Of Mutants and Benders
By: Orionstorm04
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender or X-Men I only own the original idea and my OC's. Please read and review, hope you enjoy.
Armageddon: Fall of a Nation
June 13. It was a day for Wakanda that held mix emotions for its people; on one hand it marked the birth of the heir to the Wakandian throne. On Princess N'Dare twenty-first birthday she would take responsibilities for the day to day rigors of running the city while her mother continues to provide protection for the entire civilization. But this day also marked the sixteenth anniversary of T'Challa's death and as tragic as it was the people always managed to put on the best festival in honor of his life and the lives of those he left behind. Today was a day of much excitement; there seem to be a frenzy of people moving throughout the palace wall. Decorations were being placed in the main hall which consisted of bright colors of fabric that were hung from the expansive ceiling to the plants that were in every
corner. Cooks who had once lived and study in the most prestigious culinary capitals in the world were in the kitchen preparing the meals to feed hundreds of guest
who would come to celebrate with the Royal Family and its close friends. Everyone was busy with one task or another to make sure everything was in its proper
order so that the festivities would go without a hitch; but none could be more nervous than the guest of honor herself. N'Dare never really knew how to feel when
her birthday rolled around. When she was younger her mother told her that her father had died on her birthday; and while she never meet him while he was alive
the thought that she was brought into this world the same day that her father was taken form it always left a bitter taste in her mouth. She wasn't blind; she was
able to see the pain that her mother always tried to hide whenever this day rolled around. Her mother tried to remain strong and constantly told her that she had no reason to feel bad and that her father would freely give his life any day of the week to make sure that his daughter was safe and so would she.
N'Dare Stepped from her bath wrapped solely in a silk midnight blue robe and walked over to her vanity. Staring in the mirror she unbound her hair from the messy
bun that she put it in when she went to take a bath, and watched as the platinum mass fell around her shoulders and down her back. After brushing it until she
thought it somewhat looked as if she tried to put it in order she put it into the French braid she always wore. Standing up she walked over to her bed and looked at
the gown that her Lady in Waiting had placed out for her. It was a beautiful gown to be sure; it was mostly white with soft colors such as light blue and rose, it had
a long skirt that fell to the floor and was layered to give it a flowing look. The bodice of the gown lovingly hugged her curves giving her a more mature look. The
dress was sleeveless exposing her shoulder and having two pieces of fabric that were connected to the bust of the dress that wrap around her shoulders and
connect directly behind her shoulder blades and fell delicately to the floor. Looking at the dress on her N'Dare thought it looked more like something Rachel would
wear and not her. She had often been called somewhat of a tomboy simply because she didn't do what people consider normal for a princess. She didn't present
herself as some kind of damsel in distress or a delicate glass figure. Even though she didn't acquire her mother's mutant talent or her father's enhanced physical
attributes; and if today's training session proved anything it was that she could still be consider a formidable opponent on the field. She liked who she was; though
at times she felt like she was letting her mother down. All her life she looked up to her mother for her strength and to her father for his great sacrifice and on many
levels she felt as though she didn't quiet belong.
There was a knock at the door; and snapping out of her thoughts N'Dare called out to the visitor.
"Who is it?" the door slowly opened and in walked Ororo.
"It's your mother. May I come in?" Ororo said with a chuckle.
"Of course you can mom. I was just finish getting dressed; I shouldn't be long." Looking at her daughter Ororo smiled. She had always been told that her child was like a spitting image of her but Ororo saw so much more when she looked at her. N'Dare was forced to grow up in the most unbecoming conditions; what with the entire world destroyed and to live in constant fear of the day that their defenses would not be enough to protect them. But through it all she still maintained an innocence and joy that seem to stay with her, and looking at her now she could see how beautiful her child looked; but there was one thing she could improve on.
"N'Dare… child; haven't you for gotten something?" Looking in her mirror N'Dare couldn't figure what her mother could be talking about. She had everything she needed; she was bathed, dressed... what else she could be missing. Then it dawned on her.
"Oh! My tiara; I completely forgot." Walking over to her Ororo's smile brightened; she would get her daughter to admit it one of these days.
"While it is true that you have forgotten your tiara; that was not what I was talking about… N'Dare weren't you going to do something with your hair?" N'Dare groaned.
"Do I have too? I like my hair in a braid." Ororo lead her back to the vanity and sat her down and began to unbraid N'Dare's hair.
"And I also like your hair, but would it kill you to wear it in another style? You must be bored with it in the same way every day."
Storm picked up the ivory brush on the counter and began to brush the slivery locks that were so much like her own. It took only a few minutes to complete and while the style was simply in its complexity it completely transformed the girl in front of her. Looking at her daughter through the mirror Ororo smiled.
"There… you look even more beautiful…" walking over to the stand that held N'Dares' tiara; Ororo couldn't keep the pride from appearing in her eyes. Today was a special day; it was her daughter's sixteenth birthday and she would do everything in her power to make sure nothing went wrong. Coming up behind her; Ororo could see something was troubling her daughter. "What's wrong? Your hair doesn't look that bad does it?" Finally looking her mother in the eye N'Dare couldn't hide the shame that passed before her features.
"Mother… I-I don't know… sometimes I feel inadequate. I mean I am suppose to be the daughter of two of the most powerful people in our culture… yet sometimes when I look at you and think of whom my father was I can't help but feel that I always come up short! I'm not a mutant; and I don't have any powers to speak of… I just feel like sometimes I'm not fit to someday become Queen!" At the end of her rant N'Dare felt drained, as if all the years spent thinking that she would never live up to her parents reputations had deflated her; and in her anger towards herself she began to cry.
"Oh; my child, you have no reason to feel like that. You are so much greater than even you know. And you have plenty to be proud of; you are a symbol for our people. They look at you and see how strong you are even without the abilities of your parents. You are strong N'Dare… you could never be anything different." Whipping the tears from her face N'Dare looked at her mother with a soft smile.
