Shout outs:
Wen1: The continuation is right here and it's the second to last chapter. And I know you're such a Jott fan, so I hope you enjoyed this bit. The last chapter will be an epilogue and have some Jott fluff too.
Disclaimer: I don't own X-men Evolution. I still like it though.
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Scott Summers stood tall in his tattered uniform and cracked visor, looking up as his redheaded angel fell down towards him. With a quick couple of steps, he softly caught her in his strong arms while showing a look of relief. Without a word, he looked down at her blank face, the face that he always dreamed of during his sleep. A few red tresses that hung over face covered her soft skin and her closed emerald eyes. Scott brushed them to the side, carefully pulling Jean closer as he looked at her with great emotion. The temptation to jump for joy that she was okay or the thought of kissing her right then and there stuck Scott. Nevertheless, he withheld, simply basking in her beauty that he cherished so much.
"Scott," the name escaped her lips softly, her eyes still closed and her head still resting against his chest.
"Jean," replied Scott sincerely, as if he was on the verge on collapsing. Her eyes blinked open a little, revealing the green crystals in her eyes. A soft hand touched his sweat cheek, as a very simple smile showed up on Jean's face.
"Help me please," she asked him quietly with in a whisper. Scott simply nodded in his awestruck form, still watching Jean closely. Then he started to feel a strange sensation that surged through him. He suddenly felt weak and collapsed onto his knees while drawing Jean closer. Her eyes closed as her head tilted against Scott. One long arm wrapped around his broad back, and hugged him.
The other mutants watched in silence, despite the still raging conditions around them. A gathering of phoenix energy formed around Scott and Jean, causing the others to fear that the Phoenix was back. However, the energy simply grew more with each passing second, enveloping the couple within the dome. Kitty, Kurt, and Rogue realized what was happening and knew they needed to save their friends. Due to the absorption, Rogue had some idea how to stop it, and instructed Kitty and Kurt.
"Kitty, you phase us into that dome over Scott and Jean. Kurt, you teleport us right when we get over them. Both of you stay with your concentration, and Ah'll see if Ah can keep out ride under control."
The other two nodded, and as everyone behind them watched, the trio took off into a jog toward the dome. The bridge started to shake and come apart around them, but all they did was lock arms together and speed up their pace. Just as they reached a gap in the bridge, the three mutants hurdled into the air while a telekinetic force around them started putting the pressure on. With her utmost concentration, Kitty phased her and her two friends through it, as well as into the cosmic waves beating out of the dome. They were almost floating as the drifted through the sea of flames, not even touched by the telepathic power around them. Kitty struggled more, almost about to lose it, but they finally reached close enough. Kurt ported as Rogue had instructed him, while she used what remained of her absorbed power to complete the task. A wave of flames engulfed them, but only smoke and the smell of brimstone remained. They had done it.
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Only silence remained ringing in Scott Summers ears.
Rising to his feet slowly, Scott noticed that he was not wearing his uniform, which was instead replaced by baggy dark blue jeans and a tight black muscle shirt. But there was something more shocking that Scott noticed, feeling stupid that it hadn't been the first thing he'd noticed.
There was no red.
Scott touched his face, moving his fingers around the place where his visor or his shades would be. There was nothing covering his eyes. Yet, there were no demolishing blasts or optic battering rams. Even his normal sight had returned. And for once in his teenage years, Scott actually felt completely normal. It took him awhile though, to remember he wasn't. Scott Summers was locked in a battle with a cosmic being, fighting to save the woman he loved dearly, as well as the world around him. There was no denying that. Sadly, his crimson haired cherub was nowhere in sight. In fact, Scott was all alone, trapped in a place that only had colorful streams of energy that slowly passed around him.
A sudden cry for help caused him to stir, looking every which way quickly. Off in the distance and barely seeable, Jean Grey lie on the unseen ground; calling out for help in an oddly calm voice.
"JEAN!!" Scott bellowed at her cries, and dashed at his fastest speed toward her. After seconds it seemed like she was getting farther away or Scott wasn't moving at all. But he continued, pumping his arms and legs and pushing himself more and more.
"Scott!"
