Hey, everyone! How are you all doing? Pretty good, I hope. ^.^ Okay, I'm really sorry for the time it took to write this chapter. But, now I'm back! So, as always, please review or e-mail me at SetsunaPuu21@cs.com with your thoughts. (Does anyone ever read this part? ^.^;)

Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men: Evolution or its characters in any way. All original characters are mine, and should not be used without permission.

It is better to light one candle in the present than curse the darkness of the past. ~Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)

Title: Two sides of the same coin

Author: JupiterHalo

Rating: PG to PG-13

Part: 18/?

Date completed: July 23, 2003

*means telepathic thoughts*

//means normal thoughts//

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There was complete silence in the clearing. All three of them stared at Kazahiko, shocked. Kazahiko extended his hand to Danny, helping him up from the kneeling position he had been in. "Please come with me, Daniel. We have much to discuss." Jean and Scott were quick to come to his defense.

"Sorry, but he's not going anywhere with you." Scott put his hand up to his visor, ready to fire a blast if Kazahiko so much as blinked.

Kazahiko smirked again, and waved his hand at Scott. Scott felt an invisible force push against him, knocking him back onto the ground. "I will not be bothered with mere beings like you. Now, please, Daniel, come with me."

Danny turned to look at Jean, desperation written on his face. "Jean, what do I do? I... I can't leave you."

"Then she may accompany you, if that is what you wish. We have much to discuss." Kazahiko turned and started walking back into the opening, Danny and Jean being pulled along behind him by the same force that had knocked Scott down. As soon as the threesome had made it through the hole in the rock, it began to close up.

Scott got up as quickly as he could and ran towards the opening, heedless of the pain shooting through his body. "Jean!" He cried as the rock closed itself. He tried to run through it at the last second, but an invisible barrier held him at bay.

"SCOTT!" Jean shouted his name as she turned back to look at him, terror filling her face. Then the rock closed seamlessly, dividing them.

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"Have you heard anything?" Major Walker was pacing around the base camp, waiting for his scout team to radio in with their report.

"Is there any news?" Kitty walked up to the Major, Kurt in tow.

"If I had heard anything, I would have told you by now!" The Major instantly regretted the harsh words as both of their faces fell. "I'm sorry, Shadowcat. It's been a hard day for all of us."

"Sir, are you there?" The crackling voice on the communicator brought near pandemonium in the camp.

"I'm here! What do you have?"

"Well, sir, we went to the specified coordinates, but there was nothing there. Apparently, the tomb has just... disappeared."

Kurt and Kitty looked at each other, wide-eyed. "Disappeared?" Kurt whispered softly. "But, how can that be?"

"How can that be?!" Alec barked into the communicator. "I don't see how a ten thousand-pound boulder can just get up and disappear."

"I'm sorry, sir, but that's what we've found. If we find out more, we'll contact you immediately. Over and out."

"Damn!" Kitty and Kurt backed off, going back to where Rogue was waiting.

"Well?" Rogue crossed her arms over her chest. "From the look on your faces, it can't be good."

"It's not. Scott's team and Jean's team were the only ones to reach the tomb. And we just heard over the communicator Major Walker has that the tomb just disappeared."

"Disappeared?" Kurt nodded.

"So, that means that Scott and Jean are out there, alone! What are we going to do?" Kurt asked her, defeat in his face.

"I don't know... but we can't give up. Scott and Jean are strong. They'll make it." Rogue looked towards the jungle surrounding them, eyes clouded over with worry.

"I sure hope you're right."

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"Let go of me! Where are you taking me?! Scott! Scott, help me!" As Kazahiko made his way deep into the tomb, it turned out to not be a tomb at all. It was really a corridor made out of solid rock, leading farther and farther into the Earth. Danny walked quietly, but Jean wasn't going to give up without a fight.

*Scream all you like. No one will hear you.* Kazahiko told her on a mental path. *Your beloved Scott is not strong enough to get through the barrier I've erected. Please struggle, if it will make you feel better.*

"You bastard!" Jean glared at the back of his head, determined to find a way to escape. No matter what.

The corridor they were traveling in seemed to go on forever. Both Danny and Jean were starting to feel a little weak from the strength they were using to fight Kazahiko. Finally, the trail led into a huge underground chamber.

Jean could only stare in awe. It was beautiful. It reminded her of the caverns at Carlsbad. Stalactites and Stalagmites grew everywhere, and water dripped into pools. It was very peaceful.

In the middle of this underground cavern stood a machine. It was a monstrosity, looming far above them. It was made of steel, with a seat in the middle. It looked like the quintessential time machine. Directly across from the seat hung a large crystal. It was made from both quartz and obsidian, having a startling effect on anyone who saw it.