"Really?"
"Of course you are. You are my child and if you know nothing know that I love you and will always be there when you need me." Ororo placed the silver tiara on N'Dare's head. It was a beautiful crown that lay directly over her forehead and framed her face all the way to her jaw line.
"Thank you mom… I really appreciate your words. I guess it doesn't matter if I have powers or not; it won't stop me from protecting those I love." A thoughtful expression came to Ororo face, it seemed as if she was caught between telling N'Dare something or not. Soon she came to a conclusion.
"N'Dare… there is something I have to tell you. You see I-I…" before Ororo could finish her sentence the bedroom door was opened.
"Hey Dee… You done yet; you've been in here for like ever. The party's gonna start without you." Walking farther into the room Rachel saw her friend and her aunt talking; while N'Dare looked as though she had been crying. "Oh; sorry… I can come back." Turning around Rachel was heading to the door when she heard her aunt call out.
"That won't be necessary Rachel. N'Dare and I were just talking… trying to get over her jitters." Rachel walked back over to the two of them and finally got a look at what N'Dare was wearing.
"Wow! Dee you look great. I am sooo jealous. I would kill for a dress like that." N'Dare rolled her eyes at her friends comment; she knew it was something more to the taste of Rachel than to her. Ororo stood up and walked over to Rachel.
"You look fine just the way you are Rachel… I think green is your color." Leaning forward Ororo placed a kiss on her godchild's head and went towards the door. "N'Dare, remember what we talked about okay. And please try not to let it bother you; it is your sixteenth birthday. You should be happy; you only turn sixteen once, enjoy it." And with those words Ororo left the two alone to finish getting ready.
"What were you two talking about? You can't be that nervous." N'Dare looked to her friend and just decided that it wasn't a topic that she really wanted to revisit; so she changed the subject.
"So do you really like the dress? I was just thinking that it was something that you would like." Rachel looked at her confused by the sudden change of subject; she decided that she wouldn't push the issue. She knew that whatever was bothering N'Dare she would talk about it when she was ready.
"I love it! It complements your skin and hair perfectly, and you're damn right that it's in my taste. If you weren't my best friend and it wasn't you're birthday I would rip it off you and wear it myself." Both girls began to laugh and soon were holding their sides. Whenever they both regained their composure Rachel pulled out a small box out of her dress pocket. "Here; I know I should wait until everyone else gives you their presents but I just can't help myself." N'Dare took the box from Rachel; opening it there was a bracelet inside with two small gems, one made of a ruby and in the shape of a flame, the other made of diamond in the shape of a snowflake. It was their symbols; something they always referred to each other as: fire and ice. Looking up; N'Dare had tears glistening in her eyes.
"Rachel… this is the best present I have ever gotten. I-It's beautiful." N'Dare walked over and gave her friend the biggest hug she was capable.
"I thought you may like it… so I had one made for myself that way well always know that we are sisters and nothing will ever change that." N'Dare looked at Rachel's and noticed that she was wearing a bracelet identical to hers. After putting on her new gift N'Dare was ready to go down to the party.
Outside the palace walls fireworks could be seen; lighting up the sky to where it almost appeared to be daylight. People were filing into the main hall; all dressed in their finest clothes. Food was served, people were dancing, and it was a true joyous occasion in Wakanda. Ororo sat at a long table set up for the guest of the Royal Family; now the only thing that was missing was the guest of honor. Soon trumpet could be heard sounding at the main door to the room and as if on cue the entire room fell silent. A man dressed in clothing similar to that of ancient Egyptians began to speak.
"It brings me great honor to present to you, Her Royal Highness: N'Dare Jamilla Zuri Ade; Princess of Wakanda." The moment N'Dare walked in she was greeted with applause from every occupant in attendance. Making her way down the staircase; and over to the table N'Dare began her speech.
"I thank you all for coming to celebrate my sixteenth birthday. And while I am filled with joy on this day we must also remember what was lost this day… I was sixteen years ago that Wakanda lost its King; my father T'Challa. So while we celebrate; let us remember the great sacrifice that he made so that we may live." With tears in her eyes N'Dare sat beside her mother who had a approving smile on her face.
"You did wonderfully N'Dare. Your father would be so proud of you." N'Dare gave her a watery smile of her own.
Soon gifts were presented to N'Dare; and while all of them were beautiful there were was one that really caught her interest. Her uncle Remy had a special Bo-staff made for her.
"Dis here ma petite tempest is a special Bo. I had one just like it back in da day… see it got dese lil compartment inside da hollowd shaft fill with minor explosive…" Ororo gave her friend a disapproving glare.
"Remy! Why on earth would you give her a staff that could blow her up in a moment's notice?"
"Aww come on now Stormy you know her old Parrain wouldn't give her nothing dat would harm her. I had Hank fix it to wear it would only detonate when it was a few feet away from her. It also has dis nifty lil thing it do… it won't extend for anyone but you petite, and they got some other special things included but imma let you find those on ya own." N'Dare beamed at Remy and went to embrace her favorite uncle.
"Oh thank you Uncle Remy. I love it; it's so much better than my other staff. I can't wait until my next sparing match with Psylocke." Giving his niece a hug Remy left her and Ororo alone to talk.
"Are you enjoying yourself?"
"Yes mother; the party is wonderful and I love my gifts and the fireworks… I'm going to have to thank Jubilee; she really outdid herself." Seeing the bright smile on her face Ororo thought that her daughter may truly be happy. Sobering Ororo stood from her chair.
