Author Ramblings: This just smacked me upside my head last night when I was trying to sleep. Hope you enjoy.

She knew. What she heard was right. It was time. This was the day, the fight, and the choice.

The day was May 22; the fight was another pointless one X-men/Brotherhood vs. Acolytes, the choice was to save or not.

Cyclops and Avalanche were miraculously working together to subdue Colossus. Toad, Blob, Kitty, and Kurt were trying to put Sabertooth down. Jean was barely holding up against Pyro's reign (rain) of fire. Gambit's and Rogue's fight was more a showcase then battle.

From out of nowhere Magneto appeared and hurled a metal rod at Jean. Normally this won't be a problem, as Jean would just stop it with her telekinesis. Not this time she had her hands full with Pyro.

The rod was aimed originally at Jean's arm, not fatal but the pain would make her drop her psychic barrier and she would get fried.

She knew all of this and disengaged from her battle. She ran at Jean and pushed her out of the way. The movement made her and Pyro lose concentration so Jean was safe and continued her battle.

Wow. She didn't know it possible to be in this much pain. No one noticed the impaled mutant except for the man who threw the rod in the first place. He paled.

She took a breath and slowly reached both hands up and yanked the rod out of its resting place in the middle of her chest.

It rod was bloody. She dropped it and it rolled away from her.

She slowly raised her head and her eyes met with her killer's. She moved one foot forward then the other until she was in front of him.

He couldn't speak. She reached a gentle hand up to his cheek and said, "Congratulations, you killed an X-men." The last word came out with a sick gurgle and the smile she had after she finished her last words was red. Blood trickled out of the corners of her mouth and the ground rushed up to meet her.

Author Ramblings continued: Wow. Depressing. Let me know what you think. I have an idea or two that would turn this into a two or three shot. If not it's a one-shot! Review!