Chapter 21: Ruby Phoenix

By: Galadeidre

A/N: Here's the next chapter! Hope you all like it! Sorry it's taking me forever to write. I'm really trying to write more! Really, I am! It's…just not working…;p. Anyways, I'll shut up now…have fun reading! Galadeidre

The jet violently shook as everyone in the jet grabbed hold of something sturdy.

Beast pressed a button on his vision modifier, revealing his true form – his blue fur glistening as the sun caught it. With impressive agility, he lunged forward to the controls. "I'm getting us out of here!" He swiftly pressed several buttons on the control panel, lifted a handle, and gripped the steering wheel. The jet immediately began to come to life, its engines flaring. Slowly, it lifted up into the sky.

Rogue was watching the figure on the sand as it grew smaller…but something wasn't right. "Dr. McCoy, you have to hurry."

"Patience is a virtue."

"Not right now, it isn't." A hint of fear began to creep into her voice. He was watching…from the sands…he was looking up at them…letting them get away…

The Ruby Phoenix shifted his feet in the sand then flew straight up towards the jet.

Rogue gasped as Xavier yelled. "Beast, get us out of here!" Xavier's eyes were white with fear.

Beast tried to veer the jet away from the upcoming Phoenix, but to no avail. The Ruby Phoenix grabbed hold of the tail end of the jet, making the jet give a sudden lurch because of the impact, the passengers within losing their balance.

Nightcrawler gripped onto the unconscious Storm's arm. "We must get off this plane!"

"Agreed," Xavier replied "Quick, Kurt. Teleport Ororo off the jet first." Nightcrawler nodded and disappeared in a blue haze along with Storm.

Suddenly, a hissing noise sounded from the backend of the jet. The remaining X-Men turned around.

To their horror, the metal structure of the jet was melting. The alarm went off, and Beast turned back to the control panel as Nightcrawler reappeared. "We're losing altitude!" The jet tipped downward towards the sea as the hissing sound continued.

"Kurt!" Beast turned toward Nightcrawler, his voice barely calm. "Hurry! Get the professor out! We haven't got much time!" Immediately, Nightcrawler grabbed hold of the professor and his wheelchair and teleported out.

Beast turned back to the control panel and began to fiddle with the buttons as a last attempt to keep the jet airborne for a little while longer.

Rogue was watching the melting metal. She didn't need to see him to know what he was trying to do. But why?

Nightcrawler reappeared and faced her. "Come on, Marie. We must leave before it is too late."

Rogue was staring at the metal; she could see Phoenix's glowing hand through the melted structure now. Scared as she was, she knew she had to at least stall him. "Take Beast. I'm gonna try to stop him."

"What!" Both Beast and Kurt stared at her, incredulous.

"I'll be fine."

"Rogue, I don't think that that's…"

"He'll keep chasing us if I don't do something." The hole was getting bigger and the jet tilted more steeply.

"But what can you do, Rogue?" Beast asked.

Rogue sighed and looked down at her hands. They were trembling. "Cleo gave me some of her powers. I'll use that."

"Marie," Kurt replied softly. He warily eyed the large hole. "Will that be enough against a Phoenix?"

"I hope it'll be enough to stall him." She glanced at the two others, her eyes finalizing her decision. "Now go."

Nightcrawler hesitated for a moment longer, and then took Beast's arm. He looked at Rogue. "God be with you." He and Beast vanished in a blue haze.

Rogue sighed and faced the back of the jet. She could feel the sweat on her forehead and neck. She closed her eyes and extended her mind towards the Professor.

Rogue?

Professor, you probably know already, don't you?

Yes, and I don't like the idea, but I know I can't stop you.

Mmm. She began to levitate. Can you try to save the jet, though?

I'll do the best I can.

Thank you.

Rogue…please…be careful.

Rogue nodded and drew in her breath. Ruby Phoenix had efficiently made a large hole in the back of the jet, large enough for Rogue to fit through with ease. Any minute now, he would be entering the jet. She couldn't let him do that. She spotted his hand – still glowing red-orange – about to enter through the hole.

