MAL86 - And there is a little more plot weaving in off 616 continuity here, but only a little (with the dagger :) ). Hopefully that makes all this feel more organic even as it is offering a AU vision of current events :) , we got to do best there right ;) . Thank you again for reading and reviewing, and I hope you enjoy this chapter as well :) .

(And our heroes are almost ready to jump into battle while Logan battles for his soul. The dagger mentioned below was part of the lead up to X of Swords, where a character named Soren went to hell to seek on of the Muramusa blades forged Muramusa (yep, that guy makes allot of blades, arguably none of them good ;) ) in hell, Logan getting the other one. The dagger is how got there, using it to make portal to hell. Anyway, with that, hope you enjoy the story :) ).

Chapter 17

Rose had gone up briefly to the room she and James shared, in the cabin where they had finally began their new life together. For a moment she felt her heart constrict with icy fear at the thought of losing him, the terror threatening to consume her whole. Rose held the edge of the bed tightly, her hands white with strain as she attempted to fight off the despair that would pull her to floor, sobbing insensible with grief as it almost had earlier. With their future and life together a reality, the threat of having him torn away from her again, and of him being hurt, tormented and destroyed was almost to much for Rose, she knew she would break completely if they failed to rescue him. There was no future for her without James, nothing at all if she didn't at least know he was well, he was her everything, her very soul and heart, she could not abide the thought of him lost forever, taken by Hell.

She bit back a sob, terror and guilt twisting her insides, terror that she could lose James and guilt that she'd left him all alone as she'd gone out with her new family and friends to explore and enjoy this new age, and for having failed to stop the demonic Ogun, Thomas, Dog and all the other demons from taking him.

She breathed in and exhaled a shaky breath, pushing the terror and guilt aside, she could still feel James, she'd hadn't lost him yet. He was alive, and he needed her, and she'd be useless to him giving into grief when James was still struggling for life. Feeling him now, alive and still fighting, the power of their bond and love flared to life, strengthening her will and focus, combining with a rage against those that had taken him, to focus her mind. Feeling his struggle washed away any other concern other than to get him back, safe and sound, Rose would not accept anything less, an overwhelming protective instinct taking hold, her face setting hard and her emerald eyes flashed with energy, a determination and strength as unbreakable as her love's adamantium possessing her, casting aside all else from her mind but James' presence and the driving need to be re-united with him, to see him safe and sound.

Her love for him burning like a white hot star within her, Rose felt the strength of her power return, blazing strongly within her, all her thought and energy focused on him, reaching out for him as she felt him struggling against something dark threatening to consume him. Connecting with James' mind, she could feel despair and hopeless was trying to take hold of him as well, a spiritual attack on his very heart and soul. Reaching to him with all her love for him, her belief in him, to let him feel her presence as she focused all her telepathic will and power towards him. She poured her strength into him, as she felt a dark power and will trying to break him, and pushed back with a surge of her own power and will. Forcing open their link against the power of darkness holding him, she linked her mind to his, so their union would help renew his own will and power. Rose reached out and formed their psychic bond into a place of refuge and strength against the spiritual attack assailing him, the room filling with blinding golden light, as wings and armour shot forth, her eyes glowing and hair flowing with the power from their union.

I am with you James, always, death could not take me from you, Ogun will not either, Rose sent to him. I coming James, I coming to get you, even if I have to tear through all the demons of hell, I'll set you free. Just hold on my love, willing all her love into the statement, and smiled brilliantly as she sensed James respond, his life and mind glowing more powerfully, and pushing against the spiritual soul-sapping attack with renewed vigour. And even as it strengthened him, James' presence, love and strength of will empowered her with new vitality and energy even as her outward power dimmed as the wings and armour folded back into her.

Her eyes still glowing and hair flowing with unseen crackling power, Rose picked up the dress James had given her when she had first arrived and they gone on their first walk and shared their first kiss, and quickly put it on, a symbol of their love that now flowed through her, inexorable and absolute, empowering her. Dressed and ready for battle, Rose moved and took the Honour Sword of Clan Yashida and headed downstairs to rejoin the group below.

