Disclaimer: I don't own this stuff. X-Men/ Highlander not mine! Story and Original Character Mine!!!!!!!
Of Mutants and Immortals
by Animefreek
**denotes thought
// TP
Chapter Twenty cont.
Catherine leered at the blue skinned woman. Mystique smirked in triumph. Catherine needed something to do to pass the time so she decided to rain on the mutants parade a little. Maybe if she played her cards just right Mystique would make a mistake and she could out of this mess. In the back of her mind Catherine knew that the others were on their way, but she also knew that if she just sat around and awaited to rescued she could end up dead. **Whats her weak point?** Catherine asked herself. Then she perked up a bit.
"So Mystique what did he promise you?" Catherine said trying to hold back a grin. "What does that matter to you? You'll be dead in a couple of hours." Mystique said almost cooing. "Oh just curious as to how much he's lied to you. Thats all." Catherine said. "He wouldn't lie to me. He and I are going to rule this pathetic world together." Mystique said with the venom seeping back into her voice. Catherine was entrigued. "And just how are you going to do that? After all he's in the body of an immortal and you're mortal you'll grow old and fade away into dust and he won't have aged a second." Catherine said with an obvious grin now. Catherine could see that she was getting under her guard's skin. "Yep you'll get those nasty crowsfeet and worry lines and then you know what'll happen? He'll go on to the next pretty, young....gullable mutant." Catherine said nonchalantly, purposely trying to be mean. "For your information child he's going to make me an immortal like himself once you're out of the picture." Mystique sounded so haughty when she said that, just like those so called aristocrats she stole from she had to burst her little bubble.
Catherine could hardly keep the laughter out of her voice. "Make you an immortal? No one makes an immortal, you're born that way and trust me if you had the makings of an immortal I'd since it. Trust me dear he's playing you for the fool you are. If he kills me he'll have no need of you and he'll toss you away like yesterday's newspaper, that is if he feels mercifull." **Yep that did it she's about to drag me out of this cage and try to beat the living daylights out of me. Good. This collar may block my mutant powers but not magic, but magic won't help if I'm behind bars.** Catherine thought as an enraged Mystique threw open the doors of her prison and grabbed her by what little of her throat was exposed from the collar.
Mystique was in a blind rage so she hadn't noticed that the young girl had managed to free herself from her bonds and was only faking captivity. (AN: Okay folks we have a trained theif in an abandoned metalworks with tons of metal scraps all around and simple handcuffs to bind her. Come on you knew she'd free herself.:)) Now was her chance. Catherine's knee quickly connected with Mystique's gutt knocking the wind out of her. Catherine, with her hands being free now, interlaced her hands into one big fist and brought it down on Mystique's back as she simultaneously brought up her knee again to connect with Mystique's surprised face. This effectively knocked the mutant out. Having done that and locked the cage and Mystique behind her she started to move through the factory. Hopefully Richie hadn't told the shadow king about her supernatural powers, it was the only trump card she had and she didn't want to use it too soon. If she could just get out of that damn factory before dawn, maybe she could make it to a town or even hitch a ride to Paris. At least in Paris she could loose herself in the crowds and some of Macleod's more trustworthy friends. Catherine looked at her watch, an hour to go. All of a sudden Catherine's train of thought was interupted by the sound of a large foot crunching steel and glass.
All of the X-Men where gettig more anxious by the second. The up coming battle was going to be tough and things got even tougher once the shadow king was in the picture. The original plan was to have the X-Men go in, secure Catherine and get her out, and the immortals would handle Methos. Now that the Shadow king was involved everything changed. Methos, the real Methos, was just as much a victom as Catherine. Professor X. being the humanitarian that he is now had to find a way to eject the shadow king from Methos' body, send him back to the astral plane, and close the rift that released him, all this and still manage to get everybody out alive. Things were definately not going as planned. The immortals agreed to the more complicated plan but stood fast on fact that Methos might have to be sacrificed to save Catherine. Most of the X-Men had quams about killing especially Jean, but as Conner explained it was a way of life for most immortals and as much as they themselves hated the idea they were all essentially killers until the last was left.
