The X-men and Brotherhood were stood on the river bank. It was a cold, wet and miserable day and as the townsfolk gathered round along with some of the army. Charles Xavier was laying in a small raft, surrounded by hay. He had died in the battle and people were mourning his loss and the many other who had passed. David walked onto the pier and the raft started to sail down the river. He took out a burning arrow and fired it into the air. It hit the raft and it was consumed with flames. The crowd then started to disperse but David stood still.
As the body of Charles Xavier sailed down the river burning a shadowy figure moved towards it. David noticed it but dismissed it as nothing.
''I will take back what is mine.'' The shadowy figure whispered before disappearing. David then walked off the pier and towards the X-men.
''How you feelin' Bub?'' Logan asked.
''I'll be fine.'' David replied. Erik then walked up to him and took his hand.
''I'm going back to the capital in a few days. We will send resources but I have matters to attend to.'' Erik explained.
''Thank you for staying this long.'' David said. He then walked away.
Remy and Rogue were walking through the crowd.
''So we go back with the Acolytes in a couple of days.'' Remy said. He was wearing very thick gloves so it made it difficult for Rogue to hold his hand.
''Looking forward to it.'' Rogue said. She wasn't really paying attention.
''Are you sure you'll be ok? I mean away from your friends?'' Remy asked. He seemed genuinely concerned.
''I'll be fine. It will be good to get away from here.'' Rogue said.
''As long as you are sure.'' Remy replied.
''I'm sure.'' Rogue said.
''Alex will be coming with Lorna. We've delayed the wedding but they will most likely come with us.'' Remy explained.
''Something to look forward to.'' Rogue said.
''Yeah, something to look forward to.'' Remy replied.
X
Johann was sitting in a tavern drinking. He was surrounded by soldiers and senators who were also getting drunk. Mystique walked in disguised as Kelly.
''Kelly, how are you?'' Johann said. He handed Kelly a cup of ale.
''I'm doing fine Johann. I didn't expect to find you in here.'' Kelly explained.
''Follow me.'' Johann said.
Johann and Kelly walked into a small, empty room. They sat down and started drinking.
''What is it?'' Kelly asked.
''I want to relaunch the Sentinel program. Little Jason thinks he is ready to lead it.'' Johann explained.
''Are you sure that is safe?'' Kelly asked.
''Of course. He is blood thirsty and we have soldiers willing to shed that blood.'' Johann explained.
''Rumour has it they fought of an army of Apocalypse.'' Kelly said. Johann just gave a sinister smile.
''Wrong god. It was Mephisto.'' Johann corrected.
''We're not having a religious argument. But apparently they have a dragon.'' Kelly said.
''Dragons and swords are good against the undead but up against men made of steel….They have no luck.'' Johann said. He was very confident.
''They could still put up a fight.'' Kelly said.
''When one head it removed, two more shall take its place.'' Johann said. He finished his drink and smiled.
''Hydra?'' Kelly asked.
''Hail Hydra.'' Johann said.
''I thought they were destroyed?'' Kelly asked. There were legends of Hydra but nobody was sure if they were true.
''Like Mystique but when my sorcerers tried to reverse her magic, they could not.'' Johann explained.
''You think she's alive?'' Kelly asked, getting nervous.
''Well if she's alive. Who did you kill?'' Johann asked.
''Maybe she stays like that after death.'' Kelly said.
''Maybe, maybe I'm just putting too much thought into it. Excuse me, I have to speak to someone.'' Johann said. He then got up and left.
Johann walked into the bar and up to a young, red headed woman.
''I have a job for you my lovely spider.'' Johann said to her. She downed her drink and looked at him. Johann looked at Kelly who was exiting the building.
''Hail Hydra.'' The woman said. She got up and left.
''Hail Hydra.'' Johann said as she walked away. He grabbed another cup of ale and started to drink it.
X
David was with Ruth in her house. She was picking up chairs and putting everything back in its place.
''Shouldn't you be helping the other X-men?'' Ruth asked.
''I think I would rather help you.'' David said.
''Thank you.'' Ruth said.
''Why don't you move into the mansion with me?'' David asked.
''Do you think they'll approve?'' Ruth asked. She then pointed to her eyes.
''You're a psychic. The X-men will practically beg you to join plus I'm in charge now so I can just say. Plus Scott can't see and we manage...Most of the time.'' David said.
''But what about arranged marriages? I thought the higher born had to go through all that.'' Ruth asked.
''Well there are very few I could marry. The Lehnsherr and Xaviers are being united by Lorna and ALex being married so that will be fine. Rogue and Remy are married which unites us with the thieves and because Remy is in the Acolytes so that helps with the Lehnsherr.'' David explained. He walked closer to her and took her hands.
''What about Kelly?'' Ruth asked.
''He isn't going to let Jason marry any of the girls. I want you.'' David said.
''A lord marrying a commoner though.'' Ruth said. David got down on one knee and stared at her. He fished in his pocket for a ring he had.
''Ruth Aldine….Marry me?'' David asked. She nodded and he hugged her. He then put the ring on her before kissing her.
''Are you sure you're not just doing this because of what happened?'' Ruth asked.
