Disclaimer: Stan Lee and the rest of the Marvel geniuses own all the characters, places, and concepts that fall under the magnificent and vast universe they created. I am just a humble writer who owns nothing but this story.

THE NEXT PHOENIX

PROLOGUE

Twenty years ago…

It was another warm and pleasant summer night in Newburgh, New York, when a black Mercedes pulled up in front of a modest ranch-style house along a street of middle-class suburban residences.

At the sound of the ringing doorbell, a little girl of five years came running from the living room couch straight to the front door. After fumbling unsuccessfully with the door locks, she finally turned in frustration and shouted for assistance.

"Daddy, Daddy! Uncle Chuck is here! Hurry!"

At her call, a strapping man with brown hair and kind green eyes emerged from the kitchen, wiping his hands on a dish towel. "Okay, okay! Calm down, sweetie. He's not going anywhere else but this house," he said, chuckling.

The moment the front door was opened, the little girl squealed and pounced excitedly on the visitor that waited patiently on the porch.

"Uncle Chuck! You made it! You're here!"

The distinguished looking gentleman—"Uncle Chuck"—smiled broadly at the child that wrapped her arms around his waist. He patted the small brunette's head affectionately before stooping down to return her embrace.

"Of course I am," he said. "Would I ever pass up the chance to visit my most favorite goddaughter?"

"All right, Alana. That's enough. Give your uncle even just a little room to breathe, will you?" Alana's father stepped out into the porch and smiled at their guest. "Hello Charles. Good to see you again."

"Indeed it is Kevin," Charles Xavier said, returning the smile.

"We're all glad you finally found the time to drop by and visit," Kevin Stratford said. "This one especially," he added, patting his daughter' shoulder and tousling her hair.

"Come on inside, Uncle Chuck!" Alana said, tugging at the man's hand eagerly. "I want to show you my room before dinner."

As the three re-entered the living room, a pretty blonde woman came out of the kitchen to meet them.

"Good evening, Sarah," Charles greeted the lady of the house with a smile. "Thank you for having me."

Sarah Stratford nodded her head, but the smile she gave in return did not quite reach her eyes. "Your visits are always a pleasure Charles," she told him. "Dinner should be ready in a few minutes. In the meantime, why don't you have a seat and make yourself comfortable here?"

She turned to her daughter and held out a hand to her. "Honey, would you come and help Mommy in the kitchen please?"

The girl's eyes widened as she shook her head in protest. "But I want to stay here and talk to Uncle Chuck!"

Sarah's eyes suddenly hardened at this stubborn refusal. "Alana…" she began in a warning voice, before her husband stepped in.

"Let her stay, Sarah." Kevin urged gently. "After all, she hasn't seen her godfather in a while. I'll go help you."

As the couple left the room, Charles seated himself on the living room sofa, and Alana settled down next to him.

"Why haven't you been coming to visit, Uncle Chuck?" the little girl asked. "Have you been busy? What have you been doing?"

"Yes, I have been busy," Charles answered, amused by her curiosity. "You see Alana…I've just opened up a new school. I'm going to be teaching and running it, right in my own house."

"A school?" Alana's vibrant green eyes grew even larger. "What kind of school?"

"Well…it's a little like the school that you go too." Charles said slowly. "Only it's for bigger and older children…"

"And you will be teaching there?" Alana pressed. "Wow! I'm sure you'll be a really good teacher, Uncle Chuck! Even better than Mrs. Peterson."

Her godfather chuckled softly and patted her hand. "Well, I certainly hope so."

Just then, Kevin came back into the room. "Dinner's ready you two. Come and get it."

Alana immediately jumped off the couch and ran to her father, grabbing his hand. "Daddy, can I go and study in Uncle Chuck's new school? Can I? Please?"

Kevin looked at his daughter in confusion before glancing at Charles. "What do you mean, Pumpkin?"

"Uncle Chuck's going to open his own school, and I want to go and study there too!" Alana said, shaking her father's hand. "Wouldn't that be great, Daddy? I can learn a lot from him!"

"Well, we have to see about that." Kevin told her, as they walked into the dining room together. "Your Uncle hasn't told me about his new school yet, so I have to know what it's about first."

"Who cares what it's about?" Alana said stubbornly. "If Uncle Chuck is running it, I bet it's great!"

"What will be great?" Sarah asked, as she set down a bowl of mashed potatoes on the table.