Back at the factory Catherine was having problems of her own. It turned out that she only had an hour left to live and the guy standing behind her was none other than Sabertooth himself. "You smell of the runt." He said in a disgusted tone with a half smile on his face. "Gee and I thought it was CoCo Channel." Catherine said sarcastically trying to cover up her fear. Sabertooth swiped at the young girl knocking her backward. "Now now can't damage the goods Shadow King wouldn't like that, but maybe the goods can damage you!" Catherine said as she hurled a metal pipe at her capture's head and scurried out of site and hopefully downwind of his nose.
"Summers how long until we arrive at the factory?" Conner asked. "Thirty minutes. Why?" Scott said. "I just have the haunting feeling that something is going to happen." Conner replied.
Meanwhile Catherine had managed to put some distance between herself and Sabertooth. **I wish Logan were here, I'm not strong enough to take on this guy one on one.** She thought as she croutched in a dark corner of what looked like a maintenance closet. **Okay I'm down wind and hopefully the oil smell in here will cover up my scent at least long enough for me to think of a plan or for back-up to arrive. Where are you guys?** Catherine's thoughts were interupted by the sound of cursing and metal being twisted as Sabertooth tore apart the building searching for her. Her heart started racing a mile a minute, at one point Catherine wanted to scream from pure fear, then something inside her snapped.
**Catherine for the love of god snap out of it! Think girl. There's got to be a plan lurking around somewhere in this head of yours!** Catherine thought. "Okay what do I have to work with in here?" She whispered to herself. As Catherine looked around she notice a small torch and a jug of kerosene. **Well well, why don't I show this guy some of the tricks I learned in the circus with mom? I'm sure he'll get a real light out of it. After all I can't just sit around and wait to be rescued, who do I look like Jean.** Catherine smiled and looked at her watch. "Fifteen minutes to go." she whispered to herself.
"Fifteen minutes until we reach our destination." Scott announced. The two Highlanders and Amanda had on their game faces and to everyone around them they seemed devoid of any kind of emotion. Only Jean and the Professor could sense their uneasiness. Each immortal had the same feeling, that they wouldn't be needed in this battle. The Professor decided to break the silence. "Does everyone understand there parts?" He asked. The immortals and Logan merely nodded an affirmative. Iceman looked as though he were going to jump out of his skin. In his mind he still couldn't believe that the prof actually let him come on the mission at all, given the way he felt about Catherine. Then again he couldn't have stopped him either. Fifteen minutes and he'd have Catherine back safe; hopefully.
Catherine stood motionless at the end of a steel walkway at least a good story above the floor of the factory. If everything went as planned Sabertooth and a good corner of the factory would be up in flames. She'd make her escape and the fire would be just the right signal to get the x-men's attention or anyone else for that matter. **Damn this collar! This thing would be so much easier if I had my TK, that way I wouldn't have to get so close to him.** Catherine thought. Just as soon as the thought was over she heard Sabertooth make his approach. Quickly she took a swig of the remaining kerosene in her mouth and readied the torch behind her back, she was about to show him the real meaning of spitfire.
Sabertooth laughed as he approached her. "Nice try kid, trying to cover up your sent kerosene, but it lead me staight to you. Give up now and maybe I won't hurt you to bad before the boss gets here." Catherine simply knodded in response as Sabertooth crept near her, then when he was a foot away from her, like lightening she lit the torch and spit flames into the mutant's face. As he staggered to recover Catherine threw the torch onto the kerosene soaked walkway and used the surrounding dead electrical cables to swing herself to the floor. Amanda would be so proud of her acrobatics. Catherine stood in silence for a second on the floor and watched her handy work as Sabertooth fell over the egde of the walkway burning. Catherine sighed inwardly and began to look for a way out of the unfamiliar building when she heard the sound of clapping directly behind her.