"Come with me N'Dare. I still have my gift to give." The two walked out of the main hall and into the corridor that lead to the south end of the palace. As the noise from the party slowly started to fade N'Dare wonder what her mother could have gotten her that required them to leave her party. She didn't bother to ask where they were going; she simply kept quiet and followed her mother's lead. Soon they stopped at a large oak door with two panther statues standing guard on either side. N'Dare had come across this room several times in her youth but never actually seen inside it. It was the King's study; her father's study. Soon after his death the room was locked so that no one could enter but Ororo. She would use it as a sanctuary to get away from her daily struggles; she would also use this room because it was the one place in the palace where she thought she could feel close to T'Challa. There was a panel on the left side of the door that Ororo placed her hand on, and with a soft click the door was unlocked. Holding her breath N'Dare looked to her mother with a questioning look; not really understanding what her mother had to show her in the room but also not willing to question it since she had always wanted to see what was in there.
The room was very spacious; there was a large desk in the center of the room with an ornate fireplace burning directly behind it. Lining the wall were the pictures of all the past kings of Wakanda and hanging directly over the fireplace was a picture of T'Challa. N'Dare had seen countless pictures of her father before but this one was somewhat different. He looked more at ease; as though he had not a care in the world. In the picture he was dressed in his Black Panther custom and had a bright smile on his face; and looking in his eyes N'Dare felt as though she was looking at her own.
"Your father was such a handsome man. I remember when I first met him… It was back when we were but children; no older than you are now. I was traveling through the Sahara on my way to my mother's ancestral home in Kenya when I first came across your father… it seems like only yesterday." All the while N'Dare just listened to her mother relive the first time she met her future husband. She listened to how after the separated when they were younger Ororo always held a place for him in her heart. And after years of separation the two were able to find love again; it was so romantic N'Dare could hardly believe that's how it truly happened but knew that her mother would not lie about something like that. "Your father loved you with all his heart N'Dare, and while he is not here to tell you I can say without any doubt that he is very proud of you as I am." Ororo placed her hand on the ruby that she has had since she was N'Dare age. N'Dare never really knew the entire story of her mother ruby, but she knew that it was special to her; not only because it gave her the power to protect the city but because of who gave it to her. "M'Rin gave me this jewel when I was about your age. She told me that it would always give me a way to return to her and that it would always connect us. It has been years since she has passed away and I wish so much that she could have met you." Walking over to a pedestal in the far corner of the room Ororo removed a box off of it. "N'Dare this is my gift to you. It is very special… it was your father's idea to have this made. After he died I decided to have it made but decided to wait until I thought you were old enough." Ororo opened the box to reveal a stunning necklace with a beautiful diamond in the shape of a star with a lightning bolt running through it. "The pendent of this necklace is connected with the ruby in my broach. They are like sister stones, it has taken a great deal of magic to bind these two stones; and in doing so I will always be able to sense you and you will in turn be able to sense me. We will always be connected no matter where we are." Placing the necklace around her neck; N'Dare looked at her mother with the happiest smile she had ever had.
"Mother… I-I don't know what to say. This means so much to me; knowing that you will always be with me… and that we share something soo wonderful; words truly can't express the way I feel." Ororo features sadden when N'Dare said she was happy that they shared in something so deep that neither could ever truly part from it. Ororo Munroe was never a woman to indulge in lying; especially not to someone she loved. So to keep this secret from her daughter was tearing a her consciousness for years, she felt that N'Dare was old enough to know the truth; and while it would hurt her Ororo knew she had no other choice.
"N'Dare… there is something I have to tell you." N'Dare looked up expectantly from the jewel around her neck to her mother.
"What is it mother?" Gathering her resolve Ororo squared her shoulders and prepared herself for the conversation that she had been putting off for sixteen years now.
"N'Dare there is something that I haven't been completely honest with you about…" N'Dare face fell in confusion; what could her mother have not been honest with her about. "You see, you are more unique than you think I-I… uhg" then a pain shot through Ororo mind. She felt a change somewhere deep inside her; clutching her head in pain Ororo tried to figure out what the imbalance was. N'Dare rushed to her mother's side to see what was causing her so much pain.
"What's wrong mother?!" Ororo raised her head to look beyond the balcony that over looked the city. She seemed to simply be staring into space; looking beyond the buildings that were there and into something much deeper.
"Something is wrong." She whispered and a look of dread crossed her face. Before N'Dare could ask what she meant an explosion coming from the south end of the city rocked the Palace walls.
Southside of Wakanda…
With the festivities going on at the palace, the normally busy streets of Wakanda were almost bear. A few people were milling about finishing up their daily work or errands. A mother was with her child as they finished that last of the grocery shopping. Turning around the woman opened her mother to tell the little boy that they could go home and that all the shopping was done for the day, but then she noticed he wasn't there anymore.
"Caleb… Caleb where are you? Come on honey were finished." When she got no reply she figured that he must have gotten bored and wondered off. Collecting her bags she made her way around the corner to look for her son. After a while she began to worry; of course she knew that nothing bad could really happen to him, after all they were safely behind the walls of Wakanda and crime was virtually nonexistent here. But a mother's intuition was a strong habit to try and knock and growing up in the city of New York before its fall tended to live a person a little bit paranoid. She thought of all the places a seven year old boy would go, and the first thing that came to mind was the one place he knew he should not be. Walking to the edge of the city the woman spotted him staring at the storm a few feet in front of him.
"Caleb! You know better that to be here. What were you doing?" The little boy brought his green eyes away from the storm and looked at his mother.
"There is something out there mom."
"What? No sweetie; there is nothing out there… it was just the storm. There is nothing to worry about." Caleb shook his head vigorously.
"No mom. There is something out there I can feel it!" The woman looked at her son searching for any signs that he was playing a joke on her. She knew her baby was a mutant since he was born; gifted with the ability a spatial awareness. He could feel anything in his immediate area even if he had never been there before. Looking at him she didn't see anything in him that said he was making a joke. Narrowing her eyes she began to shake her head. Finally she looked in the spot where her son was staring but couldn't see anything.
