Disclaimer: I do not own the Xmen….. I would be so freaking rich.. Do I look rich to you?? Huh Huh?? Huh?? I don't hear any answers!… Oh and I don't own the songs either… :p
Hey I am back!!
Thanks to:
GreenFairyGirl88: Sorry for making you wait so long. I'm such a naughty child. Do not panic, new chapters should be coming faster.
EnchantedLight: Thank you. *blushes* I think I'll give you a cookie! *hands you a cookie*
Recap: Rogue and Spike are about to fight Aspen and Aurora. Essex decides to shift the room to fit their fighting needs. *** Remember I told you that Rogue and the others have control over the elements***
Now on with the story. . . WARNING: THIS CHAPTER MAY NOT BE EASY TO UNDERSTAND AT FIRST, BUT IT WILL BE EXPLAINED LATER ON. PLUS IT ALWAYS HELPS TO REVIEW THE PREVIOUS CHAPTERS TO HELP EXPLAIN WHAT HAS HAPPENED!! A PORTION OF THE PROPHECY IS DISPLAYED IN THIS CHAPTER!!
The Hurt of the Past and the Love of another
Chapter 34: Death's Embrace
" I kan reed."
~RoguesHeart~
Rogue watched as the arena slowly began to dissipate from her view. Colors swirled around her head, causing for her to feel an acute sense of nausea to sweep over her. Spike placed his hand upon her shoulder, to steady his own self.
Tints of various colors whipped around in all directions, giving both Aurora and Aspen the impression that they were spinning. Aurora shut her eyes tight, in a desperate attempt to calm the queasiness that was swooshing around in her stomach. Aspen stood still next to her, his sapphire eyes gazing calmly around him. Noticing his sister's distress, he smirked.
' Serves her right, she shouldn't have gotten so weak.'
Abruptly the colors stopped shifting around them, much to the relief of all the fighters.
Spike observed their new surroundings. They were standing inside of what seemed to be a ware house. By the looks of it, a condemned warehouse. Rogue coughed slightly at the dust that blew into their face as their bodies settled into the new environment.
Rogue's emerald eyes caught sight of Aurora on the other side of the building, her sleek form leaning against a railing, as she attempted to cough up the dust that had reached into her lungs. Aspen stared at her with disgust, his mouth turned upward in a scowl.
Rogue continued to watch Aurora, concern written in her face. Aurora pulled up her watery lavender eyes to meet hers. Never before had Rogue felt such hate directed towards her. Recoiling back, Rogue staggered into Spike.
' Rogue, what's de matter?'
Rogue shook her head, in attempt to shake the feeling of abhorrence that came to rest itself in her soul.
' It's Aurora. . . She. . '
Spike nodded his head at Rogue.
' Ah've noticed, for some reason. . . Aurora seems t' hate you.'
Rogue stared up at her brother.
' Why?'
Spike mentally shrugged.
' Ah don't have de slightest clue. We had left her in New Zealand t' take care of her child. As a matter of fact, ah don't even know how she got 'ere.'
Rogue frowned darkly. But before she could respond, she found herself smashing hard into a wall. Wincing, Rogue glanced up at her attacker.
Once more, lavender eyes met green as Rogue found herself being pulled up by her hair. Rogue let out a sharp cry of pain, as she felt her hair being ripped from her skull.
Out of impulse, Rogue delivered an upper cut blow to her assailant. Aurora flew backwards, and slammed into a railing.
Rogue rubbed her sore spot carefully, checking if she had suffered major hair loss. Pleased that it was only a few strands, she glared over at Aurora's slumped over body.
" What the hell did ya do that for Aurora?"
Aurora's head snapped up, anger radiating off her petite form.
" You are lucky that I did not do worst, but there is still a chance for that."
Rogue leapt to the side, carefully dodging Aurora as she lunged at her.
" What's your problem Aurora?"
Aurora ignored her cry, and proceeded to attack her. Bending backwards, she attempted to deliver a heel kick to Rogue's side, but was blocked by Rogue's quick reflexes, and she found herself flat on her back on the floor.
Rogue leaned over her, emerald eyes flaring angrily.
" Ah'm only goin' t' ask ya one more time Aurora. . What is wrong with ya, and why are ya attacking me?"
Aurora snarled and kicked herself up into a standing position.
" You want to know why Rogue?" she yelled loudly.
Aurora leaned down and picked up a rusted pole and flipped it around in her hands.
" I'll show you!"
Expertly spinning the pole in her hand, she launched herself at Rogue. Rogue side stepped out of the way, and barely avoided getting smacked down by the metal pole.
Rogue. . . Fight. . . . . Fight. . . . . We'll help you. . . . Fight. . . . . Fight. . . . .