The Blackbird had just landed and our group of mutants and immortals began their quick approach upon the factory. Then suddenly an explosion of light and flame caught thier eyes. "Everyone on your guard. We have no idea what we're walking into. Jean scan the area." The professor ordered. "Professor its Catherine and oh no, the Shadow king." Jean stated worriedly. "Well we should have known Catherine wouldn't wait to be rescued." Amanda said half mockingly to the others. "Lets just hope thats not her going up in flames." Conner and Duncan stated at the same time. "Jean and I will handle the Shadow King the rest of you just get Catherine out." Ordered the professor as they reached the main entrance of the factory.
Catherine wanted to let out a scream as the Shadow king used his TK powers to bind her body. Next to him stood a newly freed Mystique grinning as Catherine was being slowly crushed. **Damn this collar! I know my mutant powers are stronger than his! Do I try and use my powers that Cassandra gave me or do I wait?** Catherine thought as the Shadow King's grip on her tightened. The Shadow King smiled at her using Methos' visage and the chill that went through her caused her not to answer herself. Then as if by magic the evil dropped her and curled over in pain as she hit the floor the site she saw before her couldn't have been better. They came.
Bobby and Logan rushed toward her while Duncan and Conner guarded their flanks. "Get this damn collar off of me. I have to help the professor and Jean they won't be able to defeat him alone." Catherie said in a way too calm voice that sent a chill even through Logan. "No way! You're getting on the blackbird now!" Bobby shouted. "Shut up Bobby! Look at them they're struggling to hold him now. They can't keep this up for long, they need me!" Catherine shouted as Bobby tried to pick her up. "Bobby its time for me to fight my own battles." Catherine blankly stated. Logan moved forward and sliced off her collar. "She's right popsicle. If she doesn't fight none of us might make it out alive." Logan said. The highlanders nodded in agreement. "Duncan she's your daughter!" Bobby pleaded. "She's a Macleod, she fights her own battles. Go to them girl." Duncan said in a deep Scott accent.
Meanwhile Mystique and Amanda have begun to face off. Mystique tried to attack Jean after they advanced on the shadow king. Mystique instead caught a swift kick to the gut from Amanda. "So you're the little brat's Mommy, how sweet. After the shadow king kills your kid I can put you out of your misery." Mystique spat. "Don't count on it. I'm much more than just a pretty face and so is my daughter." Amanda said mockingly. Amanda swiped with her sword as Mystique used her powers to form one of her own. Bad idea on Mystique's part. Never challenge someone with at least 1500 years of experience. Needless to say Amanda wailed on the upstart and used her belt to tie an unconscience Mystique.
Meanwhile Catherine started to combine her powers with that of the professor and Jean, but to no avail. **If only I could get to the real Methos.** Catherine thought. //Catherine! Help!// //Methos?// //Yes Catherine// //Methos you have to fight him with us. If you can get him out of your body I can do the rest.// //How Catherine?// //Just do it. Consentrate and gather up all the emotion you can and force it on him.//
Methos' body began to jerk as a strange black mist began to exude itself from every pore. "No! I won't leave the pressence shouted and with a blast of TP and TK energy sent Jean and the professor reiling. Catherine was alone now and she knew it was time to use all her powers in conjunction. The prof and Jean were out. The shadow king was starting to take back control, it was now or never. The air around Catherine calmed and started to swirl the dust around her feet. //Okay Shadow King its time to go back to the astral plane forever.// //Never child. Its time for you to die. Its time for me to rule the world.// //Thats what you think monster.// Just then another blast came at Catherine, she deflected to the surprise of everyone there. An even larger blast came from Catherine hitting Methos' body and causing the shadow king to reveal himself and using her own TP and magical powers she ripped a whole in the astral plane. The shadow king was then swept up and surrounded by a light flowing from Catherine.
Catherine's Heart felt as if it had stoped and started again in a new body. The energy she let out was massive and draining, but she had to send him back, she had to destroy his gateway forever. //I won't go back!// The shadow king thought to her. //You will or you'll die.// Catherine thought back. //Then I'll die.// //Have it your way monster.// Catherine thought. The light started to force shadow king into the tear, him screaming all the way. As a last resort the shadow king sent a energy dagger straight toward Bobby gashing him in the shoulder. That was the last straw. Something snapped again and even more energy flowed from her and encompassed the shadow king except this time it simply crushed him into nothing. Then Catherine colasped to the ground.