"I don't see anything… it must just be the storm. Come on honey let's just go ho-" the woman cut her sentence off. Looking closely she was able to make out what appeared to be two read eyes staring at her from beyond the rain. "Oh GOD…" Soon the eyes had a face, then following a body. True it had been years since she had seen anything like it, but no amount of time could whip away the image of the creature that killed her husband and destroyed her world. Standing before her was a humanoid creature with no really defining features. It had no ears, mouth or anything that could make it seem human other than its body, but it was the eyes that stood out the most. They were more like lens that gave the thing sight but not a soul. Stepping closer the creature looked between mother and child before it finally settled on the boy.
"Mutant X-Gene detected… initiating prime Omega Sentinel objective…terminate mutant." The woman didn't need to hear anymore; she reacted solely on instinct. She reached for her son and started to run as fast as her legs could carry her. The sentinel lifted his right arm and it began to melt and reshape itself into the barrel of a cannon. "Human attempting to run… proceeding with prime objective." A crimson beam flashed from the end of the cannon and shot directly over the woman's head and hitting a power station a few feet ahead causing a massive explosion.
Ororo didn't need to be told what caused the explosion. She felt the shift in the storm outside; she felt the breach in her spell. Ororo turned to N'Dare.
"I want you to stay here… and don't argue with me N'Dare. Do not leave this palace." Rachel came running down the hall and towards them.
"Aunt Ororo there is a disturbance in the city. I have been able to pick up stray thoughts but they don't make sense. The people seem to think that sentinel's have breached the spell you put up, but that can't be right; can it?" N'Dare looked to her mother with pleading eyes.
"Mother you must let us help you. This is our home to; we have a right to protect it and its people."
"No N'Dare. I want you and Rachel to stay here. This is not a game or one of your practice drills with Elizabeth-" sighing Ororo rubbed her temples. She could feel the tears in the storm growing bigger and happening in different parts of the city; soon they will have breached completely. "I need you two here to help the people that are here already and the ones that will come later. Once the sentinels take the city the palace will be the only safe place; at least at the moment. But if something were to happen the people would need protectors and everyone will be outside trying to contain them. So please do as I say." Ororo walked to the balcony and summoned a wind to take her aloft; and with an incredible speed she flew to the battlefield. N'Dare looked at her mother leave slightly stunned. She couldn't understand why her mother wouldn't want their help, and there still was that little bit of information that her mother had yet to give her regarding not being completely honest with her. Rachel walked up behind her and laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Your mother's right Dee… we have to stay here and protect those that we can. Besides you know just as well as I do that we are not ready to handle a whole army of sentinels."
"I know- I know… I just wish there was something more that I could do besides sit here like some invalid." Rachel reached behind her back and pulled out N'Dare new Bo-staff.
"I thought you might say something like that, so I took the liberty of bring this with me." N'Dare took the staff from her and looked at her with a mischievous smile on her face.
"And that's why you're my best friend… because we think you much alike. You take the west wing and I'll take the east. Round up as many people as you can and bring them to the throne room, and Rachel should you run into any trouble contact me okay?" Rachel preformed a mock salute
"Will do ma kaeptin, haha yes N'Dare I will call you if anything happens." They both took off in two different directions to take care of their respective missions.
The woman continued to run as fast as she could. She could still here the abomination following behind her and setting off several shots from its cannon. One such shot hit at a building directly in front of her causing huge pieces of rubble to come tumbling down on her head. The woman wrapped her child in her embrace to protect him from harm and prayed to God that it would end quickly. When none of the pieces hit her she looked up wondering if it had already happened. Staring up she saw the chunks of rubble suspended seemingly on their own a few feet above her. She looked to her son to see if he was holding the rocks in place; but upon closer observation of the rocks she was able to notice fine webbing extending from one building to the next holding the rocks in place. On the building to the far right there was a man attached to the wall with a smile on his face.
"Thank you-Thank you so much!" The man's smile only grew wider.
"No need to thank me ma'am. I'm just your friendly neighborhood spider…" Before the man could complete his sentence he was sent flying by another shot that the sentinel had sent. The man sailed a good thirty feet before he came crashing down on an unsuspecting person.
"Dammit Parker; watch where your goin." Peter Parker pulled himself from on top of the man that he landed on.
"No-No I'm fine. Thanks for asking Wolverine."
"Whatever bub; just watch it next time." Peter watched as Logan made his way to the attacking sentinels with his claws extended and began slicing his ways through.
"Ahh… Wolverine; always just a little ray of sunshine." He leapt into the air and began webbslining from one building to the next until he was directly over the melee; then dove in to assist the other man. The two were busy fighting off at least two dozen sentinels while scared bystanders rushed to make their way to the palace. A cluster of the mechanical monsters were blocking the street that would take the people to safety. All of them stopped in their tracks and stared at the monsters with what was surely to be their last image. Then a column of fire shot over their heads and melted the sentinels into nothing but slag; and hovering just above them was a man who was completely covered in flames.
"GO! I'll watch your backs; get to the palace." The people didn't need to be told twice as they soon took off running in that direction. The fighting was growing bigger and the protectors were sorely outnumbered. Soon the sentinels were pushing them back; then without warning a thunderhead appeared with lighting and strong gust of wind that fried the sentinels and pushed them back to the south side of the city. Storm; followed by the other X-Men stood before wolverine and the others. Hovering above the rest storm called out.
"X-Men hear me! We are on the brink of our most important battle. I stand here as your leader Storm; and I say to you that we must not let this threat continue. Though we have lost Charles and countless others; we must stand as a team. No longer shall we let this constant fear take hold of us; we stand our ground… we fight! Win or lose; victor or failure this ends tonight. WE ARE MUTANTS… WE ARE X-MEN!" With that Storm extended her hand that was laced with lighting and pointed it at her teammates, the lighting casted itself towards them transforming there civilian clothes into that of their old uniforms. The others that were there looked to Storm Expectantly.
"What about us? We may not be X-Men and all of us may not be mutants but were here to help too." Smiling Storm turned to them.
