This time there were no swirls, no sounds, no weird affection of the senses. As DayTripper had promised, the trip was considerably smoother this time around.
As Rogue watched the strange colors formed a single greenish-blue, whirling into a whirlpool of soft light. No, not a whirlpool... a tunnel. It felt cool, and Rogue shivered slightly, but at least she wasn't on the verge of melting or bursting into flames, or turning into a hunk of ice. Rogue landed on both her feet this time, and began walking... towards her destination. She could see it clearly now, at the end. Her home, her world.
She walked at first... then began to run... then leapt off her feet and flew, arms extended, as the darkness became light, and she was home...
"ROGUE!!!"
Jean blinked her eyes, sure that someone was playing tricks on them. There was Rogue but... what on earth had happened to her? Her uniform was torn, burnt, ripped and generally a mess, and her hair was at least several days longer, by her estimate. She looked like a wholly different person.
Not that it would make any difference in a second, as Juggernaut was rearing back his hand to smash her out of existence again. Jean cried out again as the fist descended downwards...
... only to stop, caught by a smaller, black-gloved hand.
No one was more surprised by this than the Juggernaut himself, who was violently thrown back as Rogue leapt up and uppercut him hard in the chin, sending the massive behemoth staggering backwards. That had almost hurt, damnit.
Rogue smirked, hands on her hips. She stood upright, beckoning the Juggernaut on. Growling, Cain obliged her, swinging his fist. She ducked under, moving with inhuman quickness to slam her own fist hard into his gut again, nearly knocking him over. Growling, he clenched both his fists and brought them down hard, but she flipped out of the way... then did something totally unexpected.
She flew!
Rogue swooped up high and came in low, slamming both her fists with full force into Juggernaut, sending him flying to land with a deep impact in the street. Not giving the unstoppable force a chance to recover she swooped in and grabbed his leg. Gritting her teeth, she flew up again, dragging all eighty goddamn tons of his bulk with her, high up into the air.
"Enjoy your flight, Cain!" she shouted, proceeding to whirl her body in a tight cyclone, holding onto his leg... until... she released him, and the Juggernaut howled as he went flying through the air, heading in the general direction of Bayville's bay. Rogue lost sight of him after that. Not that she gave half a damn.
Smiling, she dropped back down, as Jean, Wanda and Sarah watched her in awe. The way she descended, her hair waving in the breeze... definitely didn't look anything like the Rogue they knew and loved (or hated). The big smile plastered onto her face also seemed out of character for the normally sullen goth.
"Wow... that was amazing," said Wanda. "How on earth did you...?"
"It's a long story," replied Rogue with an overly cheerful smile on her face. "A very, very long story. But for now... I am just so glad to be home."
Rogue had immediately returned to the Xavier Institute with Sarah, Jean, and Wanda. There, she'd gone straight to see Professor X, and he in turn had telepathically gathered all those at the Institute so that Rogue need only explain her story once.
And what a story it was. An alternate universe, the stuff of sci-fi movies and superhero comics. Other versions of themselves, in a war with their human friends (well, okay, they weren't very friendly now, but still) and half of them were either dead or had died during Rogue's time there. Scott grimaced as he heard of his alter-self wearing a goatee, receiving some good natured ribbing from Jean on how ugly he'd look like that. Kitty had shivered as her description of the dark Lance, so angry and full of hatred, and then again at the poor fate of the other Kitty. Kurt didn't look much better when he heard about what had happened to his other self either.
When it was all over, only Jamie could think of an appropriate word to describe the tale Rogue had just weaved for them all.
"Wow."
One month later.
"Dear Journal,
I know I haven't had time to write here in what seems like ages, but things have been downright ridiculous here at the Institute. Included in my last entry I wrote down everything that happened to me that happened in the alternate world. Well, now it all is starting to feel like a dream. Or a nightmare. But I try not to focus on the bad anymore. Besides, flying around the Institute is fun.
So is something else I discovered.
I figured it must've been my alternate self who'd given this to me, as it's the only explanation myself, Mr. McCoy and the Professor could come up with. Something happened when we touched one another. It's been absolutely amazing.
I can touch.
I can touch people without hurting them. I can touch, I can hold hands, I can give hugs, I can kiss... though, to be honest I haven't kissed anyone yet. Despite what Bobby Drake will be telling everyone. There's just no one I want to kiss right now. I'm still getting used to all of it. Like the time we all lost our powers, with Trask's nullification device. Just because I can touch doesn't mean I need to. But I'm happy. I feel so... so incredibly normal. Its amazing.
And thus I took personally joy in grabbing each and every pair of gloves I have (quite a few, actually) as well as a number of ugly clothes that had been bought for skin-covering purposes rather than fashion, and hauling them off to good will. That's the main reason I haven't been writing here in so long, I've been too gosh darn happy.
Let's see, what's happened since last I wrote here. Magneto dropped by for a brief visit, helped train some of the new recruits. I think he's finally decided not to pursue the concept of war against humanity. Which is a relief, since now the Professor can more easily argue with the world nations that mutants are not dangerous and that they deserve the same rights as everybody else. That'll be a relief.
