one reason or another. They might feature characters that aren't a part of the "Marvel Universe" or in my (Darqstar's) universe. These stories will be listed in the order I recieve them, oldest first.
* Siku and the Six by Nika & Poppy - The first story featuring Sikudhani McCoy that Darqstar didn't write. In this cross-reality story, the mansion is under attack and Beast is away. Who's going to watch out for Sikudhani? And how is Hank going to react when he finds out?
* On Becoming Real - (This is a cross-reality story, between Lori McDonald's Experiment #713 series and the X-S series.) There is someone living below the mansion that has Siku's curiosity to a fevered pitch. She's determined to meet him, whether she has permission or not.
* A Darker Shade - by Kielle - Set in the AOA universe, McCoy is wondering why all the prelates are snickering behind his back. The answer turns out to be something he never would have expected.
* A Shade Of Oz - by Kielle - A mysterious woman goes to investigate a link to her past from another world.
* You Have But Slumbered - by Ms Marvel - Teenage Siku has a crush on a boy. She doesn't know quite what to do, until a dream, that might be a bit more than a dream, gives her some sound advice.
* Guardian Angel - by Kerr - While out for a day of fun with her Uncle Remy, trouble strikes for Sikudhani. However, there is someone out there who is bound and determined to make sure Siku doesn't get hurt, even if it involves violating all the laws of fanfiction.
== X-S Artwork ==
I've always felt the main purpose of Shifting Sands was to archive stories. (With such great places to find artwork, like Lori's Corner and Shpank's Cavalcade of Whimsey, I think X-Men fan artwork on the net is well-covered). However, since Sikudhani is my creation, and I'm very curious to find out how other people "see" her, I am happy to archive X-S pictures. I realize that right now this "gallery" is small, but it's quality, not quantity. :-)
* Pictures by Catlaughin
* Pictures by Andrea
* Pictures by Kieri
* Pictures by David Hicks
* Pictures by Ian Carandang
* Pictures by Junkmail
* Pictures by Cierra
== Awards ==
=== CBFFAs ===
1998 - Best Series (tied with The Gestalt Arc by Lori McDonald)
== Reactions and Reviews ==
* Unexpected Arrival -- Written by Darqstar, Reviewed by JF Jackson
* First Words -- Written by Kara Larson, Reviewed by Dande
* Story Identification "X-Men fanfic series about a blue-furred baby who's left on Beast's doorstep" - Stack Exchange (Aug 27/19)
==References==
Category:1990s