"No you were not X-Men; but you are crucial to this war…" she changed their cloths as well transforming them from civilian to that of spiderman, Human Torch, Warbird, Electra, and the Punisher. "You will help protect those we love... you are Warriors of the human race." Looking back towards the palace Ororo hoped that everything there was okay. Looking in the distance she noticed that the sentinels had regrouped and was making their way back into the center of the city. She flew higher into the sky until she was able to see the entire city; clutching her stone in her hand she whispered something and then it began to glow a bright red. "Protect them…"
The palace was in utter chaos. People were running in every direction, trying to find a safe place to hide. Rachel did her best to keep everyone calm and instructed them to head to the throne room. A man carrying his crying daughter tried desperately to calm her but nothing that he said was able to stop the tears. It had gotten so bad that Rachel had to use her telepathy to calm the child, and while she was connected with the little girls mind she was able to see what caused her to act the way she did. On their way to the palace; sentinels had attacked her family and in the process had killed her mother and her brother right in front of her eyes. Rachel felt sorry for the little girl. She thought that no one should witness the death of their parent in such a brutal way. That thought brought her to her own parents and what had befallen then years ago when she was only ten years old. As if on their own; her feet carried her into a small garden on the west side of the palace to particular spot that she had visited many times over the years. Standing in the center of the garden was a statue of a man and a woman with either of their hands raised both supporting a red sphere about the size of a soccer ball. There was an inscription on the statue: 'Their love was like a flame. Constant and eternal may their love burn for all time.' Rachel slowly walked up to the statue of her parents. It always hurt her to know that with all their power they weren't able to save themselves.
"I will avenge you mom and dad. I promise!" The sphere in their hands began to glow a bright red until a beam of red light shot forth in a straight line heading towards the south end of the castle. The light continued until it reached a statue in the east garden; it was a statue of a beautiful woman with a sad look in her eyes holding a sphere identical to the one that Jean and Scott held except it was green. Inscribed on this statue was 'Always a Rouge…Forever A Friend. You have touched so many with your unyielding love.' The circuit of light continued on its trek heading to the east garden to the statue of a muscular man with a serious expression on his face with sphere the color of silver; inscribed was a simple phrase. 'Power yields when he commands… the wind howls for his lost.' And still the light continued to its final marker to that of the north garden to the statue of a man standing erect with a soft smile on his lips and wisdom in his eyes holding a pristine blue sphere. 'Knowledge is our only true freedom… though time passes down the stream of life we must always look to one another for help.' After all four sphere were alight they shot into the air creating a wall of pure energy that protected the occupants within.
Rachel made her way back into the corridor heading towards the throne room, until N'Dare came running up behind her.
"Rachel… Mom has activated the guardians; it must be getting serious out there." N'Dare came up on side of her friend and noticed that solemn expression on her face. "Are you alright?" Rachel lifted her eyes to meet N'Dare with a stern determination in them.
"I'm fine. We should get to the throne room. If the sentinels managed to breach the spell then the force field outside won't keep them back for much longer." Rachel began to walk away before N'Dare grabbed her by the elbow to slow her pace.
"Hey… tell me what's wrong. I know things look bad now but mom and the others won't let this city fall without one Hell of a fight." Still getting no answer from her N'Dare looked in the direction that she had found Rachel coming from and it dawned on her. She turned back to look at Rachel with nothing but sympathy in her eye; with her next words she softened her voice. "We won't let this beat us Rach. Aunt Jean and Uncle Scott didn't give their lives so that we could fall at the finish line. We will protect this city or die trying. Now come on; we have to get to the throne room." Before the two made their way back to the throne room; Rachel began to shake her head. Her mind was picking up some pretty wild thought patterns coming from the throne room. Her eyes widen in realization that the sentinels had already managed to break through their defenses. Dragging N'Dare the rest of the way to the room; she threw open the doors and the sight that meet both girls almost turned their stomach over. Almost every man, woman and child who was held up in the room was dead. Body parts were strewn to every corner of the once great hall that had seen centuries of Kings and Queens of Wakanda. The only survivor was a man in his early twenties fighting off a dozen sentinels on his own; and by the looks of it he wasn't faring to well. Without hesitation Rachel and N'Dare rushed to his aid; withdrawing their weapons and preparing for the fight of their lives. Rachel was first to attack by using her TK to throw the two sentinels closest to the man into the others.
"Are you alright? We can't stay her and fight them all like this. The room's too small and with all this blood we will never get stable footing. I suggest we take this outside were we'll have more room to maneuver." Rachel tacticians' brain had kicked in at this time; and she began to play one scenario after the other and all of them had the trio coming up short. There was no way that they would be able to hold that many sentinels back and defend the already battered man. He seemed to have come to the same conclusion as he pulled himself off the blood drenched floor.
"You two cannot stay here. I will only slow you down…" looking N'Dare squarely in the eye he continued "I will not let you die for me princess. You have to get as far away from here as possible. I will hold them back while you leave." N'Dare was sick and tired of people always assuming she was incapable of defending herself simply because she didn't have any special abilities.
"NO! We stand and fight together. I won't leave you behind like that; Rachel and I will stay here with you and fight these bastards head on." Upon realizing what N'Dare was trying to prove she had made up her mind about the situation.
"We have to go Dee. I don't like it anymore than you do but he has a point…"
"You would just run away and let this man die?! I can't believe you are even suggesting we do that!" N'Dare said astonished that her friend would willingly abandon somewhat when there was hope that they could be saved.
"You don't have a choice. It is my decision to stay behind and allow you an escape. I don't need you here to help me; all I need is for you to be safe Your Highness…please; just allow me this opportunity to protect you." The man had a pleading edge to his voice and a look in his eyes that left no room to argue. He was willing to die to protect her; and while she knew that his odds were slim to last long against these monsters she couldn't argue with a man that had surely made up his mind.
"What is your name?"
"Marcus." N'Dare regarded him for a while; so that she could memorize every aspect of his face so that she would never forget the man that gave his life to protect hers.