Rogue shook her head in an attempt to shake the voices from her head.
' No not this time.'
Rogue back flipped away from Aurora, landing on a higher up metal railing. Aurora let out a scream of frustration, and leapt up to follow her.
* * * * * *
Spike matched fist to fist with Aspen as they exchanged blows. The ground trembled beneath them as they both crashed their forces against each other.
Aspen's body shook with adrenaline as he leapt away to avoid one of Spike's kicks. Instead, he landed a low blow to Spike's diaphragm by shoving his steel toed boot into his abdomen.
Spike staggered backwards, attempting to catch his breath. Aspen took this moment to his advantage as he delivered a roundhouse kick to Spike's slumped form.
Pain shot up through Spike's jaw, as Aspen's heel connected with his chin. His body flew backwards, soaring soundly through the air, until he through his weight down, so he could land in a perfect back flip upon the cool floor (a/n: think of the Matrix).
Rage began to build up in his chest. Spike's eyes flared red for a slight moment as he watched Aspen come towards him again, hoping to land another critical blow.
Kill him. . . . Kill. . . . Destroy. . . . Fight. . . . Fight. . . Kill. . . We'll help you. . . Kill . . .
Spike smirked softly to himself as he heard the familiar ringing of voices in his mind.
' And ah thought ah got rid of them. . '
Twisting around Aspen, he drop kicked the Britain hard in his face. Landing his heel into the man's nose, crushing it.
Kill him. . . . Kill. . . . . Kill. . . . Eliminate him. . . . Kill them all. . . . . Kill. . . .
Aspen grasped his nose, as the blood began to rush down his face. A surge of pleasure rushed into Spike's body, making him shudder.
Aspen looked at the crimson liquid that covered his hands, his mind was plagued with emotions that ranged from joy to utter rage. Bringing his hand to his mouth, he slowly began to lick it away.
Spike watched with a derivative pleasure, as the initial shock of what he had just done finally came to reality for Aspen. He watched as the emotions played across his face.
Aspen tilted his head to the side, his sapphire eyes glowing fiercely.
" Nice hit, unfortunately that will be the last one." he hissed out slowly.
Spike waggled his index finger in front of Aspen's face.
" Ah sincerely doubt that Ass Pen."
Aspen growled, rage shaking his body uncontrollably.
" I'll show you not to undermine me!"
***** ******* ************ ******** ********* ******* *********
Rogue leapt down from the railing as the sound of the pole clanging upon the metal grew louder.
Do not run Rogue. . . Let me fight her. . . . Fight her. . . Fight her. . .
' Shut up.' she hissed.
Lunging down to the ground, Rogue landed so softly that it would've made Remy jealous. Glancing around her new surroundings, she noticed that she was in some kind of coal bend. Firey embers laid in the middle of the warehouse floor. Around it laid various strips of metal laced with shiny exterior of coal sheerings.
' Perfect.'
Rogue didn't want to hurt Aurora. After all she was her sister, but there was something seriously wrong with her. If she didn't fight back soon, she would find herself either clobbered to death or impaled by an old rusted pole.
Now Rogue was a passive person at most parts. But she didn't exactly take getting her ass kicked to well.
Rogue clenched her fist determinably. This time, she wasn't going to just submit to the fate striker in her mind. She would only use that when she joined forces with her brother. Only then could she be controlled.
No one can control me Rogue. . . . No one. . . . No use fighting me Rogue. . . Rogue. . .
" Shit." she whispered darkly.
The voices were echoing louder in her mind. And that could only mean one thing. Her brother had already submitted to them and were using them to help him fight Aspen.
A loud clanging noise sounded out behind her. Rogue whipped around to find a disheveled Aurora. Her lavender eyes glaring furiously, her silver hair floating lifelessly in the air, as the fire embers reflected off her white leather suit.
" Double Shit."
Aurora casted a somewhat satanic smile, as she lunged over at Rogue.
Revenge. . . Pay her back for what she has done to you. . . . . Revenge. . . . Revenge. . .
Aurora's body pulsated as the voices in her head began to grow louder. Her eyes burned with passionate hatred, as she hefted her pole to connect with Rogue's head.
Rogue had no clue why she hadn't seen that move coming. All she could comprehend was that one moment Aurora was moving at regular speed and the next she had sped up so fast that not even Pietro could have caught up with her.
The pole hit her head with a sickening thud. Flashes of hot red pain darted across her eyes, her head throbbed with an agonizing beat as her body crashed into the concrete floor. She could barely feel as her hand came to grip her skull, she didn't even hear as she opened her mouth to scream out in anguish.
Payback. . . . Fight her. . . Fight her. . . .let me fight her Rogue. . . Fight her. . . . Please. .
The last word came in a silent plea.