"Stay here." Kazahiko finally stopped walking, releasing his two prisoners from the force that held him. But as soon as he did, another force captured Jean again. This one was more powerful, and more familiar. This was the energy of the one Kazahiko called "Master".

Danny could only stare in fear at the scene unfolding before him. Directly to the left of the machine was a case of stairs. Soft footsteps made their way down the stairs. Even though the cave was well lit, Danny could not see the person descending them.

Kazahiko bowed low, as the footsteps grew closer. "Master. I have brought the two as you wished."

"Perfect, Kazahiko." The footsteps stopped right in front of Danny. He could see a black robe covering a very tall man. The man reached out with his arm, and he could see that the skin was tanned and the muscles strong. The hand was pointing at Jean. "Please, be seated." Jean was forced to sit right where she had stopped, in front of the entrance to the cavern.

The man turned back to Danny. "Welcome, Daniel Morris. We have been waiting for you. We have waited millennia for the right person to be born. You are the Chosen One, the one who will give me freedom." The hand reached up and pulled back the hood covering the man's face. "My name is Llwewllyn."

Jean observed this quietly. She noticed a relationship between Llewellyn and Kazahiko. Both of them had very similar bone structures. They looked like twins, except that Kazahiko had the palest skin, eyes the color of obsidian, and hair the black of night. While Llewellyn had very tan skin, the bluest eyes Jean had ever seen, and golden hair. But both men were tall and muscular, and power oozed from each of their pores.

"What am I doing here?" Danny's brown eyes were filled with worry. "What do you want with Jean?"

Llewellyn smiled and patted his arm. "I will explain this in time. But first, let me show you this." He pointed to the machine sitting in the middle of the room. "This is my Destiny Changing machine."

"It's... impressive." Danny told him in an emotionless voice. "But what does all of this have to do with me?"

"You see, I have built this machine for one simple reason- to change the world." Llewellyn smiled again, hauntingly. "It was my greatest achievement. I was considered the best architect in our village."

"Your village?" Danny turned and looked at him, confused.

"Yes. Before all of this rainforest was here, this place was perfect for occupation. Kazahiko and I were the leaders of a small village that was located near this cave. We lived in harmony with the Earth, Water, and Sky. Crops grew in abundance, and everyone was happy. We became lazy, selfish. Soon, the crops started to die, and people began to starve. Out of desperation, I underwent a journey of the mind, begging the Higher Power we believed in for forgiveness. It answered, and this machine came to me in a dream."

Llewellyn shook his head, memories coming back too quickly. "I built this as quickly as I could, joy filling me. Our village would be saved! However, it was not to be. For when I completed it and tried to use it, all it did was cause us more destruction. For this machine was not for me to use. And because of my stupidity, everyone in the village died. Except for Kazahiko and I. Somehow, we survived. Maybe it was our vengeance letting us live. Perhaps the Higher Power saw the future. But we have been waiting here for thousands of years, forgotten by time. We have been waiting for the one person who can use it. You."

"Me?" Danny looked shocked. "I'm sorry to tell you, but there's nothing special about me."

"There is, Daniel. You have great power within you, power that is now just beginning to awaken. You had a small glimpse of it back outside, with the earthquake. You made it. You willed it to happen, and the Earth bent to your will."

Jean could only stare in shock at what Llewellyn was saying. Kazahiko stood next to Llewellyn, a bitter smile grazing his face.

He continued, "You have known all of your life that you were different. You have never fit in, always a misfit. It has been the same for us. Together, we can mold the world to our liking. Together, we can truly achieve peace. But, it will not be easy. Love and hate are two sides of the same coin. You will never find one without the other. Each is a light to the other's shadow. But, with my Destiny Changing machine, we can wipe out the entire Earth. And we will start civilization over again. One where there is no hate or bloody wars. No famine. No suffering. We can make all of your dreams come true."

During this time, Danny had gone from fear to sorrow to understanding. What Llewellyn was saying was true. He HAD felt like a misfit for his entire life. And now he had been given the chance to make things right. Jean saw all of these emotions pass across his face and knew that she was losing him. "Danny! Please don't do this! It's a trap!" She yelled at him, trying to convince him to reject what Llewellyn was saying. She was ignored.

"All you have to do is take my hand." Llewellyn extended his hand to Danny, hope filling his face. Danny took a deep breath, and reached out.

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How was this chapter? Was it good or bad? Please let me know, so I can modify! Either review or e-mail me at SetsunaPuu21@cs.com with your thoughts. I'll see you all real soon! Chapter 18's coming up!