"You have my eternal thanks Marcus. May the Goddess protect you." A smile came to his face as he looked at the young woman preparing to leave.
"No offense Your Grace; but I'm Christian. I put my faith in God, and I know as surely as he has delivered me into this trial he will also deliver me into his eternal grace." With that N'Dare and Rachel left; but before she got to far Rachel sent a telepathic apology to the warrior. Once they were gone Marcus turned back to the sentinels with a hard edge in his eye. They had come to annihilated everyone who lived in this city. They had killed countless amounts of innocent people; and for what? Simply because they were different, but as a soilder he had taken an oath to protect those who could not protect themselves and he'd be damned if he allowed these monster to get away with what they had done without giving them a little payback. "Bring it on you mechanical son of a bitchs." With that final word he leapt into what would most likely be his death.
Leaving the throne room the two headed towards the main entrance that would take them to the south end of the city where Ororo was. They both knew that the palace was lost and there was no use staying to defend it since everyone inside was already dead. So the plan now was to make it to her mother and tried to help in this losing war. In the main hall leading to the door that would take them outside there was a blockade of sentinels numbering at least two dozen blocking their only exit.
"Dammit… so much for a quick getaway; huh Rach?"
"I'll say. You take the six on the left and I'll take the six on the right. We watch each other's back okay?" The two split up and began their assault on the creatures that had come to destroy the last Bastion of hope the world had left. Rachel removed the daggers from inside of the holsters that she wore underneath her gown. She was able to cut at least two of them down when she threw one of her daggers into the head of one of the sentinels, and before the thing could even hit the floor she jumped on its chest, removed the dagger and sent it flying across the room using her TK; slicing the robots heads off. N'Dare by this time removed her new staff from her waist and began attacking her opponents; skillfully dodging every energy beam sent her way. She charged one of the sentinels with the intent to knock its head off but the staff responded by reformatting its tip into a sharp point, lodging itself in the sentinels head. Following through with her motion she managed to decapitate two more sentinels before throwing her staff at the other two catching them in a micro explosion. Running forward she retrieved her staff off the floor and looked at it with a huge grin on her face. "
This thing is way cooler than my other staff! I'm going to have to remember to thank Uncle Remy for this little baby."
"If we live long enough to tell him... if you wouldn't mind getting your ass over here and helping me we could be done with this a lot sooner!" N'Dare looked over and saw that Rachel was having her hands full with the three sentinels she had left. The two fought like a well trained duo; when N'Dare would lunge at one; Rachel would cover her back. For a while they had the sentinels on the defensive; that is until one of them morphed both of its arms into cannons and prepared to fire.
"Goddess…" N'Dare acted on pure instinct next. She drew Rachel close and plunged her staff into the ground in front of her and prayed for a miracle. Just as the sentinels fired its weapon, N'Dare staff began to hum and emit a soft glow and once the energy wave got within a few inches of it a force field appeared around the two girls. Though the force field was capable of withstanding blunt force, it was incapable of holding up against continuous force. The shield wavered under the force of the sentinel's attack and soon dissipated completely, sending both Rachel and N'Dare crashing in the wall behind them and knocking them both unconscious.
The battle outside the palace was not faring any better than the one inside. The sentinels were out numbering the forces that had gathered to defend Wakanda. Almost all the human guards were dead, the few super powered civilians were way over there head in this fight and the veteran fighters were at their limits. Katherine Pryde; once known as Shadowcat, phased in between the strikes of the sentinels closest to her, reaching into their artificial brains and scrambling its circuit. She had managed to take out quite a few sentinels thus far and in her carelessness she didn't notice her current target produce a small rod from a hidden compartment on its leg. Shoving the baton into her stomach the sentinel sent a electromagnetic pulse through Kitty that disrupted her phasing abilities leaving her completely tangible. Twisting the midsection of the baton created a sharp tip to the rod penetrating Shadowcats uniform and piercing her heart. Kitty slowly slumped to the ground holding her chest in a vain attempt to stop the bleeding. She looked up with fearful eyes wondering if this is how it all would end. Her; facing down a sentinel preparing to deliver the death blow that would end her life…along. Then without warning a column of ice appeared and encased the sentinel in an icy coffin. Bobby Drake AKA Iceman made his way to his fallen friend carefully he laid her head in his lap with tears streaming down his face.
"You'll be okay Kitty. Well get you to the healers; and you'll be okay." He tried to comfort her with child like naivety in his eyes. Kitty removed her hand from her heart and shaking brought it to rest on his check leaving a trail of blood.
"It's okay Bobby. I'm not scared. I-I…" with those sputtering words Katherine 'Kitty' Pryde drew her last breath. So taken in by his emotions Bobby didn't see the oncoming sentinels with their weapon raised. In all honesty he probably didn't even care; he had just lost the only woman he loved and that lose left him only a hollow shell of what he was.
"DRAKE!!" Wolverine's call came only too late. The sentinels attack obliterated Bobby Drake before he even knew they were upon him. Storm stopped her attack the moment she heard Logan yell out Iceman's name, and upon turning she was able to get a glimpse of Bobby cradling the lifeless body of her Kitten. Shaking her head in disbelief Ororo mind began to scream
'It can't end like this…not like this. Oh Kitten; had it only been me in you place.' Completely enraged by the demise of two of her oldest friends; Ororo unleashed a onslaught of lightning bolts all aimed at the over two dozen sentinels advancing on the others. After whipping out all the sentinels in her line of vision a pain shot through Ororo's heart. Through the connection of her stone that she shared with N'Dare she was able to feel the pain her daughter was experiencing, and without hesitation she flew towards the palace. Gambit and Wolverine were the only ones standing at this point and both noticed Ororo heading in the direction of the palace. They both knew that only one thing would draw Ororo away from this fight; and that was if N'Dare was in trouble. The shared a common understanding that they would be receiving no more help from Storm.
"Well gumbo; it's just you and me."
"Fine by me homme, but what do ya say we go out wit a bang heh." Unsheathing his claws Wolverine smiled.
