Part 4:

" What is he doing with such a big army?" Scott wondered out loud as he and Betsy walked around Death's stronghold. Betsy took her hands to her temples.

" Someone just….came in. Six people. They are here to destroy Apocalypse. It is….Magneto and his X-men!" Betsy said as she detected the new presences.

" What? The rebel force? Here? What on Earth are they thinking? They can't win!"

" That may be but we got to help them," Betsy said and got ready to shadow walk towards them. Scott took a hold of her arm, holding her back.

" You still think like a rebel," he hissed harshly. " Don't die for a lost cause. Help when you can but never at the expend of your own life. This is a losing fight. Better six dies than seven!" In his mind Scott added; better they die than you.

Betsy tore her arm free, her eyes blasting.

" Better to die for a cause than to die for nothing," she said and walked through the shadows. Scott quickly followed her and tried to hold her back as she mingled in the fight.

" Betsy! God damn it!" Scott swore and stayed in the shadows. As he had predicted the rebels with Betsy failed and was taken away by Death.

Great, just great. What do I do now? Scott wondered. He spotted a small, elf looking girl sitting behind some ruins. He walked up behind her and grabbed hold of her from behind, his gloved hand covering her mouth.

" Don't make a sound if you value your life."

" Mmmmft," the girl muttered and tried to break free from him.

" I'm not going to hurt you. If I was I could have turned you over to them!" Scott nodded towards Death's guards walking past them, not seeing them. Seeing the girl was calmer Scott released his hold on her.

" I'm prelate Summers. I control the slave pens for Apocalypse. Now tell me who you are and why you're here!" Scott demanded to know.

" I'm Blink. I'm with the X-men. We came to get Apocalypse once and for all. But we ran into the horseman, Death, and his army and they defeated us and took all the X-men prisoner. I can't save them alone, mister. You gotta help me. Death's gonna kill them all. It's not fair! They're all the family I got. Please!" the young girl plead with him and Scott nodded. This was risky but Death WAS challenging Apocalypse so he could justify this. Besides he HAD to get Betsy, no matter the price.

" I'll do it. But realise that there is no chance of your ever getting to Apocalypse. I believe he was transported away as soon as the security parameters were breached!" 

" I don't care about him. I just want my friends back!" Blink said and Scott believed her.

" You have a plan?" he asked the girl and she looked at him as if he had fallen off the moon or something.

" Well, no but…"

" What is your mutant power?" Scott cut her off. Everyone who fought with the X-men had to be mutants. To send humans up against Apocalypse's mutant army was suicide.

" I can teleport, blink, people from place to place," the girl answered.

" Good. Then teleport me with you right where Death is now. I'll take care of Death. You just worry about your friends," Scott demanded and Blink nodded. Hesitantly she went over and laid an arm around Summers. She took her free hand to her temple and concentrated.

BLINK

Blink and Scott popped out of nowhere and interrupted Death's speech of world domination. Before Death were the X-men and Betsy tied and behind them was Sunfire, also chained.

" Your charade is over, Death," Scott said as they popped in.

" Summers?!" Death said shocked as he saw his arms around the fragile girl and how he protected her with his body when they landed on the floor.  

" Have you taken leave of your senses? These genetic low-borns are our enemies!" Death protested as he saw Scott's protection of the young girl.

" You're the turncoat here, Death! And I'm freeing this poor soul! Shiro Yoshida has endured enough barbarism at your hands!" Scott said as he shot the man called Sunfire free from his chains. Freed Sunfire began to destroy everything, especially Death. Scott ran to Betsy and freed her from her bonds.

" You alright?" Scott asked with barely concealed worry. Betsy smiled at him.

" What took you so long?" she asked as she ran with Scott towards Blink.

" Harm her and I'll kill you," Sabretooth promised as he saw Scott and Betsy going to Blink.

" We wouldn't hurt her," Scott promised and laid his hands on the girl's shoulders. " Blink, you can do this. Believe in yourself and blink Betsy and me out of here. Sunfire is making too much light for Betsy to shadow walk," Scott explained. Blink concentrated and a portal opened beneath Scott and Betsy's feet.

" Good girl. Now, don't forget your friends!" Scott said as he and Betsy disappeared.

" You alright, kid?" Sabretooth asked worried as he came to Blink. She nodded even though her head felt like it should explode.

" Yes," again she concentrated and all the X-men BLINKED to safety as Death and his stronghold was destroyed, Sunfire safely with the X-men. Sabretooth swiped Blink up in his muscular arms and held her close to his chest.

" Did…did I do good?" she asked weakly and tried to smile at him.

" Kid, you're the best!" Sabretooth said proudly and Blink smiled.

" Thanks."

" Rogue, are you alright?" Magneto asked her concerned and she went into her lover's embrace. To feel his skin against her own was still a miracle she blessed every single day.

" Ah'm fine," Rogue reassured him and he softly kissed her.

" You asked me if I have faith, Rogue. I do. The war still rages, though," Erik said in a moment of truth.

" Erik, one thing still bothers me. Why did Summers help us? Was it out of loyalty to Apocalypse….or something more?" Rogue wondered out loud. Erik tightened his grip around his love.

" Only time will tell. But I sense an inner strength, a nobility in the man called Cyclops. Perhaps when the day of our final battle with Apocalypse arrives….we will be able to call him ally!"

TBC