They set the puddle jumper down on the beach near the only remaining vegetation.

"The map says it's this vay." Kurt pointed up a rocky mountainside.

Logan cast his eyes up the trail. "Think you can teleport us up there? It looks like quite a climb."

"Any more 'porting and I'm going to be useless." Kurt replied softly.

"It's what he wants." The Demon seemed to whisper in his ear. "And then he'll have you."

Kurt shook it off.

"Then we climb." Logan said. "We'll need each other to stay sane."

"Make him go first." The Demon said. "Keep an eye on him."

And Kurt recalled something – something he knew was a memory – he just didn't remember that it was from a dream. It was Wolverine – attacking him in his nightmare.

"Yes." Kurt decided with a sweeping motion. "Lead the vay."

And Logan smiled. He appreciated how Kurt expressed his respect in so many little ways.

The Earth trembled slightly under their feet.

"Did you feel that?" Logan asked.

"Ja." Kurt swallowed and looked nervous. "Volcanic island." He cast his eyes up to the outcropping that was supposed to house the secret entrance to Sinister's lair. "Kitty." He breathed.

And when he looked back, Logan was already making his way up the narrow, rocky trail.

Kurt wasted no time in taking two steps after him – before he stopped and looked back down the beach.

"Aren't you coming?" He asked the empty beach.

And he watched The Demon turn to look at him. It had been leaning on the puddle-jumper, distractedly studying it's claws.

"Save the day? Climb away? But when it's done … it's time for fun." The Demon offered..

"Vatever." Kurt sighed at his imaginary friend. "But let's go!"

And they went bounding up the trail together.

In a moment, Kurt had caught up with Logan, and a moment later, by climbing a different route, he had passed him up. He waited on a safe and stable ledge that appeared to lead up the cliff-face.

Then, just before Logan could reach him, the earth shook hard around them. Kurt pressed a hand to the rock and felt himself anchor in place.

Logan was not so lucky. He grabbed, clutched, and slipped. He hooked his fingers and felt them catch a rocky outcropping. His flesh was crushed and torn between his metal skeleton and the cold immutable rock. He was hinged and hanging on the nerve bundle in his fingertip. It was making his hand go numb with the steady tingle of pain. The earth down below seemed to be spinning lazily to the left. The drop looked like it was close to five hundred feet.

"Elf!" Logan called. "Take my hand." He stretched precariously but could easily reach his friend.

"Yes." The demon whispered over his shoulder. "Take his hands. Take them off! Why dream when reality lay before you, waiting?" His forked tongue ran over his front teeth.

Nightcrawler quivered, momentarily confused, and he clasped the outstretched hand. He could taste the blood. How sweet the madness and mayhem of that action would be. To teleport away with his hand and let him fall anyway. He felt the sing-song rhyming madness closing in, and he wanted to do it.

"Elf?" The tone was soft but the voice was harsh. "Pull me up Kurt. Brace yourself."

"I vant to Logan." He shook his head, but the impulse remained. He could feel himself working up the mental energy to teleport.

"Kurt. We don't have time for this. We have to save Kitty. Who's going to save Kitty?"

Kurt looked down unsure.

"And Kent?" Wolverine knew he was in trouble, things were growing desperate. "Who's going to save you son, Kent?"

Logan looked down and swallowed hard. "Kitty would never forgive you if anything happened to Kent!"

And Kurt was surprised to find himself pulling and to see Wolverine slowly rising off the ledge.

"The weapon Logan. It must be nearby." Nightcrawler avoided his gaze.

Logan looked back over the ledge and then back at Kurt. "You think so, hunh?" He rolled his eyes, shook his head, smiled awkwardly and started off down the trail.

"Spoil-Sport." The Demon hissed.

And in response, when Logan wasn't looking, Kurt stuck his tongue out at The Demon – Who, in turn, crossed his arms and looked away.