A myriad of voices screeched, none hardly even recognizable to the determined teen. "Scott!" his name was screamed again, but this time he could define three voices. Then something toppled onto him, knocking him right onto his chest.
Scott scrambled quickly, pushing things out of the way while trying to scamper up to his feet in a hurry. However, Jean Grey seemed to be drifting farther and farther until she could not be seen anymore.
"JEAN!!" Scott screamed again, this time more distressingly. All he could think of was chasing her fading form forever, until two arms wrapped around his each of his bare arms, while two others wrapped around his chest from behind. Scott struggled relentlessly, until finally he collapsed onto his knees in tears. Ruby tears.
The optic energy burned his eyes, until the tears expanded into waterfalls. Scott shot up, still on his knees and with his upper body bent back. His head leaned backwards, and the ruby energy poured from his eyes like a deadly river, lightning up the nonexistent sky. It only lasted for a second, before the energy disappeared from Scott's eyes and left him fatigued. He dropped onto his side, breathing heavily.
Pale fingers found their way across his cheek, then slowly sliding down his bare and sweaty arm while giving it a reassuring squeeze. Scott turned around, confused, and gaped at what he found out. Rogue rested on her knees, with a twisted expression of utter delight mixed with an old horror. But the fact that her bare pale fingers were touching his tanned bare arm baffled Scott. Tears were streaming down Rogue's cheeks.
Scott's gaze shifted past her, noticing Kitty Pryde and Kurt Wagner kneeling down as well, with a few tears gracing their cheeks. With a new sensed of bafflement, Scott started to figure out what was going on. As he put the pieces together, the other three spoke their part each.
"Jean always told me she'd lent meh this outfit when Ah learn to control mah powers," whispered Rogue, as Scott found her wearing a purple top with strings wrapping over her bare shoulders and arms. In bold white letters across the front read "I LOVE". There were also no gloves covering Rogue's hands.
"Jean always told me how much she loved this shirt. She also told me how much she wanted for me to feel like a normal teen." Kurt stated, wearing a white Tee shirt over a long sleeve black one that read, "Mutants are my Friends. Deal with it." Kurt's wrists were bare, enclosed by no holowatch. However, his skin was white, he had no blue fur, and there was no tail swishing behind him.
"Jean always told me she'd help me pick my first dress for my first prom night with Lance." Kitty added quietly, wearing a midnight blue dress that hung down her waist like a long skirt with flecks of sparkles on. Her hair was tied up, but her bangs still hung in front of her cheeks. A small necklace with the initials "KPLA" danced between her fingers as she played with it.
The other three looked at Scott, waiting to hear his explanation for his change.
"Jean always said that this outfit was her favorite one that I would wear. And she always said she would wait for the day when I would not see red." Scott finally declared, blinking his eyes a couple of times for emphasis.
The four friends stared at each other silently, all feeling down. Another sensation snuck up on them, as the world around them shifted into a marvelous scene that baffled them greatly.
They were all standing on a small island right next to the shore. The Xavier mansion was off in the distance atop the cliff. The four teens looked around at the scene, feeling a strong sense of serenity. The sky was blue with a few wispy clouds. The air was cool and calm, as well as the ocean water. Kitty glanced at a rock and smiled with delight. A tap on the shoulder brought Scott's attention to the rock as well. His face lit up soundly.
"SS loves JG" was carved on the rock in bold letters. Everything seemed so peaceful.
Almost as quick as it appeared, the scene changed just as fast. The sky darkened, now crowded with clouds. A gusty wind picked up with a light rain. The ocean water swept into powerful and choppy waves, as the rock disappeared under the rough waters.
Cosmic flames danced in the sky before coming together at the sound of an immortal screech. An arc of golden and orange glow ascended through the sky, followed by a flash of energy. The flames constructed two wings, a body, and a head. After a minute of awestruck staring, the four X-men were faced to face with the cosmic entity known as the Phoenix. The bird in myths known to rise from the ashes soared high above them, then slowly descended until it was only about ten feet from the sea.
Having not noticed the other gathering of energy behind them, the four teens spun around in a surprised manner. A faded and transparent form of Jean Grey floated in the air; looking like a replica of the time Jean had lost control of her power. The translucent red locks flapped wildly, as a look of strain appeared on her face.