Everyone including the immortals just stood frozen staring at the young girl. What happened next, no one could have predicted. Catherine began to age. Her hair became at least waist length and curlier, and her height increased three to four inches. Her body matured to the age of least 22 years. Back in the Blackbird Beast and Storm examined the still unconcious, now woman. "I can't explain the ageing as of yet, perhaps when we get back to the mansion I can run further tests, but all seems well and completely normal. As normal as a thief, future immortal and witch can be." Beast said smiling and looking down at his patient. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
**Back in this damn grove again. "Cassandra where are you I know you're here?" Catherine said. "And I told you that you didn't need me any more. What does a witch need to do to get some peace?" Cassansra said laughingly as she walked out into the grove that was now wonderously green and bright. Catherine smiled. "So why am I here again?" Catherine asked. "You're here so that I can say congratulations and goodbye properly. You're becoming more powerful than you know and there are going to be many more adventures befitting of a person of the Macleod bloodline. You can come to grove whenever the real world becomes to much for you, but I won't be here again. All the knowledge you'll need is in your head and the library I left behind. Now wake-up your new life is just beginning." Cassandra said smiling. "Cassandra, till we meet again." Catherine said sadly.***
Epilogue:
Catherine's point of view.
"When I woke up a lot of things had changed, mainly me. I faint at the age of 16 and now I wake and find myself looking at least 21. I never imagined anything like this happening in my life and according to Cassandra this won't be the last adventure either. I never told anyone about what she said though. Some things are better just left to the future. Speaking of the future, against the wishes of Conner I decided to stay with the X-Men and develop the mutant side of my powers. Of course Hank and the Professor were thrilled not to mention Bobby. Mom decided that she and Gambit needed to get to know each other again so they, accompanied by Rogue, went to Paris and started up mom's nightclub and sercurity company up again. Its kind of funny when you think about it two almost ex-thieves running a security company. I fear the temptation may be too much for the both of them, hopefully Rogue will keep them both honest.
As for Dad and Conner they decided to open up the antiques store in New York again. Mostly because I still need to hone my sword skills. They decided for me that I'd spend at least three weeks of each month in intensive training with them. Joe decided to open up another blues club in New York. I have a sneaking suspicion that he just wants to keep an eye on us, its the Watcher in him I guess.
No one ever found any sign of Methos, Richie, or Sabertooth after everything went down. I know Methos and Richie are both feeling pretty guilty about the things that happened and maybe one day they'll forgive themselves. I already have and I know sooner or later they'll both pop back into our lives again. Sabertooth, on the other hand, I'd be just fine if I never heard from him again and if he is still alive, he's really pissed at me. Oh yeah, Mystique was handed over to the authorities in Paris, turns out she has quite a rap sheet in Europe and as far as I know she's under someone's jail at this very minute. Life with the X-Men is definately going to be interesting. Especially since lately I've been having these strange dreams about some blonde with a crossbow, hope she's a friend.
Somewhere in Southern California.
**The Chosen One and friend Wicca shall travel across the sky to meet the Daughter of Immortals and the Inheritor of the powers of the first true witch. Creatures with powers more than human shall aid in a great battle and the Chosen One and Wicca shall recieve a warrior's right of cast.** A middle aged librarian read to himself in his house. "I wonder if this is good news or bad news? I'll keep it to myself until something comes up." The man speaks to himself.
THE END?
ITS FINALLY DONE!!! How did you like it? PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!! I promise the next crossover is going to be awesome and a lot more fun for the characters. Plus I"ll be adding a new immortal for the one person who guessed and got it right in my contest in the next story. A special thanks to Marcus my friend and sometimes co-writer and everyone who read my story, I really feel loved. :) Look out for the next X-over stories.