''I love you Ruth and I want to be with you.'' David said.
X
Sinister and Mesmero were in the catacombs. The army had gone into the walls and were hibernating.
''Dragon breath….Dragon breath.'' Sinister yelled. He was angry and upset.
''They took your dragon.'' Mesmero said.
''A dragons breathe can destroy the army of the dead. Apocalypse would never have allowed this.'
''Apocalypse is not the creator.'' A mysterious voice said. The shadows then formed to create a human like being.
''Shadow King.'' Mesmero said.
''What do you mean?'' Sinister asked.
''Mephisto is the lord of the undead.'' Shadow King explained.
''So you survived in Evan.'' Mesmero said.
''Such a weak mind.'' Shadow King replied.
''Mephisto is a legend.'' Sinister said.
''Not a legend..A god.'' Shadow King replied.
''So what now?'' Mesmero asked.
''We give our god new life.'' Shadow King said.
''How?'' Mesmero asked.
''Apocalypse is a god that is trapped in his tomb but Mephisto is trapped in his realm.'' Shadow King explained.
''How do we get him out?'' Mesmero asked.
''He needs a host.'' Shadow King explained.
''Why don't we just release Apocalypse?'' Sinister asked.
''Because nobody knows where he is buried.'' Shadow King explained.
X
Ororo, Logan and Hank were in the tombs. They were looking at the corpse of Evan which had been badly burnt by the lightning.
''I can't believe he is dead.'' Ororo said. She had tears falling down her cheek.
''We're sorry Ororo.'' Hank said.
''I can't believe I killed my own nephew.'' Ororo said.
''You did what you had to.'' Logan said as he patted her shoulder.
''And yet we still lost Charles.'' Ororo said as she looked at his tomb.
''Don't beat yourself up about it. We was at war and he tried to kill us.'' Hank said.
''Imagine what his mother would say.'' Ororo said.
''He joined the Morlocks.'' Logan said.
''Only because of what we had done to them….He saw the injustice and tried to fix it.'' Ororo said.
''It was war. I did the same kind of things in the wars I have fought.'' Logan explained. He then started to remember all of the other wars he was in. From fighting the Assassins to the war against Hydra.
''You Logan are built for war though, Evan was not, not until he joined the army of the dead.'' Hank said as he looked at the burnt armour.
''What do you mean?'' Logan asked.
''His body has been changed. His skin is very bone like but as an armour and people say he created swords made of bones.'' Hank explained.
''So do you think there could be more like him?'' Ororo asked.
''My main concern is who they worship. Sinister is known to worship Apocalypse but he never raised the dead.'' Hank explained.
''Who did?'' Ororo asked.
''Mephisto.'' Hank said.
''Mephisto and his rider. That was a bedtime story.'' Ororo said.
''This is not possible. It's a bedtime story.'' Logan said.
''Look at me. I look like a monster and the young Summer boys have their powers. These things are possible and we know that Mephistos magic exists.'' Hank explained.
''So if he comes back to life….What do we do?'' Ororo asked.
''We send him back to hell.'' Logan said.
''Erik and the others are going.'' A soldier yelled as he walked down.
X
The three walked up to the gates. The Brotherhood and Acolytes were getting into their carriages whilst the X-men get ready to say their goodbyes.
''I don't want anymore of that stuff. You understand Gumbo?'' Logan said to Remy.
''I got it Logan.'' Remy said.
Rogue, Wanda and Lorna were saying goodbye to the girls. They had their dragon with them and Piotr was looking at Kitty.
''Go and talk to her.'' John said as he walked past.
''Maybe another time.'' Piotr said.
''I'll see you girls soon, for the wedding.'' Rogue said as she hugged them.
''And don't worry. The wine in the capital is amazing.'' Wanda said.
''You nervous Lorna?'' Kitty asked.
''Yeah I am.'' Lorna said.
''You won't forget us right?'' Jubilee asked.
''Of course not.'' Lorna said smiling.
Alex and Scott were talking. They had just finished loading the carriages.
''Goodluck brother.'' Scott said.
''And to you.'' Alex said. The two hugged.
''You'll have to tell me what the capital is like.'' Scott said.
''You'll be up there for the wedding.'' Alex replied.
''Make it work.'' Scott said.
''The sun will shine.'' Alex said. It was their family saying.
''The sun will shine.'' Scott replied.
David was talking to Erik and Pietro.
''I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer to help.'' Erik said.
''You've got your war with kelly to think about.'' David said.
''Yes. Goodluck David.'' Pietro said.
''And to you.'' David said as he shook their hands.
X
The Shadow King, Sinister and Mesmero were stood on a hill in the middle of the night.
''He is just a myth. The rider does not exist.'' Sinister said.
There was a flame coming towards them. It stood out for miles and came towards them at an incredible speed. It was very unnerving. It stopped right in front of them to reveal a man on a horse. They were both on fire and appeared to be skeletons.
''He does not go by the rider...He is Zarathos, the spirit of vengeance.'' The Shadow King said. They looked at Zarathos as he stared down at them with his burning eyes.
I hope you have enjoyed and please review. I'm trying to keep this as accurate as I can and if you have any suggestions please say. Until next time, have fun.