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# #It has been six months since Genocide's warning, just shy of a year since the death of Nathan Summers. Apocalypse has used that time to familiarize himself with his new telepathic and telekinetic powers. His army has grown to impressive numbers. He cares little of what humans and those mutants that have not sided with him have done during this time. He knows that the X-Men are awaiting his opening move.

In thinking this, Apocalypse is exactly right. The X-Men have used these past six months as a time for preparation. They have increased their numbers, as well as, getting each other ready for war. Once splintered into various groups, the X-Men are now one again. There are no longer different teams under different leaders. They are an army awaiting a war.

Currently, the surviving members of X-Squadron, Cannonball, Domino, Meltdown, Proudstar, and X-Man, along with Juggernaut, Husk, Siryn, Polaris, and Havok are in a training session with various members of the X-Men. Cyclops, Phoenix, Wolverine, Iceman, Gambit, Angel, Storm, Rogue, and Bishop are each fighting together as only they can. The X-Squadron is sorely outmatched and outclassed. The tide of battle is quickly turned in the X-Men's favor, and with one final psychic blast from Phoenix, the fight is over.

"Good job, all around people," Sam said. "I think we should go again if that's alright with everyone else."

"Don't push your team too hard, Cannonball," Cyclops advised the young leader, who is so eager to live up to the expectations of his mentor.

"No offense, Cyclops, sir, but what we're training for isn't going to be easy. If I can push my team harder than anyone else, battle situations will be a breeze… sir."

"Sounds sorta like you did at that age, doesn't it Slim?"

"Enough jokes, Wolverine. Sam, if you think they're up for it we're more than happy to go again."

With that the two teams resumed their training. Each member of either team trying their hardest to outdo the others. As hard and fierce as the battle is there is an air of ease through the Danger Room. Both teams refusing to let what looms on the horizon spoil their last few precious moments of happiness.

Deep within the bowels of Apocalypse's lair, Sinister ponders over the newly obtained body of his master. Over the last few months Apocalypse has used his own powers to augment the genetic structure of Nathan's body. With Sinister's help, Apocalypse hopes to become nothing less than a god.

"This is interesting," Sinister spoke, more to himself than to Apocalypse. He then quickly turns from his master and begins to pull up file after file on his computer screen.

"We've known that Summers' body held limitless potential, but since you've used your powers along with the techno-organic cells already present to increase the x-factor within the dna, the telepathic and telekinetic abilities used to hold the techno-organic cells at bay are now increasing dramatically. With the knowledge I've obtained of every mutant on this planet, there will be nothing you can't do."

Sinister slowly turned back towards Apocalypse, who sat up from the examining table slowly eyeing over his servant. Sinister nervously smiled, knowing that their time was soon drawing near. Apocalypse's only reply before leaving Sinister's lab was-

"You know what must be done than, Essex. Afterwards, ready the Horsemen."

Xavier sits across a giant wooden table awaiting the arrival of one of the world's most powerful and deadly mutants. He has taken this trip to Genosha to try and gain his greatest enemy as a much needed ally in the times to come. Within moments Magneto the master of magnetism and high lord of the mutant island of Genosha enters the room and sits across from Xavier.

"You look good Charles."

"As do you Erik. What you have accomplished here is outstanding."

"Once the mutants and mutates on Genosha were given leadership it was just a matter of time before we rose to greatness. I doubt you have finally seen the error in your ways though, Charles. Why have you come here?"

"You have made it no secret that you wish for Genosha to be left out of any outside interference, but you must know that Apocalypse will see this island as a prime target. Eventually he will come after you and none of your citizens will be safe. I have come to ask for you to join me. To help me lead the fight against him. Stand by my side Magnus."

Magneto sits with a look of deep contemplation upon his face. He knows his mutant haven is a prime target for Apocalypse. He knows the horrors that war brings, and yet he still can't thrust his people into the coming fray.

"I am sorry, Charles. I can not give you what you ask. I have fought all my life for what I have accomplished here. You and I once worked together for the same cause and since our parting, I have accomplished that which you have not. I shall not risk that for one over zealous lunatic. You ask for my help and for my people I must refuse you."

"Magnus… Erik, you can't be serious? Apocalypse will come. We do not know how much time we have, we don't even know the size of his forces. The resources you have accumulated here would not only help, but be an asset we can not do without."

"I have fought too hard for this," Magneto uses his mutant powers to levitate himself from his chair over to the big bay window inside his chamber. He looks out upon Magda Square and gazes upon his paradise. "I will not have it destroyed or taken from me. You ask for my help, but what you want is the combined power of those who live here. They have come here to stop fighting, Charles. They no longer need to fight to survive, they live peacefully now. I cannot ask any of them to do otherwise. I have promised those mutants the chose to live here a haven and I will protect them from this war with all the strength given me."

As Xavier and Magnus argue over the coming battle, unseen high above the skies of Genosha hovers a lone figure. Apocalypse has arrived. He uses his tremendous psychic powers and scans the minds of every person on the island. He sees everything and everyone, and after several minutes he deems them too weak to survive.

"The war begins… now," Apocalypse says and then snaps his fingers.

Within the fraction of a second between action and sound, Apocalypse uses his mutant power to control his molecular structure to split a thousand atoms within himself. The result is instantaneous, a blast of nuclear energy erupts from the sky. Imagine a thousand nuclear warheads detonating simultaneously at the exact same spot.

SNAP

The force of the explosion knocks both Magneto and Xavier off their feet and out of the building. The heat melts buildings into nothing more than rubble. Magda Square is transformed into ashes. Within seconds sixteen million people, mutant and human are killed. The shockwave carries radiation for miles. Genosha is gone.

Above the darkened sky, Apocalypse still hovers, flying above his latest actions. He looks down upon the once beautiful island and sees nothing. He uses is newly acquired telepathic abilities, yet again, and senses no one.

The world turns on their TV's and witnesses the start of something they don't know how to understand. They have become used to terrorism, but what do you call the murder of sixteen million people. How do you justify murder simply to prove a point. The world grieves and seeks answers. World leaders condemn the actions taken and promise to find the culprit and bring him to justice. As TV cameras show the devastation of Genosha, a camera man notices something in the sky. He films it and the world is filled with Apocalypse's laughter.

Author's notes

I got reviews! I got reviews! Ok, so it's two, but it's a start. Thanks you guys. I will hopefully keep getting chapters out fast, I kinda know where I'm going with the story so I just have to write it up. Oh and to give you something to review for- let me know the next scene I should draw. I'm leaning towards a shot of Genocide. Next chapter, the most powerful four horsemen ever.