They Watch us When We Sleep (New Series, Same characters, more x-over, more fun.) :)
Of Mutants and Immortals
by Animefreek
**denotes thought
// TP
Chapter Twenty cont.
Catherine leered at the blue skinned woman. Mystique smirked in triumph. Catherine needed something to do to pass the time so she decided to rain on the mutants parade a little. Maybe if she played her cards just right Mystique would make a mistake and she could out of this mess. In the back of her mind Catherine knew that the others were on their way, but she also knew that if she just sat around and awaited to rescued she could end up dead. **Whats her weak point?** Catherine asked herself. Then she perked up a bit.
"So Mystique what did he promise you?" Catherine said trying to hold back a grin. "What does that matter to you? You'll be dead in a couple of hours." Mystique said almost cooing. "Oh just curious as to how much he's lied to you. Thats all." Catherine said. "He wouldn't lie to me. He and I are going to rule this pathetic world together." Mystique said with the venom seeping back into her voice. Catherine was entrigued. "And just how are you going to do that? After all he's in the body of an immortal and you're mortal you'll grow old and fade away into dust and he won't have aged a second." Catherine said with an obvious grin now. Catherine could see that she was getting under her guard's skin. "Yep you'll get those nasty crowsfeet and worry lines and then you know what'll happen? He'll go on to the next pretty, young....gullable mutant." Catherine said nonchalantly, purposely trying to be mean. "For your information child he's going to make me an immortal like himself once you're out of the picture." Mystique sounded so haughty when she said that, just like those so called aristocrats she stole from she had to burst her little bubble.
Catherine could hardly keep the laughter out of her voice. "Make you an immortal? No one makes an immortal, you're born that way and trust me if you had the makings of an immortal I'd since it. Trust me dear he's playing you for the fool you are. If he kills me he'll have no need of you and he'll toss you away like yesterday's newspaper, that is if he feels mercifull." **Yep that did it she's about to drag me out of this cage and try to beat the living daylights out of me. Good. This collar may block my mutant powers but not magic, but magic won't help if I'm behind bars.** Catherine thought as an enraged Mystique threw open the doors of her prison and grabbed her by what little of her throat was exposed from the collar.
Mystique was in a blind rage so she hadn't noticed that the young girl had managed to free herself from her bonds and was only faking captivity. (AN: Okay folks we have a trained theif in an abandoned metalworks with tons of metal scraps all around and simple handcuffs to bind her. Come on you knew she'd free herself.:)) Now was her chance. Catherine's knee quickly connected with Mystique's gutt knocking the wind out of her. Catherine, with her hands being free now, interlaced her hands into one big fist and brought it down on Mystique's back as she simultaneously brought up her knee again to connect with Mystique's surprised face. This effectively knocked the mutant out. Having done that and locked the cage and Mystique behind her she started to move through the factory. Hopefully Richie hadn't told the shadow king about her supernatural powers, it was the only trump card she had and she didn't want to use it too soon. If she could just get out of that damn factory before dawn, maybe she could make it to a town or even hitch a ride to Paris. At least in Paris she could loose herself in the crowds and some of Macleod's more trustworthy friends. Catherine looked at her watch, an hour to go. All of a sudden Catherine's train of thought was interupted by the sound of a large foot crunching steel and glass.
All of the X-Men where gettig more anxious by the second. The up coming battle was going to be tough and things got even tougher once the shadow king was in the picture. The original plan was to have the X-Men go in, secure Catherine and get her out, and the immortals would handle Methos. Now that the Shadow king was involved everything changed. Methos, the real Methos, was just as much a victom as Catherine. Professor X. being the humanitarian that he is now had to find a way to eject the shadow king from Methos' body, send him back to the astral plane, and close the rift that released him, all this and still manage to get everybody out alive. Things were definately not going as planned. The immortals agreed to the more complicated plan but stood fast on fact that Methos might have to be sacrificed to save Catherine. Most of the X-Men had quams about killing especially Jean, but as Conner explained it was a way of life for most immortals and as much as they themselves hated the idea they were all essentially killers until the last was left.