Then, off a little past the faded Jean, the real Jean Grey, still dressed in her Phoenix garbed, lay on the island shore. Before any of her friends could move, the Phoenix descended in front of the transparent Jean, barring the X-men's path. Three parts of Jean Grey were now in separation.
"What is it you want Phoenix?!!" Scott demanded angrily in fury. The powerful creatures reply was soft yet demanding.
"Show me what true love means. Do you think it can prevail over the Phoenix?"
Scott stepped forward defiantly, ready for whatever was coming his way. "Hit me with whatever you got, as long as you just leave Jean. Our bond his strong than anything your flames can forge or destroy."
A river of cosmic energy flooded over Scott Summers, but he stood his ground. The intensity of the concentrated power flowed over Scott. His shirt ripped apart over his stomach, and then over his shoulder. As the separated area of the back of his muscle shirt flapped wildly, the bottom half of one of his pant legs tore off. A second later, his hair started to singe. Nevertheless, Scott stood strong, only slowly drooping a little. The rip over his abs started to tear more while it continued up the front of his chest, baring more of his muscular upper body and making it more susceptible to scalding. His bare arms and face were already feeling the immense heat. Hardly noticed, Scott's eyes glowed a tint of crimson.
Kitty rushed forward to help her friend, phasing through the downpour of cosmic flames. Despite the strength of the attack, she could still phase herself through. Only then did the psionic effects of the flames affect her, making it much harder to keep her state of intangibility. Her hands reached out and grasped Scott broad shoulders, rending him intangible as well. It allowed Scott enough recovery time to fire of a beam of optic energy that tore through the cosmic waves and slammed into the Phoenix. The beam shimmered brightly, as Scott kept up the force.
Kurt and Rogue disappeared from behind them and reappeared with a bamf, just in front of the two Jeans. There was a current of telekinesis between the two Jeans, which knocked Kurt into an out of control spiral through the air. Rogue however, still caught within the telekinetic cluster, found herself almost pinned against herself while trapped in the air only feet from the two Jean Grey mutants. With a little concentration her powers could activate on their own, but as of the moment, her arms length reach would not give her touch over the real Jean or her alternate and transparent replica. With the little time remaining, she had to think up something quickly. Despite the déjà vu like scene, there was a difference from the last time she had to try her hardest to touch Jean Grey for an absorption. At least last time she'd had something to cling to and keep herself steady, but now all that held her was the telekinetic pressure around her that was really starting to hurt. And unlike last time, the situation was not as dire and there was only one Jean Grey that needed to be touched.
Still locked in battle with the Phoenix, Kitty and Scott started to feel the great effects of their fatigue, easily draining them of their energy. But as Scott saw Rogue and how close she was too absorbing the two Jeans together, a new determination settle in deeply. As Kitty's form slumped forward, the tangibility broken, Scott preformed one swift movement, shielding Kitty with his body and strengthening his deadly gaze. The pain fueled him, the anger fueled him, the sadness fueled him. Scott Summers emotions shifted into raw, unbeatable energy that reached a crescendo in a matter of seconds. Seeing red again, he forced himself to exert the utmost energy he had left. The ruby beam overwhelmed the Phoenix, washing over it with great force. Now at the end of his strength, Scott bellowed in his deepest and loudest voice.
THIS IS LOVE!!!!"
Simultaneously, a few yards ahead, Rogue exerted her own determination in the form of defying the force around her and reach the farthest her arms and fingers could possibly stretch. The tips of her fingers touched both Jeans' cheeks, but only for a second. It was enough, instantly knocking Rogue out yet converging the split apart Jean Grey. The faded Jean disappeared in a crimson mist, only seconds before the Phoenix disappeared in golden light with a hint of ash.
The real Jean Grey, fully undivided and fully complete, screamed in agony, sadness, and distraught, as her whole world came crashing down like a broken façade. Though it happened, the disperse of her false entrapment revealed the real world around her, the one where she truly belonged in. A second passed with her four friends near, then, everything that frightened her shattered.
Jean Grey was now finally free.
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A/N: Whew, one chapter left to go. Please review readers and tell me what you think. Please? It would really help and I hope you're enjoying the story.