Piotr finally came here, deciding to give the Institute a shot. His little sister Ilyana is living with some relatives in southern Russia, and now that she's safe and happy he's decided to come here and help us fight for what's good and right and all. I knew he couldn't be that bad, working for Magneto. Even before I absorbed him. What else? Bobby and Jubilee broke up, couldn't quite get details, as if I'm a gossip-monger anyway. But they're still good friends, near as I can tell. Spring Break's coming up, everyone's planning to head home, though Scott's heading home with Jean to meet her parents. Go figure. I'm heading home to see Irene.
Oh right, almost forgot. I finally found Carol. Logan helped do some digging, and finally managed to find her. She fell into a coma about three years ago, something about an accident, and is now at St. Mary's hospital in upstate New York. Angel helped find her. So I paid her a visit. I kinda owe it to her, ya know? Or at least, the Carol in my head. I brought her some nice lilacs. And when I was leaving I swear I saw her smile. But maybe it was just my mind playing tricks on me.
And now I gotta go, the Cajun offered to take me on a date to the movies tonight, and before I knew it we had a small gathering going. Us, Sam and Rahne (who are still in denial that it's a date) and Tabby and Amara, on their first official outing.
I'm just so happy. I hope the good times never end."
Author's Notes:
And so ends 'Annihilation,' the pride and joy of Rurouni Tyriel. I have even managed to surpass 'Nullification.' Now, on to 'Graduation!' Bigger and better! First of all, before anyone complains, I know Juggernaut is stronger than Marvel-enhanced-Rogue. He was caught off guard and wasn't using his full strength in the fight above. Next time they dance, the outcome may be different. Rogue absorbed herself, and now can touch. Inspired against by RoguesKnight's story and it's a much better solution than one of the other three ways most ff.net writers have Rogue learn to control her powers (A. Out of the Blue, B. Scientific Breakthrough or C. After some random Rogue power surge.) Rogue's journal entry is to bring things up to pass, tie up some loose ends, and of course prep for the upcoming 'Graduation' story. Also includes one scene from the future glimpse in 'Ascension.' Magneto training the new recruits. Brief, I know, but at least I'm sticking to what was seen in Evo.
DoubleL27: Bayville is at least a fair sized city (based on what we've seen of it) and really, how many mutants world wide could there be, after a genocidal war? Nation, city-state, call it what you will. And yes I know, I have betrayed my Scott/Rogue supporters. Damn me. As for Rogue's powers, see above. Good, ne?
Risty: Well fourteen that we saw, remember a lot of 'em died before Rogue arrived. Plus all those humans. That fleet alone must've put it into the hundreds. And yeah, I couldn't resist that little jab at Jean, if it's only her AU counterpart. And yes, yes I do think of everything. Part of my mutant powers.
ViciousAssassin: Always good to not hide in fear. If more people realized that nobody wanted to fight, we'd all be much happier off. But, ah well. Some day. Hope you enjoyed what happened Rogue after she returned to her own dimension. Was it good?
Sandoz: I hear comic Kitty had to have some help for that, but yeah… someday. For now, does it really matter that they can't touch, as long as they're together? Think about it. And yes I know I threw poor Scott back at Jean again, but at least I made her a semi-vegetable. I'm still plenty mean to her, I think. As for Rogue, does above answer your question?
Rogue14: Its just sweet, its not like he sliced it from her dead body. She (AU Rogue) gave it to him ages ago, before she was lost in that fight! Oh well, glad you're enjoying yourself at least. More coming, quick as can be, promise. But I need a break after this to refresh my writing skills.
Star-of-chaos: Whadja think I was gonna do, send Rogue to a thousand alternate dimensions like that cancelled Sliders show? That was a damn show, by the way, but that's the beside the point. No, story over. On to next one. And sure I'm a Titan fan. And League fan too. I think my stories after Graduation will be in those genres.
Spectra: Wow, that's a mouthful. Okay, I think I got your statement, I just hope you understand what happened with Rogue and her powers. Thankie for cookie, always. Almost as delicious as reviews. Mmmmmmm. Stick around for more of my other stories to come.
Todd fan: I definitely don't want to know now. Just don't hurt my precious X23. If you do, I swear I will unleash her unholy brethren, X24 and X25, to hurt you. X24: He ain't kiddin.' X25: licks her adamantium claws in an unsettling manner.
X0001: Its not exactly happy, loving peace, but its I-won't-kill-you-if-you-won't-kill me kinda peace. If we ever re-visited this particular alternate universe (doubtful) we might see how certain people on both sides might try to start the war up again.
Nessie6: That happy enough for ya? The story starts with Rogue and ends with Rogue, and finally even she's managed to put it all behind her. And yeah, even in AU's I'm still sticking mostly to the main couples of my stories.
Comet-hime: Hehe, of course, I'm so glad you enjoyed mother-nature Willow. She's so much nice than wrath-of-nature Willow. And yeah, decided to spare Masque. I mean, she's gotta be rather hard to take down, all things considered. With those freaky mind powers and all. And am I so darn predictable? Darnit, I must find a way to break out of these darn habits I have when I write.
DaughterofDeath: No! No more chapters for you!.
Princess Myra: Not entirely, oh no. Able to carry on a conversation and such. Just not her gloriously brilliant self from Evo. Almost… child-like. Was my ending truly happy, for both worlds? I'd like to think it was.