Back at the factory Catherine was having problems of her own. It turned out that she only had an hour left to live and the guy standing behind her was none other than Sabertooth himself. "You smell of the runt." He said in a disgusted tone with a half smile on his face. "Gee and I thought it was CoCo Channel." Catherine said sarcastically trying to cover up her fear. Sabertooth swiped at the young girl knocking her backward. "Now now can't damage the goods Shadow King wouldn't like that, but maybe the goods can damage you!" Catherine said as she hurled a metal pipe at her capture's head and scurried out of site and hopefully downwind of his nose.
"Summers how long until we arrive at the factory?" Conner asked. "Thirty minutes. Why?" Scott said. "I just have the haunting feeling that something is going to happen." Conner replied.
Meanwhile Catherine had managed to put some distance between herself and Sabertooth. **I wish Logan were here, I'm not strong enough to take on this guy one on one.** She thought as she croutched in a dark corner of what looked like a maintenance closet. **Okay I'm down wind and hopefully the oil smell in here will cover up my scent at least long enough for me to think of a plan or for back-up to arrive. Where are you guys?** Catherine's thoughts were interupted by the sound of cursing and metal being twisted as Sabertooth tore apart the building searching for her. Her heart started racing a mile a minute, at one point Catherine wanted to scream from pure fear, then something inside her snapped.
**Catherine for the love of god snap out of it! Think girl. There's got to be a plan lurking around somewhere in this head of yours!** Catherine thought. "Okay what do I have to work with in here?" She whispered to herself. As Catherine looked around she notice a small torch and a jug of kerosene. **Well well, why don't I show this guy some of the tricks I learned in the circus with mom? I'm sure he'll get a real light out of it. After all I can't just sit around and wait to be rescued, who do I look like Jean.** Catherine smiled and looked at her watch. "Fifteen minutes to go." she whispered to herself.
"Fifteen minutes until we reach our destination." Scott announced. The two Highlanders and Amanda had on their game faces and to everyone around them they seemed devoid of any kind of emotion. Only Jean and the Professor could sense their uneasiness. Each immortal had the same feeling, that they wouldn't be needed in this battle. The Professor decided to break the silence. "Does everyone understand there parts?" He asked. The immortals and Logan merely nodded an affirmative. Iceman looked as though he were going to jump out of his skin. In his mind he still couldn't believe that the prof actually let him come on the mission at all, given the way he felt about Catherine. Then again he couldn't have stopped him either. Fifteen minutes and he'd have Catherine back safe; hopefully.
Catherine stood motionless at the end of a steel walkway at least a good story above the floor of the factory. If everything went as planned Sabertooth and a good corner of the factory would be up in flames. She'd make her escape and the fire would be just the right signal to get the x-men's attention or anyone else for that matter. **Damn this collar! This thing would be so much easier if I had my TK, that way I wouldn't have to get so close to him.** Catherine thought. Just as soon as the thought was over she heard Sabertooth make his approach. Quickly she took a swig of the remaining kerosene in her mouth and readied the torch behind her back, she was about to show him the real meaning of spitfire.
Sabertooth laughed as he approached her. "Nice try kid, trying to cover up your sent kerosene, but it lead me staight to you. Give up now and maybe I won't hurt you to bad before the boss gets here." Catherine simply knodded in response as Sabertooth crept near her, then when he was a foot away from her, like lightening she lit the torch and spit flames into the mutant's face. As he staggered to recover Catherine threw the torch onto the kerosene soaked walkway and used the surrounding dead electrical cables to swing herself to the floor. Amanda would be so proud of her acrobatics. Catherine stood in silence for a second on the floor and watched her handy work as Sabertooth fell over the egde of the walkway burning. Catherine sighed inwardly and began to look for a way out of the unfamiliar building when she heard the sound of clapping directly behind her.