"Fine by me Cajun." Smiling a devilish grin of his own Remy responded.
"Laissez le bons temps rouler!" with that the two charged into the mass of sentinels and to their own deaths.
When N'Dare awoken from her unconscious state the first thing she realized was that Rachel was nowhere in sight; she began to panic when she didn't see her friend. Finally after scanning the room several times her eyes fell on the sight of Rachel lying on her back with a long spike protruding from her chest. Immediately she ran over to her and began to shake her vigorously.
"Rach… Rachel come on wake up. We have to get out of her before more sentinels come. Come on Rachel this isn't funny we have to go!" With a lump in her throat N'Dare placed her fingers on Rachel's neck and her heart stopped when she didn't feel a pulse. N'Dare heart began to break as it dawned on her that her sister in everything but blood would not wake up. Soon her anger turned into guilt as she cursed herself for not holding the shield up longer or finding away to cushion Rachel's fall. Movement to the far left got her attention. Narrowing her eyes; she was determined to deal some pay-back for them hurting her sister. One lone sentinel was all that survived the backlash and N'Dare was more than confidant she would be able to handle it even though she could feel the deep cut that she had on her side and the few broken ribs underneath; she would not let that hold her back from getting her revenge.
"Sentinel A-4 detecting mutant x-gene, proceeding with prime objective." N'Dare was thrown off by the sentinels comment. 'Did it just say mutant x-gene detected?' her mind began to race. Maybe it was because she was so close to Rachel that the creature couldn't tell that they weren't one person. She didn't care; she would take this thing out one way or the other. She carefully put Rachel down and stood on shaking legs, extending her staff she made her way towards the sentinel.
"I don't care how dumb you are. Your ass is mind bastard!" she took a swing with her staff but due to her injuries her reflexes were to slow. The sentinel grabbed the staff and lifted N'Dare by her neck inches off the floor. N'Dare stared into the monster's eyes without a shred of fear, she wouldn't give the thing the satisfaction. With her final thoughts she asked Rachel to forgive her and told her mother she loved her; but right as the sentinel brought it hand up to finish what it started it was pulled away from N'Dare by a powerful gust of wind.
"Never lay a hand on my child." With that Ororo placed her hand on the sentinel's chest and blasted a hole in it with lightning. Rushing over to her daughter Ororo noticed the way she held her sides. "Are you alright? Where is Rachel we haven't much time." N'Dare turned her tearful gaze over to the body of her dead sister. "Goddess no…" was all Strom could manage, they were losing this battle and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Holding her crying daughter in her arms; Ororo came to a conclusion. She wouldn't let her daughter die like this, not without giving her a means to defend herself. "N'Dare; listen carefully. Can you move without much trouble?" N'Dare rose to her feet.
"Yes. But what's the point… we've lost. Everyone we know and care for is gone."
"I need you to come with me. I haven't much time to explain now; but once we get to our destination I will explain everything." Grabbing N'Dare by the hand Ororo lead her outside. Once she was sure that no sentinel were around Ororo lifted herself off the ground and extended a hand to her daughter. "Hold on tight to me, and do everything I tell you." N'Dare reached her hand out and took her mother's. Once Ororo had a firm grip she rose higher into the sky heading towards the citadel. While flying over the city, N'Dare was able to see the full effect that the sentinels had cause. Building were destroyed, homes were set ablaze, bodies littered the streets… it all became too much. She couldn't believe that her home had been destroyed all within a matter of hours. Brining her eyes away from the carnage that was beneath N'Dare was brought to the image of hundreds of sentinels. Some were hovering a few feet in the air and the rest had posted in form of the citadel's entrance. Lifting her head so that she could ask her mother what they would do she was interrupted by Ororo.
"When I say so I want you to relax your entire body… go limp and for goddess sake do as I tell you!" Nodding her head in understanding N'Dare continued to look forward, she had no idea how her mother planned on getting them through this; but she had never doubted her before and certainly wasn't going to start now. Storm continued heading directly towards the airborne sentinels and once she felt she was close enough she yelled to N'Dare.
"NOW!" With that single word Ororo launched her daughter in front of her and using a strong updraft sent N'Dare sailing over the mass of sentinels. Ororo continued to head directly in the heart of the sentinel congregation; all the while channeling electricity throughout her body. Once it build to the amount she desired, the lightning branched out from every inch of her body connecting with every sentinel she came across destroying all of them in her wake. From her position above the chaos N'Dare sailed over the massive explosions of sentinels with an aw- struck look on her face, in all her years of life she had never seen her mother attack anything with such ferocity. As she began her decent beyond the line of exploding sentinels she began to worry if her mother had made it out alright. Soon she began to panic; she was getting closer and closer to the ground and her mother was nowhere to be seen. Then without warning Ororo rocketed out of the burning plume of debris and caught N'Dare just as quickly as she sent her flying. The jerking motion caused a pain to shoot through N'Dare, but that still didn't stop the pride that came through her voice.
"That was amazing mom!"
"We are not done yet. Hold onto me; we still have the ones on the ground to deal with." No sooner had Ororo finished her statement did the sentinels on the ground began to fire at them. Ororo dodge every shot with skill and grace as she rode the air current that were her name sake. While twisting and dodging the attacks Ororo began to manipulate the weather behind her and with every twist she did she bent the air to the same, until the tail end of a tornado appeared mere feet behind her. As before she instructed her daughter to follow her lead; and with a quick notification she released N'Dare and let her trail behind her as she picked up speed, going head first into the center of the gathering of sentinels. At the last possible second Ororo twisted her body and landed with her feet firmly planted on the ground and with a summoning gesture of her hand brought the full force of the tornado down with her, causing sentinels to be torn to bits by the onslaught of her attack. Standing in the center of the destroyed sentinels Ororo surveyed the area to make sure none were left standing, and with a flick of her wrist Ororo created a updraft of air to halt N'Dare of her freefall and sat her gently beside her.