Rogue let out her breath. "Time to play fire with fire." She concentrated, willing Cleo's power into her hands and aiming them towards the hole. She knew her power wasn't enough, so all she could hope for was to catch him off-guard. A stream of fire shot out of Rogue's hands.

She was lucky – the stream impacted with the Phoenix's chest, sending him flying backwards in the air.

Rogue quickly flew out of the jet, by way of the hole, and scanned the sky for the Phoenix. She spotted him floating several meters away, eyes blazing at her. His hands began to glow and several fireballs started racing towards her. She squinted her eyes in the bright sunlight to gain a better view of the incoming danger, readying herself to dodge the fireballs.

She dodged all except the last.

Rogue! Xavier's shout rang through her mind.

Rogue thought quickly and held her glowing hands towards the last fireball.

I must be insane, she thought, but braced herself for impact.

The fireball shot straight into her hands, numbing her arms for a few seconds. Rogue willed all the power she could muster and pushed the fireball back towards Ruby Phoenix. Immediately after that, she threw another fireball.

Ruby Phoenix noticed Rogue push the first fireball back to him and held out his arms to stop its momentum. He had not realized that she had thrown a second fireball, which had been Rogue's intent. The second fireball sent him falling into the ocean, sending a huge fountain of water flying upwards.

Rogue shielded her face from the incoming spray and waited for the water to fall back down into the lake. She then began to scan the water's surface for signs of the Phoenix.

He was nowhere to be seen.

Panic started flooding into her brain. Where was he? She couldn't risk him surprising her. She probably wouldn't be able to stand a surprise attack from him. She continued to search through the sky.

A voice shot through her head the same time Cleo's warning instincts rang through…

Get in the water – NOW! Rogue immediately flew into the water, without a moment's hesitation. The minute she was submerged, she heard a loud and deafening explosion above her. She opened her eyes and looked up noticing a huge cloud of smoke and fire where she had been floating a moment ago.

A hand was placed on her shoulder as she treaded underneath the water. She quickly turned around, fearing that it was the Phoenix.

To her relief, it was Nightcrawler. He held out his hand, which she took, and in a puff of blue haze, they appeared beside the Professor and the others.

Drenched and cold, Rogue collapsed onto the forest ground.

"Rogue, are you all right?" Xavier asked in worry as Beast knelt down beside the young mutant.

Shivering, Rogue managed a nod. She noticed a figure resting beside Xavier's wheelchair. "Ms. Munroe?"

Storm nodded and gave a weak smile. "I'm glad you're all right."

"Same goes with you."

"I'll be fine." Storm nodded her head. "Good job out there against that Phoenix." She gave a small wince. She had stopped bleeding a while ago, but her wounds were still open.

"A very good job," Nightcrawler agreed. He knelt down beside Storm to help her stay upright.

"He won't bother us for now. Where did he go?"

"We're not sure. All we saw were two rather large fireballs colliding where you had just been levitating. The Professor, here, immediately told Nightcrawler to retrieve you underwater, but there hasn't been any sign of the Phoenix anywhere," Beast commented.

"Best not stay in this area, though," Xavier spoke up. He glanced at Rogue. "I managed to keep the jet from crashing. It's in need of some repairs, so I think that it's best that we go back to the jet. I've hidden it from view in the forest, so I think we'll be safe for now."

"Thank you." Rogue stood up, with the help of Beast. "And thanks, Professor, for warning me to get into the water when I did. If you hadn't, I probably wouldn't have survived that explosion."

Xavier gave a frown, confused. "What warning? I don't believe I ever warned you of those two fireballs."

Now it was Rogue's turn to look confused. "You never told me to go in the water?"

Xavier shook his head.

"Then who did?" Rogue frowned for a moment longer before dawning apprehension came to her. "Unless…"

Xavier and the others caught on quick enough.

"It does make a bit of sense," Beast remarked.

"Maybe he isn't as bad as we thought," Storm said.

"I suppose we'll just have to wait and see," Xavier replied. "Come." He began to travel through the thicket towards the jet, the others following.