My Country 'tis of Thee
by Verbum
Author's Note: Yes, this is very short, and very depressing, but it shows a lot about the character of Charles Xavier, and I wanted to make that clear. Italicized words are his thoughts, just clearing that up so I don't get a bunch of e-mails from people who have no idea what they mean, and that they don't make any sense within the story.
My Country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet Land of Liberty, Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died!
Land of the Pilgrim's Pride!
From er'ry mountainside,
Let freedom ring!
Congress had finally passed the Mutant Registration Act and the Anti-X laws, while the mutants of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters watched the entire thing on C-Span. Human groups were celebrating all around the world. The reactions at the mansion, however, were varied: Jean tightly clutched Scott's hand, Hank McCoy silently crossed himself. Psylocke remained statuesque, with her eyes fixed to the screen. And the Professor?
Professor Xavier sat in his office, silently hearing the result. He knew it would happen; America just wasn't ready to sacrifice tradition for change, they were unwilling to throw away their old prejudices for the the sake of progress. As much as they boasted about their civil rights and universal suffrage for all men? It would never happen. He shook his head and switched off the television set.
I suppose i have to face them sometime about this, he thought to himself. But the fact remained: Xavier was a coward. Going up against Magneto and Apocalypse was a snap, but now that their cause had been lost, what then?
His hoverchair silently glided into the first floor of the mansion, where the other residents were cpngregated. Jean, with tears in her eyes, walked over and hugged him. He could see the looks on their faces, read their thoughts.
What will we do now?
Will there even be a school?
How are we going to live?
Is the cause dead?
No, the cause will live on. If it takes a dozen generations and a third world war, the cause will be met. Charles Francis Xavier believed in this absolutely. And he wanted to make sure everyone else did, too.
"My children," he began, The X-Men, his students, his family looked up at him. Some had tears shining in their eyes, some were stony faced, others were pale with fear. This was America, people from all differing nationalities and backgrounds, working with one another for the good of everybody. No one cared if the other person was of another race or religion. They were one. They were part of America, the Land of the Free. The Friends of Humanity joined hands and sang "My Country, 'tis of thee" on the TV.
Land where my fathers died. Not if your father was a mutant. Land of the Pilgrims' Pride, where America had it's roots and people were escaping from persecution. So why were they doing it now?. Let freedom ring? No longer.
He cleared his throat. The X-Men were awaiting his answer silently. The strains of music belted forth from the speakers. He knew what he should do.
"The Dream will live on."
Good and depressing, but it makes a point (at least, to me it does). I hope you all enjiyed. Reviews? Please?