The air was thick with suspense as Rogue and Jean, Dark Phoenix and Phoenix, both rose into the air, never taking their flame filled eyes off of each other.
Gambit and Wolverine both watched with a type of respect in their eyes for the two women. Both of them had had it rough in their lives, Rogue being unable to touch and Jean being killed, cloned and possessed by the Phoenix more than once.
In the far distance, a fearful Mystique was seen by Kurt, running for her life. He shook his head sombrely. She was hopeless.
"They won't kill each other will they Professor?" Kitty asked quietly, fearing the answer. Professor Xavier did not answer however; he didn't have to as Phoenix and Dark Phoenix had already started fighting.
Showdown.
Storm hid her eyes, Jubilee forgot to pop her gum, Bobby froze in fear and all the others just stared in disbelief.
One of them was going to die, right?
Phoenix smiled mockingly, enjoying watching her sister Dark Phoenix's features contort in rage. Flames of the deepest red flew from Dark Phoenix's fingertips and an angry bird of red silhouetted her body. A wicked laugh tore at the evil spirits insides and she let it loose.
"Too long you have walked around in your prime Phoenix! Too many people you have saved and made powerful. Well now it's my time for revenge, and the world will go down in my wrath!" Dark Phoenix rose higher and threw more flames of evil.
Phoenix did her best to avoid the flames but both her and her evil counterpart were equal in power. Dark Phoenix had the advantage though, she had a lost and confused teenage mutant in her grasp and the torture the girl went through acted as a fuel. But for how long would the child Rogue put up with being controlled?
**~~**
Rogue.
"What are you doing to her? Leave her alone!" Rogue screamed in her head at the unwanted presence in her mind. As much as she hated to admit it, Rogue did like Jean and did not wish to hurt her.
"Relax girl, all of your troubles will pass when we destroy this place." A commanding voice said somewhat gently.
"No! You're hurting her! Leave Jean alone!" Rogue screamed, she had no control over her body.
Dark Phoenix stopped in midair and screamed, Rogue was fighting against her and now Dark Phoenix had to fight off two people, Phoenix and Rogue.
Everyone watched in terror as Phoenix took advantage of Dark Phoenix's distraction. Angry, orange flames licked through the air, reaching out to cause harm. Dark Phoenix only just managed to dodge the flames, twisting her borrowed body into an arch, the flames passing by beneath her.
The spectators below ran for cover, as flames of fury were now reaching out all over the place, on the trees, the ground and ever living thing that got in the path of Phoenix and Dark Phoenix's wrath.
"Give up! Leave the child! We fight face to face!" Phoenix called out desperately.
"You think I am as stupid as to leave this powerful being? She is tough and I can
manipulate… Aaahh!" Dark Phoenix screamed once more, clutching her hair and clawing at the fire around her.
"Evidently you have bitten off more than you can chew this time… dear sister." Phoenix whispered.
Dark Phoenix heard and lunged for Phoenix, she grabbed the red locks of her hair and pulled sharply. Phoenix yelled angrily and kicked out behind her, sending Dark Phoenix off flying.
As she flew back, Dark Phoenix gathered flames and heaved them forward. Phoenix dodged them easily and shook her head.
"Still has to learn." She muttered.
**~~**
In a flurry of fists, fire and kicks, the band of mutants below, hidden in the shadows for safety, watched in horror, knowing they could do nothing.
"One of them is going to die. Don't lie to us Professor, we have to know." Kurt looked up.
"Not unless Rogue makes the right decision." Professor Xavier replied.
The X-Men did not question him but merely watched as the battle of good and evil became even more intriguing.
**~~**
"This world will be destroyed and I will kill you!" Dark Phoenix cried out, the fire around her intensifying.
"No. Rogue will not allow that, will she?" Phoenix replied smoothly dodging another fireball. It was tiring. The two firebirds were evenly matched and it would go on forever.
Suddenly, Phoenix was thrown off course as Dark Phoenix hurled sparks of blinding white fire in her face. Blinded momentarily, Phoenix clawed the air desperately.
Dark Phoenix took the chance and came up behind her nemesis. She wrapped her smooth fingers around Phoenix's writhing neck and squeezed. Phoenix grabbed the fingers but could not claw them away. Dark Phoenix laughed triumphantly and clutched Phoenix's neck tighter. Phoenix's face paled as she struggled for air.
Blood dripped onto the ground. It was the blood of Phoenix. The sharp claws that wrapped around her neck had penetrated her skin.
"NOOO!!!!"
An ear-splitting scream echoed through the air and everyone present looked up and gasped at the sight before them.
Not two but three beings were now floating in the air. Phoenix, Rogue and a woman with flowing black hair and ruby eyes. Dark Phoenix. Rogue faced her menacingly while holding up Phoenix whom was coughing violently from lack of air.
"I would not let you hurt her." Rogue said lowly, her eyes glinting in complete hatred.
"Fine. I will kill you both. I want this world to destroy and manipulate. It is promising, even though it is half dead." Dark Phoenix spat.
**~~**
"What happened der Prof?" Gambit asked, dumbstruck.
"Rogue escaped the grasp of Dark Phoenix and there she is." Professor Xavier pointed to the new woman.
"We doomed?" Storm looked at Wolverine.
"We doomed." He replied solemnly.
"I'm not going down without a fight you know." Storm smiled cheekily.
Wolverine smiled in spite of himself.
**~~**
Rogue lowered Phoenix to the ground and braced herself for seriously agonizing pain. It did not come though. Rogue and Dark Phoenix remained floating in the air. Time seemed to stand still and the voices of Rogue's mind were not taunting her for a change.
They were encouraging her.
Rogue was shocked to hear the cries of hatred toward Dark Phoenix but what made Rogue almost smile in relief was Lucy.
She stood in Rogue's mind, a smile on her face for the first time in years.
"I know you were trying to save me when I fell over. I know that you didn't mean to grab my bare arm. I'm sorry for the torture Rogue and I now know you're a good person, 'cos you saved the Jean lady." Lucy said apologetically.
"Kill her…""Hurt her…"
"You can do it…"The voices whispered eagerly. Rogue smiled but the smile was wiped away as Dark Phoenix gathered her flames.
"Crap." Rogue muttered.
**~~**
Rogue: Lucy's nice huh? Hope you remember her, if not then go back to chappy one! Hope you like it! Oh yeah, see that itty-bitty button that says, Submit Review, Go? Push it!