The Blackbird had just landed and our group of mutants and immortals began their quick approach upon the factory. Then suddenly an explosion of light and flame caught thier eyes. "Everyone on your guard. We have no idea what we're walking into. Jean scan the area." The professor ordered. "Professor its Catherine and oh no, the Shadow king." Jean stated worriedly. "Well we should have known Catherine wouldn't wait to be rescued." Amanda said half mockingly to the others. "Lets just hope thats not her going up in flames." Conner and Duncan stated at the same time. "Jean and I will handle the Shadow King the rest of you just get Catherine out." Ordered the professor as they reached the main entrance of the factory.
Catherine wanted to let out a scream as the Shadow king used his TK powers to bind her body. Next to him stood a newly freed Mystique grinning as Catherine was being slowly crushed. **Damn this collar! I know my mutant powers are stronger than his! Do I try and use my powers that Cassandra gave me or do I wait?** Catherine thought as the Shadow King's grip on her tightened. The Shadow King smiled at her using Methos' visage and the chill that went through her caused her not to answer herself. Then as if by magic the evil dropped her and curled over in pain as she hit the floor the site she saw before her couldn't have been better. They came.
Bobby and Logan rushed toward her while Duncan and Conner guarded their flanks. "Get this damn collar off of me. I have to help the professor and Jean they won't be able to defeat him alone." Catherie said in a way too calm voice that sent a chill even through Logan. "No way! You're getting on the blackbird now!" Bobby shouted. "Shut up Bobby! Look at them they're struggling to hold him now. They can't keep this up for long, they need me!" Catherine shouted as Bobby tried to pick her up. "Bobby its time for me to fight my own battles." Catherine blankly stated. Logan moved forward and sliced off her collar. "She's right popsicle. If she doesn't fight none of us might make it out alive." Logan said. The highlanders nodded in agreement. "Duncan she's your daughter!" Bobby pleaded. "She's a Macleod, she fights her own battles. Go to them girl." Duncan said in a deep Scott accent.
Meanwhile Mystique and Amanda have begun to face off. Mystique tried to attack Jean after they advanced on the shadow king. Mystique instead caught a swift kick to the gut from Amanda. "So you're the little brat's Mommy, how sweet. After the shadow king kills your kid I can put you out of your misery." Mystique spat. "Don't count on it. I'm much more than just a pretty face and so is my daughter." Amanda said mockingly. Amanda swiped with her sword as Mystique used her powers to form one of her own. Bad idea on Mystique's part. Never challenge someone with at least 1500 years of experience. Needless to say Amanda wailed on the upstart and used her belt to tie an unconscience Mystique.
Meanwhile Catherine started to combine her powers with that of the professor and Jean, but to no avail. **If only I could get to the real Methos.** Catherine thought. //Catherine! Help!// //Methos?// //Yes Catherine// //Methos you have to fight him with us. If you can get him out of your body I can do the rest.// //How Catherine?// //Just do it. Consentrate and gather up all the emotion you can and force it on him.//
Methos' body began to jerk as a strange black mist began to exude itself from every pore. "No! I won't leave the pressence shouted and with a blast of TP and TK energy sent Jean and the professor reiling. Catherine was alone now and she knew it was time to use all her powers in conjunction. The prof and Jean were out. The shadow king was starting to take back control, it was now or never. The air around Catherine calmed and started to swirl the dust around her feet. //Okay Shadow King its time to go back to the astral plane forever.// //Never child. Its time for you to die. Its time for me to rule the world.// //Thats what you think monster.// Just then another blast came at Catherine, she deflected to the surprise of everyone there. An even larger blast came from Catherine hitting Methos' body and causing the shadow king to reveal himself and using her own TP and magical powers she ripped a whole in the astral plane. The shadow king was then swept up and surrounded by a light flowing from Catherine.
Catherine's Heart felt as if it had stoped and started again in a new body. The energy she let out was massive and draining, but she had to send him back, she had to destroy his gateway forever. //I won't go back!// The shadow king thought to her. //You will or you'll die.// Catherine thought back. //Then I'll die.// //Have it your way monster.// Catherine thought. The light started to force shadow king into the tear, him screaming all the way. As a last resort the shadow king sent a energy dagger straight toward Bobby gashing him in the shoulder. That was the last straw. Something snapped again and even more energy flowed from her and encompassed the shadow king except this time it simply crushed him into nothing. Then Catherine colasped to the ground.