"Uncle Chuck's school!" Alana said in exasperation. "I can go, I right Mom?"

Sarah frowned and looked at her husband for an explanation. Before Kevin could even open his mouth to speak, Charles beat him to it.

"I was just telling Alana about my most recent venture of opening a private school for youngsters," he explained calmly. "It will be a boarding school, operating at my father's estate. And I shall be teaching on top of running it as headmaster."

"Really Charles?" Kevin said, as they all took their seats around the table. "That sounds like a great idea! Doesn't it, honey?"

Sarah pursed her lips, and there was a brief pause before she spoke. "It sounds well enough," she said shortly. "But I don't think Alana should…"

"Actually…" Charles interrupted before she could finish her statement. "I was also just about to tell Alana that she's not going to be able to enter the school to study there."

Alana stared at her godfather as though she were just seeing him for the first time. "Wh-what?"

Charles turned his kind gaze to the young girl and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry my dear," he said. "But it's just not the right school for you. There are strict admission requirements that you just won't be able to meet. It's a school for gifted youngsters."

Kevin shook his head. "I don't know about that Charles," he said with a grin. "Alana's been consistently at the top of her class ever since she started school. I would have to say she's as pretty gifted as she can get."

Charles smiled. "Certainly," he said. "But academic excellence is not the sort of gift I'm referring to."

Though stated so calmly and simply, these words caused a stony silence to fall upon the table. Confused by the sudden quiet, Alana stared back and forth between her father's trouble face and her mother's angry expression.

"What?" she demanded, finally breaking the silence. "What is it? I don't understand…"

"Never mind, Alana," her mother cut in abruptly. Hands slightly trembling, she took the bowl of potatoes and started filling her daughter's plate. "Come on and eat your dinner, before it gets cold."

"But Mommy…" Alana whined.

"No buts!" Sarah snapped, her voice rising sharply. "You heard what Charles said, and your father and I agree with him! You're not going to that school—end of discussion!"

With tear filled eyes, the girl looked at her father for support, but found none in his regretful face. Her godfather's expression was serene, but equally set. There was no one on her side. A rush of uncontrolled feelings swept Alana's heart. Betrayal. Hurt. Anger.

"This is so unfair!" she blurted out, pushing her chair back and leaping to her feet. She turned to her godfather, face flushed and eyes filling with tears. "You just don't want to be with me anymore! That's why you don't come over anymore! That's why you don't think I'm good enough to be in your school!"

"Pumpkin…" Kevin began, but the girl turned on her heel and ran out of the room before anyone could stop her.

Sarah let out an exasperated sigh and got up from her chair. "You shouldn't have mentioned the school to her at all, Charles!" she said, the anger now clear and unmasked in her tone. "You knew how much she would want to go, and you know that very well that she will never be able to!"

Charles shook his head. "I do apologize for the commotion this has caused, Sarah," he said as calmly as ever. "But Alana was bound to know about my plans sooner or later. And let us be fair about it—how are we to know that she would never get her chance to come to my school in the future?"

Sarah glared at him, all affected emotion now completely drained from her face. "What are you trying to say?" she hissed.

"Simply…that anything is possible," Charles responded, meeting the woman's infuriated gaze evenly. "Especially in Alana's case. I have said so before. You know that."

"No, let me tell you what YOU should know, Charles Xavier!" Sarah said angrily. "MY daughter will NEVER go to your school. Not now, or ever! Because there is nothing wrong with her, and no matter what either of you says or thinks, she will never be like you OR your kind!"

As Sarah stormed out of the room, Charles rose from his seat as well. "I am sorry the evening had to turn out like this," he said with a sigh. "But perhaps it would be best if I just took my leave now."

Kevin nodded and rubbed his face wearily. "I understand."

A few minutes later, the two men were outside the front yard, walking towards the curb where Charles' Mercedes was parked. "Charles…" Kevin said hesitantly, before the other man could open the car door. "Do you really think that a time will come when Alana will need to be taught at your school? I mean, how great are the chances that she might actually…someday…you know…"

"Come now, Kevin." Charles replied with a small smile. "Predicting the future is not part of my abilities. However…"

This face turning somber once more, Charles put a firm hand on Kevin's shoulder. "…should the time ever come, I WILL know it. And as her godfather, I will be there for her."

"That is my promise."

To be continued...