Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine, except for Aurora, Rian, Granite and Serpentine, and the weapons I gave to Orion, plus her name. But the character itself remains Marvel's. Plot is mine though.

Throughout story: " " = Speech ' ' = Thoughts ^ ^ = Telepath

Hey, cliffhangers are vital for such tense chapters! Want to keep you on your toes! And yep, Aurora will be in the next story. And it's just a continuous version of this really, but of course, all is calm at the beginning! And the next saga (as you want to call it (: ) will involve much more darker issues in my opinion. A lot more action, a lot more romance, and a lot more comedy, and a lot more mutants! Woo!

Chapter 53

Logan's head snapped up when he heard Scott's cry. He saw the reason. Storm had only just managed to dodge an iron bar that had come hurtling her way, another was sent, and another. All were flying out of the gloomy corridor that the X-Men had yet to venture down.

Scott gasped, keeping his back pinned to the wall to avoid any hits, "I'd try and blast them.. but there's no way. They're coming too fast!"

"We've got to do something!" Cried Storm, cautiously peering round the corner. Giving a scream and ducking away as another iron bar hurtled through, spinning.

"Can't you stop them coming?" Shouted Scott above the noisy din of the bars clattering.

"I can try!" Storm yelled back. She then fell silent, her head bowing momentarily before it lifted to reveal dark eyes turning to an eerie shade of ivory, which lit up the dark corner of the building. Silence remained before a blast of wind shattered through a window and spiralled spiritually up to the second floor and down the corridor. A scream was heard as the bars changed direction. Clatters sounded before all that was heard was the roar of the wind. The gale died down, fading away breeze by breeze.

Scott and Storm turned the corner apprehensively, dark corridor showing up faint red glints of metal from the setting of the sinking sun. They didn't speak in fear of attracting more attacks. A noise was heard, faint shuffling. The three eyes instantly locked on the spot.

Out of the darkness Magneto stood heavily, wincing softly from the blows of the metal bars, which had turned upon him. He glared through the darkness to the faint figures, "When are you going to give up?" He hissed softly.

"We'll give up when you do." Announced Scott defiantly, raising a hand to his visor.

Magneto growled and raised his arms. Chains snapped off the walls and away from students, several gasped before sinking into awed silence as the chains spun dangerously, clipping anything it hit with a series of sparks. They then flung in Storm and Scott's direction.

Scott hurriedly blasted at them, smashing the links apart and sending pieces of metal flying. Scott straightened, glaring at Magneto. Before any could realise what was happening, Magneto suddenly staggered before he was doubled over and then collapsed to the floor with a thump where he groaned, sporting a bloody nose.

Storm and Scott stared in disbelief before they used it to their advantage, Scott immediately turned on his laser. The red beam blasted out and struck upon Magneto who twisted and turned to try and dodge the oncoming blasts.

"Keep going!" Cried Storm.

Scott did, energetically firing now their opponent was grounded.

As the firing continued and Magneto struggled to respond, the bars of the cells had begun to turn pale and white.. becoming shiny and silky with ice. Slowly the transformation travelled up across the room, each cell being lighted from it's gloomy exterior.

Suddenly, above the blasts and cries a voice roared, "NOW!"

Every single cell bars smashed, every student threw him or herself forward through the ice and staggered. The blasting stopped and Scott stared as hundred's of bodies piled through. Magneto lifted and soared above the crowd, seething with rage. He flew on out of the doorway and down onto the lower level where Logan and Aurora remained.

Logan looked up with a gasp as Magneto joined their presence. He stood to his feet, claws unsheathing with a hiss of sound. He glared to Magneto, waiting.

Magneto was heavily wounded, burns covered his clothing and blood had marked almost every part of him. Magneto raised his hand and snapped his fingers hurriedly. Out of the shadows Pyro ran, joining Magneto's side, Magneto glared down to him, "Just you and me now boy.. Don't forget anything I've told you."

Pyro said nothing but stared forward to Logan with a glare.

Silence remained before Magneto roared and Pyro reacted on his cue. Fire exploded from his lighter and to his palms and soared forward towards Logan. Logan gasped and dived downwards, ducking under the blast and protecting Aurora from the flames. Magneto strode forward and grabbed Logan by the back of his head, "Get him!!! GET HIM PYRO!"

Logan struggled, Magneto's strength of his skeleton keeping him fixed. Pyro fired another blast, the flames roaring and thrusting as they fired forward; ready to engulf Logan in flames. Magneto dived away, his strength breaking. Logan forced himself down with a scream, desperate to avoid the fire. Magneto howled furiously, turning upon Pyro, "Why can't you aim straight! Get him!" Pyro said nothing, looking away with a fierce look fixed at no one.