Ilyana, the mutant also known as Magik, had answered Kitty's call, the long-haired blonde sister of Piotr had arrived unveiled from the glowing golden disc of her portal, clad in her body-hugging black top with it's black plate armour gauntlets, vambrace, rerebrace and a spiked pauldron covering her right hand and arm, with her left arm bare apart from the black glove and band covering the elbow. Dark armoured greeves served as her boots, marked at the top by two points that flared out a little to the sides and backwards. Mid-drift and upper legs bare, her appearance was topped off with a head-dress of two matching dark rectangular points either sides of the back of her head, and she held her signature soul-sword, large and glowing, sheathed on her back.

She'd arrived bearing new uniforms for the four other women, and was quickly brought up to speed telepathically by Jean, as Rose had ahead head upstairs to get ready, the other three women quickly got changed in the bathroom, while Illyana turned with concern to Kitty.

'I personally like the look, Kitty,' Illyana said, 'but I can feel the dark magic from the Blade power it. You're sure you don't want to get rid of it now, this kind of this can be nasty.'

'Not until we get Logan back,' Kitty replied firmly, 'it's spirit will be contained until then, and we're going to need all the advantages we can get. After that you you can chuck it into Limbo, where you can keep it safe from everyone'

'All right,' Illyana replied still looking at her friend a little concerned, before turning quickly as a flare of golden light shone briefly from upstairs, just as the other X-Women also returned, changed and ready for action, as the cabin shock lightly with the flare of golden light, before it fade.

'What was that?' Illyana asked curious, 'the presence was powerful, whatever it was.'

'That was Rose,' Jean said, smiling just a little, 'sounds like my sister's ready to go get Logan back. I'd almost feel sorry for Ogun or any demons holding him.'

And as Jean said this, Kitty saw Rose descend down the stairs, her long red-hair flowing with unseen power, eyes gleaming with a fierce inner blaze, her face defiant and filled with unshakable resolve and contained fury, her contained power palpable to all present, a sheathed blade just straining to be unleashed. As the warrior angel walked towards Kitty, she smiled warmly at her, the fearsome intensity and fury receding as Rose looked at her and the others with affection and presented Kitty with what Kitty immediately recognised as the Yashida Honour Sword.

'This is for you Kitty,' Rose said, 'a Sword of Honour to counter-act that dark Blade you will carry into this battle, it will keep you balanced and free from the taint of Muramusa's madness when you enter battle.'

'But that Sword belongs to Logan,' Kitty breathed, her stunned voice barely a whisper, 'it was given to him to keep and wield.'

Putting her hand comfortingly on Kitty's shoulder, Rose replied, 'and you can give it back to James, once we've rescued him. Until then there is no one else I think he would rather see wielding the Honour Sword, and Mariko I'm sure would agree as well. Please, take it, it will help you, keep you safe, and help James as well.'

Her eyes tight with emotion, Kitty shaking hand reached out and grasped the hilt of the Sword, and felt the darkness from the Black Blade abate in it's presence, and felt Logan's comforting presence when she held it. Smiling tightly, tears glistening in her eyes, Kitty said, 'yes, until we've gotten Logan back and sent Ogun back to hell where he belongs.'

Gracing Kitty was another warm smile that seemed to fill her with strength even as the fierce intensity returned to Rose's eyes, she replied, 'yes, until we've freed James and visited vengeance upon Ogun, which we will. He'll never hurt anyone again after this day,' Rose finished with terrifying finality.

Rose turned around to all the gathered X-Men, Kitty's friends and family, saying, 'thank you all for helping to rescue James, I'm very grateful, but if any of you wish to back out now, I'll understand.'

Jean touched her arm smiling, 'no can do sis, there's no way were leaving Logan out there, he's family, and this family takes care of it's own.'

'Da,' Piotr said, grinning, 'I'd have no one to do my fastball special with.'

'I've already faced demons with Logan once before,' Kurt chuckled, 'and I'm not going to let him get to drink that beer in heaven without me, and I'm not quite ready to go myself, not for a long time yet.'

'And who is going to tell me to can it, an' to loosen up,' Scott laughed, 'something just feels wrong without him around, like Jean said, Logan's family. My relationship with him may have had it's rocky patches, and in some ways he's been my most complicate relationship, but too many times we'd never have made, I never would have without him, including when we mutants were on the brink against Calahan's forces and his sentinels. So let's go get our little hairy Canadian back.'

Ororo just looked to Kitty and replied to Rose, 'they speak for us, there's no keeping either of us away from this, anymore that you'd keep Logan away from doing everything to rescue either of us.'

