Hi, everyone! What's up? Nothing much around here... just in total pain from the nasty fall I took on my bike yesterday. ^.^; It really hurt. Anyway, here's chapter 18 for you all to enjoy in its deliciousness. o.O; Please review or send me an e-mail at SetsunaPuu21@cs.com with your thoughts. They're always appreciated!

Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men: Evolution or any of its characters. So, please don't sue me.

We gain freedom when we have paid the full price for our right to live. ~Sir Rabindranath "Tagore" Thakur (1861-1941)

Title: Two sides of the same coin

Author: JupiterHalo

Rating: PG to PG-13

Part: 19/?

Date completed: July 26, 2003

*means telepathic thoughts*

//means normal thoughts//

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With that one simple gesture, Jean knew that things would never be the same again. She watched in horror as Danny took the hand Llewellyn offered to him. She moved to do something- stop him, destroy the machine, anything, but the bonds holding her were too strong for her to break.

"Come, my brother," Llewellyn led Danny to the Destiny Changing machine. "There is much to discover about your powers. Even I do not know the extent of them."

"What do I do?" Danny sat down in the machine, trained eyes looking over the many components.

"It is simple. Once you have made a blood pact with the machine, it will work. But it will only work until the blood runs dry. Then... well, we will see what happens." Danny nodded in understanding. Llwewllyn pulled a small blade from underneath his robes. "Please give me your hand." He slashed a small wound into Danny's palm, then placed it on the crystal.

"Please, do not move. If you do, you will most certainly die." Kazahiko warned as the crystal began to glow.

Jean started struggling against her bonds. There had to be a way to save Danny! Kazahiko turned and placed a hand on her shoulder, gently. "Do not interrupt him. This is a choice he alone must make."

As the crystal continued to glow, Danny felt a strange sensation go through his body. It was... incredible. Everything you've ever experienced: happiness, pain, grief, love were flowing through him. Llewellyn grew more excited as the glow intensified. "Yes! It is accepting the blood!"

The feelings were exciting. Power surged through Danny as he and the crystal accepted each other. Suddenly, the glowing stopped. He heard the low hum of the machine as it started up.

"Now, anything you want is yours. Power, glory, wealth... nothing is impossible." Danny looked up into the three faces surrounding him- Llewellyn and Kazahiko's faces were shining with joy. Jean's was filled with terror. "We are at your command."

Other worlds flashed before Danny's eyes. He saw the past, the future, and the present. All of it was his to dictate! His soul grew black with every passing vision; greed overcoming the good spirit that was within.

*Yes,* the crystal whispered to him. *Feel what you are capable of. You are more powerful than anything the world has ever imagined.* As these thoughts entered his head, he watched the obsidian crystal start to overcome the white.

With every passing thought, worlds were destroyed, people were forgotten, and the dark side overcame the light. "Yes!" Danny roared, no longer the man he once was. The spirit of the black crystal was slowly taking over his body. "I am absolute power! Revenge for our people is at hand!"

Feeling the bonds on her loosen for a fraction of a second, Jean stood up and ran towards the machine. "NO! Danny! Don't do this!" With her telepathy, she tried to get through to his mind.

"Foolish woman." Danny stepped down from the machine, adrenaline coursing through every cell of his body. "You think to stop me?!" He hit her then, and she went sprawling across the floor.

*Kill her,* the crystal instructed him. *She is the only thing holding you back. Once we are rid of her, you can truly learn your full powers.*

"Danny... please don't do this..." Jean sat up slowly, wiping blood from the corner of her mouth. "If you do, the world we know will no longer exist. Remember your friends, your family! Would they want you to be like this?!"

"Jean..." The strangled voice that came from Danny's body was weak. The spirit of the black crystal was about to win. "Jean... no!"

Suddenly, Danny fell to his knees, clutching his head. *No! I will not be denied!* The spirit launched mental attacks at him in hope that he would just give up.

"Danny... I believe in you. We can do this together." Jean walked over to his writhing figure and laid a hand on his shoulder. "I'm with you."

Danny's soul and Jean's comforting strength slowly began to push back the evil spirit. It tried to fight back, but knew that there was only one thing that could stop it. Love. Danny's soul was filled with it, and started to weaken the spirit.

Llewellyn turned and watched the crystal. The black crystal was slowly being pushed back by the white, and he knew that the white crystal would overcome the black.

With one final gasp, the spirit took possession of Danny's body once more. "If I must die, then you shall, as well!!" A voice sounding like his but not at the same time burst from his mouth. Then, with one last combined effort, Jean and Danny pushed back the evil presence.

Danny fell face-first onto the ground, shaking. He was in control again- the spirit was gone. He turned his head and looked at the crystal and was proven correct. A gleaming white quartz shined back at him.

"Danny...? Are you okay?" Jean sat down beside him and cradled his head in her arms.

"Yeah... I'll survive." He smiled quickly at her before getting up slowly, leaning on her for support. "What did that... thing mean? If it must die, then so shall we?"

"I don't know..." Jean sighed.

Without warning, the ground began to shake. Rumblings echoed throughout the chamber, and rocks began to fall all around them. One landed on the Destiny Changing machine, and it broke apart. Bits and pieces flew past the couple, along with several tiny bits of the crystal. Jean jumped up and started to run towards the exit, calling back to Danny: "We have to get out of here!" He followed, but put a hand on her shoulder when she started to run through.

"Jean. I... I can't go with you." She turned around and stared at him.

"...What...?"

He shook his head. "Remember the pact. It won't stop until the blood runs dry. I... I'm not going to make it."

"No... no! You are! You're going to come with me and everything will be okay!" Tears filled her eyes. "I'm not leaving without you." She looked down and whispered softly, "I love you. I can't lose you."

Danny pulled her into a tight embrace, stroking her hair gently. "No, you don't love me. Not in the way I want you to." She looked up at him, tears streaming unchecked down her face.

He smiled sadly, tears filling his own eyes. "I've reopened the entrance. Scott is waiting for you." He leaned down and kissed her cheek gently. "Be happy with him." Then he gave her a gentle push towards the exit.

The last image she had of him was Kazahiko and Llewellyn standing in the middle of the cave, him running towards them. Then boulders blocked her vision, and she ran.

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Scott paced around nervously, the rumblings beneath his feet most definitely a good sign. He ran a hand through his auburn hair. He turned around and started to pace again, but stopped short.

He couldn't believe it. Jean stood before him, dirt and tears streaking her lovely face. Before he could utter a word, she ran into his arms and cried.

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The end.

Just kidding. ^.^; The next chapter should be up in a few days... so please look for that. And please review or send me an e-mail! Tell me what you think. I hope to hear from you all soon!

Love always,

~JupiterHalo~