Everyone including the immortals just stood frozen staring at the young girl. What happened next, no one could have predicted. Catherine began to age. Her hair became at least waist length and curlier, and her height increased three to four inches. Her body matured to the age of least 22 years. Back in the Blackbird Beast and Storm examined the still unconcious, now woman. "I can't explain the ageing as of yet, perhaps when we get back to the mansion I can run further tests, but all seems well and completely normal. As normal as a thief, future immortal and witch can be." Beast said smiling and looking down at his patient. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
**Back in this damn grove again. "Cassandra where are you I know you're here?" Catherine said. "And I told you that you didn't need me any more. What does a witch need to do to get some peace?" Cassansra said laughingly as she walked out into the grove that was now wonderously green and bright. Catherine smiled. "So why am I here again?" Catherine asked. "You're here so that I can say congratulations and goodbye properly. You're becoming more powerful than you know and there are going to be many more adventures befitting of a person of the Macleod bloodline. You can come to grove whenever the real world becomes to much for you, but I won't be here again. All the knowledge you'll need is in your head and the library I left behind. Now wake-up your new life is just beginning." Cassandra said smiling. "Cassandra, till we meet again." Catherine said sadly.***
Epilogue:
Catherine's point of view.
"When I woke up a lot of things had changed, mainly me. I faint at the age of 16 and now I wake and find myself looking at least 21. I never imagined anything like this happening in my life and according to Cassandra this won't be the last adventure either. I never told anyone about what she said though. Some things are better just left to the future. Speaking of the future, against the wishes of Conner I decided to stay with the X-Men and develop the mutant side of my powers. Of course Hank and the Professor were thrilled not to mention Bobby. Mom decided that she and Gambit needed to get to know each other again so they, accompanied by Rogue, went to Paris and started up mom's nightclub and sercurity company up again. Its kind of funny when you think about it two almost ex-thieves running a security company. I fear the temptation may be too much for the both of them, hopefully Rogue will keep them both honest.
As for Dad and Conner they decided to open up the antiques store in New York again. Mostly because I still need to hone my sword skills. They decided for me that I'd spend at least three weeks of each month in intensive training with them. Joe decided to open up another blues club in New York. I have a sneaking suspicion that he just wants to keep an eye on us, its the Watcher in him I guess.
No one ever found any sign of Methos, Richie, or Sabertooth after everything went down. I know Methos and Richie are both feeling pretty guilty about the things that happened and maybe one day they'll forgive themselves. I already have and I know sooner or later they'll both pop back into our lives again. Sabertooth, on the other hand, I'd be just fine if I never heard from him again and if he is still alive, he's really pissed at me. Oh yeah, Mystique was handed over to the authorities in Paris, turns out she has quite a rap sheet in Europe and as far as I know she's under someone's jail at this very minute. Life with the X-Men is definately going to be interesting. Especially since lately I've been having these strange dreams about some blonde with a crossbow, hope she's a friend.
Somewhere in Southern California.
**The Chosen One and friend Wicca shall travel across the sky to meet the Daughter of Immortals and the Inheritor of the powers of the first true witch. Creatures with powers more than human shall aid in a great battle and the Chosen One and Wicca shall recieve a warrior's right of cast.** A middle aged librarian read to himself in his house. "I wonder if this is good news or bad news? I'll keep it to myself until something comes up." The man speaks to himself.
THE END?
ITS FINALLY DONE!!! How did you like it? PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!! I promise the next crossover is going to be awesome and a lot more fun for the characters. Plus I"ll be adding a new immortal for the one person who guessed and got it right in my contest in the next story. A special thanks to Marcus my friend and sometimes co-writer and everyone who read my story, I really feel loved. :) Look out for the next X-over stories.
They Watch us When We Sleep (New Series, Same characters, more x-over, more fun.) :)