"We haven't much time. More sentinels are undoubtedly on their way and I will need time to prepare you." N'Dare stopped in her tracks.
"Prepare me for what? Mother; what is going on… where is Uncle Remy and the others? Why aren't we out there helping them?" Ororo spun on her heels to look at her daughter and for the first time N'Dare saw fear in her mother's eyes.
"BECAUSE THERE IS NO ONE TO HELP!" sighing Ororo walked over to N'Dare and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We have lost everything… my only choice now is to make sure that you have a way of defending yourself."
"You've said that before… what do you mean mom; I-I don't understand." Ororo guided N'Dare to the center of the room, into a circle with ancient runes all around it.
"I don't have time to explain it to you in large detail but… N'Dare you are a mutant." N'Dare was dumbstruck.
"But how can I be a mutant? I don't have any powers."
"Yes… You do. Your powers are the exact same as mine my child. You have been gifted with the ability to control the very forces of nature"
"Then why wasn't I ever able to use them?"
"That is a very difficult question to answer at the moment and…"
"Well try!" Ororo looked at the expression on N'Dare face; she knew that this day would come but she just hoped that when it did N'Dare would be old enough to understand.
"When you were but a infant I sealed away your powers…" N'Dare was stunned to say the least and more than a little bit hurt.
"How could you do that to me? I'm your daughter… why would you seal my powers from me?!"
"N'Dare you don't understand… I-I had no choice. Please you must understand that I would not take away something so special from you without a good reason." Before Ororo could explain that reason a explosion blew the doors off their hinges and sent N'Dare and Ororo sailing in the air causing N'Dare to hit her head on the pillar behind her.
"So this is the infamous citadel of the Goddess? I must say I was expecting something a little more lavish." That voice… Ororo would never forget that voice as long as she drew breath in her lungs.
"Bastion…"
"Ah; Ororo Munroe: codename Storm. Or should I say Queen Ororo now?" Ororo looked disdainfully at the abomination that had once plagued the X-men years ago.
"I should have known the humans would have reinstated you. But to be honest I didn't think they would be so stupid in their zeal to destroy mutants to release a lunatic like you!" she spat with venom dripping from every syllable. Bastion walked slowly over to Ororo with a wicked smile on his face.
"And I would not have guessed you would've survived this long; but I guess we were both wrong. But that can easily be rectified. You see, you and your little spawn over there is the last of a dying species; and with you death I will have accomplished my objective: the complete annihilation of the human race." With his words Ororo knew what she had to do. This world was lost; there was no undoing the damage that the sentinel's had done. Though she would be damned if she let her daughter die like this. She wasn't able to save the poor Rachel and the others but she would not lose N'Dare to this.
Taking one last look at N'Dare unconscious on the floor; she prayed the one day her daughter could forgive her mistakes. Turning back to Bastion Ororo eyes misted over and in a great display of power she lifted herself in the air. The sheer amount of power that coursed through Ororo caused her gown to disintegrate off her body, and soon she was surrounded in a corona of colors. Bastion stood with wide eyes as Storm slowly rose off the floor.
"T-This is impossible. You don't have this type of power! Y-You're even stronger than the Phoenix." Ororo's voice was like rolling thunder; her breath fire and ice.
"As you said yourself Bastion; this world is lost and as such I will not allow you stand when all else has fallen. You shall join the very beings you have condemned to extinction." All her life Ororo has live with restraints, always afraid that her power would go out of control. But with the death of all she knew and loved she felt that there was no more need to hold back. She would see to it that he daughter would live on… even if it meant she would not be able to see that happen. Lifting her hand Ororo began to utter words that were as old as time itself; her voice began to rise and fall in crescendo. The runes that surround the circle began to glow and so did N'Dare prone body, with tears in her eyes; Ororo gave her child her last words.
"Be happy my child, and no that I will always love you." And in a blinding flash N'Dare was gone; not a trace left of her. Not that Ororo had no more distractions holding her back she unleashed the full force of her elemental powers in conjunction with her magical abilities. The result was an astounding reversal of planetary output; Storm had managed to turn the entire planet into a weapon and aimed it straight at Wakanda completely obliterating it and every sentinel that was there. With her last thoughts Ororo said. "I am coming to join you my love… and may the Goddess protect our child.
To be continued:
A/N: Okay I will admit that this chapter in the beginning and probably throughout was a little slow moving. I always knew from the start that this would be my most difficult chapters to write solely because it would be the end of the 'Marvel Universe'. I tried really hard to keep this chapter up to par with the other ones but if I faltered please feel free to let me know. And as always your input is appreciated. Now a few details about this chapter: Remy is N'Dare parrain, which here in Louisiana is what we call our godfathers, and Laissez le bons temps rouler means 'let the good times roll'. Also in the final battle there is a few people who aren't considered x-men ( I'll let you figure out who they are hehe) I can guarantee that next will be all Avatar. You will meet some of the main characters of the cartoon then; I haven't quit decided if I will make this all about my oc and Zuko or if I'll only diverge from the canon a little and keep the main characters involved. I know it will be AU on most parts but we'll discuss that when the time comes. Also if you hadn't caught on, she statues in the four gardens is that of Scott and Jean, Rouge, Magneto, and Charles Xavier. The stones that they carry are supposed to represent the four elements: Fire, Earth, Air and Water. And finally to any and all x-men fans; please oh please don't hate me for killing off every single human on the marvel earth. I know it was a little bit extreme but we have to face facts that Charles' dream couldn't last forever. Again sorry for the complete genocide of an entire planet.
Also I must add this little bit of information. In this story there is a man that was named Marcus, well in actuality he was based off of a real person who I had the privilege of knowing. He and I went to school together and once we graduated he enlisted in the military. While serving his country his motorcade was ambushed by a bomb while he was refueling. He and others died that day and in honor and memory of him I put him in this story. R.I.P Marcus Cain you are truly missed.