Logan snarled and stalked up behind Magneto, his fists raised. Pyro's head quickly turned back, a gasp being heard. Logan thrusted his fist into Magneto's back. Only the tips of his claws managed to puncture, Magneto had stopped him going any further, "Foolish." Muttered Magneto before he threw Logan's body down, "Now get him Pyro! Get close, you can't miss! We need Xavier to feel the scars of our victory!"

Pyro struggled with his mind; Magneto cried orders whilst his mind screamed not to. Pyro dived forward, aiming to land upon Logan. Despite the guilt, he fired a blast to Logan's grounded body defying all guilt and intending to finish the Wolverine. Logan's eyes widened at the fierce expression of Pyro as he dived. Logan grunted and heaved his body to the side with a twist, turning on Pyro and thrusting his claws into his back as Pyro fell from the dive, landing where Logan was.

A faint gasp was heard from the boy who was struck to the floor. Logan panted, chest heaving with rage. His right fist was firmly down to Pyro's back, three claws struck through completely.

"Argh.. Oh.. God..." Gasped Pyro faintly, his cheek to the concrete, "..God.. Logan.. tell Xavier.. he was right and.." He struggled to take his next breath.

The sound of footsteps came from the upper level and students had begun to pile down the stairs, Bobby in lead with Storm and Scott by his side, injured Kurt being supported by Scott. There was mild chatter of excitement and fear that fell away as eyes fell upon the sight of Logan impaling Pyro to the floor.

Bobby froze, staring down at his old best friend, fighting the last breath of life. He cried out and ran over, flinging to his knees, "John!"

Logan withdrew his claws and straightened. Saying nothing. He moved back to Aurora and lifted her in his grip and strode towards the X-Men.

"Bobby.. I'm so sorry man.." Said Pyro softly from the floor as Bobby sat beside him, face in shock.

"You should never have left us! You know that!"

Pyro faintly nodded with a grimace, "God.. this is painful." He said softly with a weak grin.

Bobby faintly smiled, he couldn't help it, his friend always made light of bad situations, "You never did what you didn't want."

Pyro smirked faintly, nodding. His palm then outstretched, his lighter still being gripped firmly, "Keep this for me.. I don't need it now do I?"

Bobby frowned, lifting the lighter in his palm and studying it carefully for a second, "But you love this lighter." He then looked down to Pyro who was silent and shining eyes stared off to nothing. A faint smirk lingered on his lips and his eyes remained lighted with a defiant nature.

Bobby stood to his feet. His shoulders were embraced by Storm who tenderly turned him round and guided him back to the group.

Magneto snorted softly, remaining stood on his own, staggering from the wounds he suffered, "Blasted X-Men.." he cursed, glaring at them.

Immediately, without any doubt, students raised their body parts that supplied powers or readied. Every pair of eyes were filled with fury and hurt, every single one had been polluted to kill humans. And now there was nothing they wanted to hurt more, than Magneto.

Magneto dropped his fists and expression faded. He fell silent and did nothing.

Scott steered the group outside, everyone followed softly in sombre moods. Outside the weather had calmed and the sunset radiated the horizon. A fading rainbow lingered over the heavens, marred by wisps of floating clouds. Feet travelled over drying puddles, tired and weary steps. Except one who strode powerfully across the concrete. Logan spoke up, "Should have blasted Magneto up y'know.." He said to no one in particular.

Heads turned his way before falling. No one replied. Some exchanged glances. Whilst a few looked to Bobby when Logan spoke. Bobby stared at the floor with a grimace of grief and fury, "Should have." He answered softly, "It's his fault.. Pyro would still be with us if it wasn't for that bastard."

No one flinched to the cursing.

Logan stopped by the jet and eyed it for a moment, "We ain't all gonna fit in there."

Scott stopped and steadied Kurt on Storm's elbow, "Yeah.. I'll contact Charles for the travel jet."

Logan softly hmphed and leant against the barrel of one of the engines. He looked to Aurora who remained softly nestled in his arms, "Are you alright?" He asked softly, in such a tone that no one else would hear him.

Aurora nodded shyly, "Mm.. my ankle hurts a little though."

Logan canted his head, instantly looking to her feet, "Which one."

"The right one."

Logan lifted the hem of her trouser leg gently and peered to the spot. It was swollen and bruised softly, "Looks like a break."

Aurora sighed softly to this.

"Hey.. you're lucky. Could have been your neck."

Aurora faintly smiled and nodded to this.

The remaining rainbow faded to nothing as the group stood out in the lowering sun, the only sound now was Scott's voice and he spoke to the Professor. Students mingled and passed each other reassuring hugs, whilst Logan and Aurora remained alone, lost in each other's thoughts.

*** To view pictures and detailed profiles of my created characters, worry. It's not the ending just yet. :D