'Besides,' Illyana said, 'fighting demons is something of speciality of mine,' grinning as she drew her sword, it's large blade glowing brightly.

'Thank you all,' Rose whispered with a smile, 'I'm so happy James found friends like you.'

Jean squeezed Rose's arm in comfort once more, when Kitty noticed Logan's new-found older brother was missing, 'where did Logan's brother go?'

Hearing the sounds of a helicopter, Kitty headed out with the group to see Logan's silver-haired brother standing close to an unmarked high-tech helicopter as two three men disembarked, two armed guards and one an old Asian man in priestly robes, coming towards John Howlett and bowing handing him a metal briefcase, from which he withdrew a golden circlet and a long dagger, with a blade slightly curved at the hilt with four spikes jutting out at points from it, a black hilt ending in fang-like points in the direction of the blade and pentagram design on a circular red background at the centre of the hilt just above the grip.

Handing the briefcase back, the three men bowed again, entered the helicopter and it lifted off, flying away as Logan's brother headed back to them.

'What was that about?' Ororo asked suspiciously.

'Just getting a few things I'd wish I had the time to get before tangling with Ogun and his demonic horde the first time,' John replied, unperturbed by their suspicions. 'The gold circlet was something forged for a champion of old in Europe to resist supernatural possession, mind control or manipulation of body or spirit. It won't protect me from direct attack, but it should help counter, at least to an extent, Ogun's ability to immobilize me with his power like our last fight. The dagger comes from somewhere your all much more aware of, the Hellblade of Arrako, recently wielded by their warrior Solem. You don't want to know what my people went through to get it. But whoever the blade strikes goes to straight to Hell, which in this cases, means sending every demon it strikes straight back where they belong.'

And looking at them, John continued, 'so are we all ready?'

'Yes,' Rose spoke for them all, her eyes flaring dangerously as she stared hard at him, 'while I still don't trust you, I do trust you want James alive, that much I can sense from you. So so far as that's true, we're allies John Howlett, but we're going there to rescue James and that is our only priority. If I even sense you have some other objective that puts that in jeopardy, then James' older brother or not, I will end you, understood.'

Kitty saw John Howlett smile almost warmly at her, 'we understand each other perfectly, my dear. Now I truly do think you might just be a worthy partner for my brother. But have no fear, my only desire her is to protect and rescue my brother.'

'Good,' Rose said, turning to join everyone else with him.

Kitty tightened two opposing swords on her belt, the Black Blade of Muramusa and the Honour Sword of Clan Yashida, as Scott stood forward, 'just remember the plan. Once we've engaged the demonic forces in a battle Illyana will open a portal at the location Logan's brother marked further in in one of the abandoned homes close to the auditorium. You sure the location is safe?' Scott asked John.

'As much as we can be sure of anything Summers,' John replied. 'But nothing shows any activity in those residences, and their closest to the auditorium. If most the forces are focused on you, we'll have our best chance of making our way to Logan with minimum resistance and have a chance to assault Ogun directly before they can come to assist him.'

'Very well,' Scott continued, 'then you, Rose, Kitty, Kurt and Jean will make that strike force. The rest of us will hold the fort, while you get our boy back. Magik, if you would,' he gestured to her.

'No problem,' Illyana grinned, 'get ready everyone, here we go,' and a reaching her hand up, it grew brightly answered by a glowing golden disk appearing above them and opened into one of Illyana's circular portals that descended upon the group, taking them head-first into battle with Ogun's demonic forces at the shadow-haunted old Soteria base.

James was crying out from the pain and the cruel mocking of the groundskeeper Thomas and his son, his old friend Dog, as they beat, hurt and tormented him under the cruel guidance of his family, their laughter empty and full of vicious cruelty and pitiless and mocking hatred.

'You're nothin' but a weak scrawly little runt,' Thomas growled his blows raining down upon James, pain radiating throughout his body, twitching under the assault, bones cracking and breaking. And with them, constant visions he didn't understand rushed at him, visions of death, people dying because of him, so many, so many he cared about and loved, dying because he failed them, and constant moments of extreme agony and failure, all whirling together, hammering into him just as Thomas and Dog were, shattering him down.

'Just give in, son' his father called behind them, 'save us all the agony you'll cause and let go.'

