A/N: "I am become death, shatterer (or destroyer) of worlds," was taken from J. Robert Oppenheimer upon witnessing the first detonation of the atomic bomb. Furthermore, most of these quotes are based on the comics, cartoon or "the Pale Horse," written by the wonderful author Julia456, as I'm not familiar with the Four Horsemen at all.
Of another note is that if any of you have been to Niagara falls, it's main business is tourism. It might help you to understand the story better if you've actually been there. It's sort of a river framed with huge cliffs on either side, in which people walk on. The northern side is Canadian and the southern U.S. That's about the best way I can explain it right now.
Most of the story is complete anyway – just need to proof-read and revise it. I'm trying to get it done before school starts on Tuesday. School!
Summary: One year after Dark Horizons, the X-men face a trial by fire with the emergence of new foes and vengeance of old enemies.
Rating for this Chapter - PG 13
Pairings - Scott/Jean
Chapter 21
Wolverine, Storm, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, Rogue and Gambit stepped out of the Velocity as it landed on the American side of the Niagara Falls. The Professor had sent them on a mission to investigate strange mutant readings that were emanating from the area, at least two, possibly as much as four.
"It's so beautiful," Jean mused as she stared at the sight before her. Large torrents of crystal clear water cascaded down the horseshoe-shaped cataract with fright-train like vigour
The team was walking towards the falls when people started screaming and stampeding away from an area in front of them. Running as fast as they could, they found the body of an emaciated woman lying on the floor. Nothing but skin and bones. Checking her for her vitals, they confirmed that she was dead. Looking around, the X-men caught sight of the remains of more people, some similarly emaciated, some bleeding on the ground, and others who looked like they were taken by some disease.
Suddenly, a concussive blast struck Rogue in the back and sent her flying through the railing and over the cliffs of the falls. "Rogue!" Jean automatically rushed over to the side and caught her telekinetically. As she hoisted her back up, the others formed a protective circle around her, to defend against their unknown attackers.
On a precipice not far from where they were standing, three figures emerged from the darkness that shrouded them and revealed themselves. Two women and one man – actually two females and one male, because the X-men weren't quite certain they were human. All three seemed to mounted on some kind of horse. "Alright, bub, just who do you jokers think you are?" Wolverine demanded with an animalistic growl.
"We are the first foot soldiers worthy to usher in the reign of En Sabah Nur. We are the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse," they replied in perfect unison.
"War," the giant male mutant introduced himself as his mechanical horse neighed.
"Plague." This came from the one with sick, green skin.
"Famine," introduced the skeletal women. Her horse bucked under her.
"Death." A new voice echoed in the night as the X-men turned around and looked up to see Warren Worthington III, now the Archangel of Death, descending upon them. His blond hair seemed to glow gold in the darkness, complementing perfectly his royal blue skin. The metallic wings were unbelievably graceful, and were so refined that they reflected everything like a mirror. Although he wasn't as physically imposing as War, he looked definitely more dangerous.
"Warren? Warren, is that you?" Kitty asked.
"Warren Kenneth Worthington III no longer exists. I am now the Fourth and proud Horsemen of En Sabah Nur, the Alpha and the Omega. Death incarnate! Winged messenger to the Dread Lord. Our orders are to eliminate those who call themselves the X-men, especially the being known as Jean Elizabeth Grey." He pointed a gloved finger at the telepath. Apparently, Apocalypse was still worried about her phoenix powers.
"Well, Angel, that is not going to happen!" An optic blast struck the horsemen from the side, sending him skidding along the ground until he righted himself with his wings.
"Resist and be obliterated! Those who defy Apocalypse shall swift be visited by the wings of Death!" X-Factor stepped out of Blink's golden portal as Warren took to the sky.
"Oh Scott! You came!" Jean ran up to Cyclops, jumping into his arms. They haven't seen each other since he left the Institute, and was secretly glad that he decided to bring X-Factor along to help out despite her recommendation not to. These Horsemen looked like they could be a handful.
Taking aim, Havoc and Gambit shot at the other three Horsemen, while Cyclops fired (and missed) at Death. War, Famine and Plague galloped through the dust and smoke and charged towards their enemies.
"Everyone, split!" Scott ordered as he ran away from the falls with Jean and Betsy in tow. Death flew after them. Their team split into four groups of three before diverging from each other in an attempt to draw out their opponents. Jean turned around as she was running to see Storm taking to the air and sending a bolt of lightning towards Famine.
"Resistance is futile! Surrender yourself and I will honor your bravery with instant demise," Angel called out to them. Elegantly dodging another optic blast, he dove towards his prey, only to have them dodge and roll away. Archangel was unbelievably graceful in the sky as he flipped, rolled and dove away to avoid well-aimed force beams, seemingly defying gravity.
"For in the sleep of death, what dreams may come!"
"Warren, we just want to help you!" Betsy exclaimed.
"I am become Death, shatterer of worlds. There is nothing you can do." He was about to dive for another attack when an optic blast lanced through the air. Using his adamentium wings as a shield, he blocked it.
"Pathetic! You are nothing!"
"Warren, I'm not using full power on you! Don't make me!" Scott sent another blast at him, which he flew around, but it forced him to abandon his aerial assault.
"Pitiful mortal! You deserve to die!"
