Chapter 25: Ruby's Disclosure

By: Galadeidre

"He is so dead," Bobby muttered as they helplessly watched Magneto being tossed around.

"She's just playing with him," Wolverine growled. "She doesn't even care!"

"We gotta find some way to help him," Liz spoke up. "I mean, I hate Magneto and all, but Silver's just slowly killing him! We gotta do something!"

"Like what, kid?" Wolverine asked. "You'll just get in her way. We're no where near strong enough to fight against her."

Just then, they suddenly heard a groan. They looked several yards in front of them, where a previously-thought-dead Ruby was struggling to move.

"Byron!" Liz exclaimed. She started forward towards him, but Wolverine grabbed her around the waist, beckoning for Rogue to take Ana. "Wait, Liz! That's not Byron! That's Ruby Phoenix! And he's under Magneto's control!"

"No, no!" Liz clawed at Wolverine. "Let me go! Let me go! It's Byron! He's hurt! I gotta help him!"

Ruby overheard and grimaced as he pushed himself to stand upright and slowly make his way towards the XMen. The mutants backed away in caution.

"Please..." Ruby whispered. He looked up, revealing blue-green eyes instead of the blood-red that they had begun to get accustomed to.

"See?" Liz remarked. "It's Byron! It's Byron!" She escaped from Wolverine's grip and ran to Byron, helping him as he collapsed into her arms. She slowly dragged him towards the rest of the XMen. "It's okay, Byron. You're gonna be okay."

"Should we trust him?" Cyclops asked to the others.

Rogue stepped out to help Liz bring Byron to safety. She looked at the others and nodded her head. "It's Byron. I can sense it." As she said this, Byron gave out a sigh and his head of flames returned to its normal soft brown hair.

"But he could still be under Magneto's control," Wolverine growled, his claws coming out of his skin.

"No..." Byron whispered, getting the attention of the others. "I'm not...the serum...that was left over...was burned away by Silver...when...when she attacked me from behind." He opened his eyes, breathing heavily. "Ruby Phoenix...is trying to heal himself as quickly as he can...cause he knows he has to stop Silver..."

They all looked up to see Silver toss Magneto from the ceiling and into the ground. Magneto, oddly enough, was stubborn enough to still be standing.

"We have to end this," Cyclops muttered. He looked down at Byron. "And you say that your Phoenix can stop her? Didn't Ruby already try that? He nearly died."

Byron weakly shook his head as Ana knelt down beside him and embraced him. He gave her little arm a squeeze. "With the serum in his system, he wasn't able to harness his full power...cause he couldn't think for himself. He may stand a better chance now than before...and he may try to talk her out of whatever she's planning..."

Wolverine snorted. "Fat chance of that." They all ducked as debris came flying towards them; Silver had sent a fairly miniature-sized fireball to Magneto, sending the old mutant flying backwards.

Byron grimaced and suddenly closed his eyes.

"Byron?" Liz asked quietly.

Byron opened his eyes and held a steady gaze in the other mutants direction. "Ruby Phoenix needs to talk to all of you. He says he's got some explaining to do."

Wolverine stepped forward, his claws and hands poised. "He sure as hell does! But if he so much as tries to blow smoke in our eyes, his head's comin' off!"

"Wolverine!" Ana cried out as Liz blocked Byron from view. "Ruby Phoenix is a good guy! Don't you dare touch him!"

"Understood," was all Byron said. He closed his eyes once more. Suddenly, he gave a sharp gasp and shot open his eyes. In a split second, his head had turned into flames once again.

Wolverine grabbed Liz and Ana out of the way, as he glared at the Phoenix who was coughing back to life.

Ruby took a couple shallow breaths before looking up at them with his blood-red eyes. He gave a small smile to Liz and Ana. "I wish I could say that this was a happy reunion, little misses, but considering the present circumstances, I don't blame you if you hate me."

Ana wriggled out of Wolverine's grasp and ran to give Ruby a hug. Ruby slowly returned the embrace and then looked up at Wolverine. "And I wouldn't blame you, Wolverine, if you hated me, either. I am sorry for the trouble that my kind has caused the inhabitants of Earth, particularly the mutants here...particularly your friend, Ms. Monroe."

"Storm?" Wolverine barked as they all realized what he meant. "You nearly killed her!"

"And for that I am truly sorry." He guiltily looked to the ground. "I could see what I was doing, but could not stop it, as hard as I tried. I never meant for this to happen...but I assure you, I will set things right, starting with Silver."

He slowly stood up as he spoke, but Cyclops stopped him.

"And how are you planning to do that? Byron said that you wanted to try talking to her. What'll that accomplish?"

"Please. I have to try. I need to give Silver a chance to set things right."

"Why?" Liz snorted. "She's done enough damage. Why do you even need to think about giving her a second chance?"

Ruby sighed. "It's...complicated..."

Liz rolled her eyes as Wolverine smirked and muttered, "You and Silver sound like a couple."

Ruby steadily looked up at him. "We are."