'You killed me James,' his mother added, 'I killed myself because I knew what abomination I had let loss on the world, why do you keep holding on. Let go and give you Mama some peace at last.'

James felt the warmth that had been keeping the feelings of hopelessness, despair and self-hatred at bay, beginning to fade and flutter out, the cold darkness rushing eagerly in as he felt himself grow numb, when suddenly there was a surge of golden light blazing within him, full of love and warmth pushing the darkness back before it's radiance. Thomas, Dog and his parents faded and suddenly James found himself in the arms of a beautiful woman with silky red hair and deep emerald eyes looking lovingly into his eyes, as he found himself encased within a warm glow of golden light, healing and restoring him.

'Rose?' James whispered, memories rushing back towards him, and Logan began to remember who he was, his body growing, and suddenly he was himself again.

She smiled down at him, embracing him and pulling him into a deep, passionate and loving kiss, and Logan felt the blazing fire surge between them as their minds embraced and melded for a moment, their love burning intensely between them, her presence filling him as he heard her say in his mind, I am with you James, always, death could not take me from you, Ogun will not either. I coming James, I coming to get you, even if I have to tear through all the demons of hell, I'll set you free. Just hold on my love.

Logan felt a rough hand grab him and pull him back into the Howlett living room, but as Thomas said, 'no getting' away this time boy,' and struck down his his belt like a whip, Logan caught it in his hand, and slammed his other fist upwards in a thunderous blow, Thomas gasping for air, as he was lifted from his feet and sent fly as Logan with a growl flashed upwards, with a powerful upper cut that struck Dog with a resounding crack to his chin that sent him fly straight after his father.

'You losers ain't gonna be the ones to break me, better men than you have tried,' Logan growled at them, 'nor these pathetic excuses tryin' to be my parents.' Bringing his hands up before him, his claws sprang before him with a metallic ring, blazing with furious golden fire, his 'parents' and 'grandfather' hissing as they cowered before it's light. And as they glowed the Howlett estate fell away, and his 'family' twisted, morphed and became a hellish, twisting, merging, shuffling mass, full of faces, claws, talons, tentacles eyes, razor-sharp teeth and snapping jaws, growing and boiling over, rising up to tower over him, as though it was about to crash over him in a wave. To his side he saw Thomas and Dog merge rising in the demonic werewolf form, and Logan called out, 'you failed Ogun, just like always do. You couldn't take me, you couldn't take Kitty when she was just fifteen years old, you failed like you always do. You shoulda stayed dead this time, my old Master, it'd be less embarrassing for you, getting' all this power just to fail flat on your face even more spectacularly.'

Logan heard Ogun's voice hissing at him from all around, 'we shall see, my old student. We're far from finished yet, that was only the first attack, now it's time to try the more direct approach,' the mass of connected demonic monsters growling and hissing towards him, hundreds of tentacles, claws, jaws moving with the werewolf to attack him from all sides.

'Yeah,' Logan smiled fiercely, 'but I've done this part before remember,' and suddenly Logan was accompanied by every version of himself that had been, young James Howlett, with glowing short claws, the older younger Logan, Logan of the first and second world wars, Ogun's student, the samurai, Team X soldier, Weapon X, Wolverine that face the Hulk and of Department H, Wolverine of the X-Men, Patch of Madripoor, Wolverine when he was feral, Death, as he came back to life, and who he was now, and all with blazing glow claws. 'And this time I've got an upgrade to bring to the party,' and smiled ferally at the demons.

'We remember,' the mass hissed, 'it wasn't enough on it's on last time, it won't be this, you'll still be ours. You are alone this time.'

Logan smiled at them, 'that's were your wrong, bub. I ain't alone,' and with blinding flash of golden light, a warrior angel appeared above Logan and his collected versions gathered for battle, her golden wings spread wide, armoured dress shining brightly, her long red-hair floating and green eyes gleaming with a piercing light as her fury burned into the demonic horde. And two crackling golden blades appeared in her hands.

And after a moments pause, the demonic mass surge towards Logan with a tortured cry, met by Logan and his selves leaping towards them with an ear-slipping howl that tore across his mindscape, in a resounding clash of blinding gold lightning and flaring hell-fire, as the warrior angel of Rose with a cry dove into the demonic mass, tearing into the mass of darkness with a shattering golden thunder-blast.