There was a large explosion as War charged through a wall and raced towards them. Jean saw this and telekinetically pushed him off his horse before flinging the metal creature into a lamp post. A beam of red instantly engulfed the horse. When Cyclops' onslaught relented, all that was left of War's ride was a smoking hole.
"Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum!" he shouted as he unbuckled his mace.
//What is he talking about?\\ Scott asked.
//No idea\\ Jean responded. However, Betsy took Latin and knew exactly what he said.
//'Therefore, whoever wishes for peace, let him prepare for war'\\
"Too much mental chatter," War interrupted as Death hovered in front of him. He pointed a hand at Jean. "Let the destruction of War erase your worthless soul from existence."
"Hey, you and I have a score to settle!" Cyclops hollered. The other mutant smiled before sending a hand blast at his foe. As the beam zoomed towards Cyclops, an optic blast met it halfway. There was a loud explosion as white collided with red in a battleground of plasma energy, culminating in the destruction of anything in between. A shockwave rippled through the area, cracking the cement under their feet.
The whole region was flooded with a flickering pink light in a classic battle between good and evil. Neither Cyclops nor War could do anything but continue to discharge their power. The spinning white and crimson ball in between them expanded in size as each increased their output, vaporizing anything that it encompassed.
***
Death turned his attention to Jean and Betsy. With an exaggerated flap of his wings, a barrage of paralysing feathers zipped towards the two mutants before they were telekinetically stopped in mid-air.
"Psylocke, this isn't working! He can't hear to us!" Jean stated as she telekinetically slammed Warren into the ground.
//Maybe we should concentrate our telepathy and wrench his mind free from Apocalypse's control?\\ Betsy sent as she dodged another salvo of darts.
//We can try. It worked with Scott before\\ Hands to their temples, both telepaths concentrated hard on their assailant and friend.
Warren's body instantly sagged as he dropped out of the sky in mental pain. He didn't notice it when his body crashed into the concrete sidewalk, adamentium wings cracking the cement into tiny pieces. Images started flooding his head: the first time he kissed Jean.... the first time he met Betsy.... Betsy being emaciated by Famine.... Scott and Jean cut down by War.... X-men being picked off by Sentinels.... Apocalypse ruling the world....
"No, this can't be!" he screamed in agony as in his mind, one by one, his friends were killed before his mental eyes. Slowly, he began to wrench free from the telepathic grip that Apocalypse had put into place and darkness that Sinister had burned into his skull. However, the darkness had to be channelled somewhere, so Jean and Psylocke focused their powers into dispelling it harmlessly into the astral plane as Jean and the Professor had once done with Scott.
After a while, Jean's body slumped to the floor in exhaustion. Around her, the battle was still raging on. "You think you're a match for me, boy? You are nothing in the eyes of Apocalyspe!" War shouted.
"You want to know what you are in my eyes?" Cyclops came back. Resorting to uncontrollable power, he ripped off his visor, bringing to bear the full force of his optic blasts. Scott was almost thrown off his feet as a huge wave of crimson erupted from his eyes. Instantly, the whole area was washed over in ruby light, turning night into day as the optic blast barrelled through War's blast, splitting it in half as it continued to streak towards its hapless target uninhibited.
All other fighting ceased as everyone stopped to watch the intense light show that was taking place. When the optic blast finally connected with is target, the results were spectacular. His blast literally tore War's body apart as it failed to sustain the explosive power of ten tons' worth of dynamite. First flesh melted away from bone, then the bones dissolved into dust as it was unable to withstand the crimson strain. There was absolutely nothing left but a huge crater where seconds before the mighty Horsemen War was standing.
However, Scott fell to his knees, completely spent, as his devastating attack drained him of all energy. He started pawing the ground looking for his visor, eyes clenched shut. Plague, seeing the opportunity, hustled her horse and rushed in to kill him while he's vulnerable.
"Scott! Get out of the way!" Fighting her fatigue, Jean used every ounce of strength left in her body to wrench Plague off her horse as the rider swiftly closed the distance to the most important person in her life.
In an instant, Plague felt herself slammed backwards by an invisible hand, tearing her from her ride. The metallic beast, however, continued to bear down on Cyclops full speed, intent on trampling him to death with its sharp hooves. With a grunt, Jean managed to just steer it off course before a flash of silver cut it in half. As its remains fell to the floor, it exploded in a shower of sparks.
Hovering not far from Cyclops was a revived Warren Worthington III. Retrieving his visor, Scott weakly got up to his feet. Looking around, Storm and Jubilee were lying on the ground, both having been knocked unconscious as they fought War. Alex was holding his arm as if it was broken. Jean and Psylocke looked ready to collapse any second; for that matter, so was he. Numerous other mutants suffered injuries, some which will require major medical treatment. The only ones left in any fighting condition were Archangel, Wolverine (for the obvious reasons), Clarice and Nightcrawler.
Plague and Famine poised themselves for attack (Famine's horse was damaged by lightning before being cut down by Wolverine). Suddenly, both made a mad dash for his fallen teammates.
"No! Stay away from them!" Alex sent a burst of plasma energy at the two, which missed. Instead, it hit a large fuel truck nearby, causing it to ignite and explode viciously. Caught in the blast, the last thing Scott remembered was Jean diving in front of him and erecting a TK shield before he blacked out.