Rogue closed her eyes from the pain, and felt herself retreating into the dark recesses of her mind. There, chained up on a brick wall was the fate striker. Her ancient eyes stared back at Rogue's emerald ones.
Please Rogue. . . You must let me help you. . .
Rogue shook her head.
" No, you'll hurt her. .. "
The Fate Strike lifted her head wearily.
Your heart is what keeps you from winning Rogue. . . . It's either her or you. . . .
Rogue slumped down into the darkness of her mind.
" Ah can't let you fight her. . "
The chains that were wrapped around the fate striker's arms, began to loosen. With a quick jerk, the Fate Striker managed to pull herself from the brick wall.
Rogue curled herself into a small ball. Her eyes downcast, her auburn hair grew longer and surrounded her body as she laid alone.
The Fate Striker walked slowly over to Rogue, and took her petite form into hers.
Rogue. . . You must remember. . . I am a part of you. . . . You are me as I am you. . .
Rogue whimpered softly as scenes of all the people she had killed flashed across her mind.
" But. . . "
No buts Rogue. . .We must become one. . .
Rogue's psyche shook her head reluctantly. The Fate Striker flashed her a motherly smile, as she wrapped her arms around Rogue's form. A blinding flash of light surrounded them both, as Rogue's form began to disappear.
We are now one. . .
The Fate Striker turned, to take in the damage that had come to her vessel.
Time to change things.
Rogue's eyes fluttered open slowly. As her blurred vision began to clear, she saw two eyes glaring down at her.
" Nice to see that you have joined the land of the living."
Rogue managed to snap out of her reverie, and attempted to jerk her body upwards. But found herself slamming back down upon the ground a white boot against her chest.
" Nuh Uh, We wouldn't want you to be doing that now would we Roguey. . "
Ignoring the throbbing in her head, Rogue glared at her attacker.
" Aurora. . . " she hissed.
Aurora smiled evilly, her lavender eyes flickered with amber yellow tints.
" Payback's a bitch…"
Rogue's eyes narrowed.
" What are ya talking about?"
Aurora leaned down close to her face.
" You will pay."
Aurora lifted her hand to smack her hard across the face, but her hand was stopped. Whipping around, Aurora found herself face to face with another pair of emerald eyes.
Spike snarled at her, his face contorted with a mixture of hate and contempt.
" Ah wouldn't do that if ah were you, sugah."
Aurora opened her mouth to reply but was cut short by a quick blow to her mouth. She grabbed her mouth as she tasted the coppery liquid as it filled her mouth. Turning her head, she spit it out and lifted her fist to attack him, suddenly she found herself flying backwards. Her body slammed into a railing behind her and her form fell down at an awkward sprawl.
Spike leaned down and gently pulled Rogue to her feet. Rogue staggered for a moment, her head throbbing.
" You alright, mon soeur?"
Rogue shook her head.
" No."
Her fists were clenched at her side, and her emerald eyes began to glow with rage. In fact her entire body shimmered with a red fury, as she glared over at Aurora's prone body.
Spike placed his hand on Rogue's shoulder. The minute his hand touched her body, his skin began to crackle. Recoiling back, he watched in amazement as Rogue's anger stirred every emotion in his body.
" Rogue?"
She turned slowly to meet his gaze. Her tinted emerald eyes, bled with crimson red as she stared at him.
" Yes, Spike." she spoke coldly.
" What happened?"
Rogue shrugged nonchalantly.
" It seems that Aurora has some kind of hate grudge against me. And because her anger blinded her common sense she decided to strike me. "
As she spoke, Rogue pointed over to the rusted metal pole next to them.
" She struck me with a pole to my head. And that kind of jumbled my thoughts for a slight moment, making me lose control."
Spike nodded his head in comprehension, urging her to continue.
" I agreed to join both of us with the Fate Striker."
Spike nodded slightly and opened his mouth to retort, but cut himself short as he sensed Aspen's presence.
Both Rogue and Spike turned to see an infuriated Aspen. His body trembled with a shimmer of russet. His sapphire eyes laid upon the limp form of Aurora, and his aura seemed to pulsate violently.
" What the bloody hell have you done?!"
Spike shrugged at him, a slow smirk forming on his lips.
" Nothing that Rogue here wouldn't have already done."
Rogue smiled next to him, her eyes laced with venomous revulsion.
Aspen ran over to his sister and leaned over her. His mind reeling with the voices in his mind.
Revenge. . . Betrayal. . . Kill them. . . Traitors. . . .traitors. . . Kill them. . .
Aurora moaned lightly as she felt her brother turn her body over. The voices in her mind growing louder.
You're not going to let them get away with that are you. . . .Kill them. . . Kill her. . . Kill. . . .
Aurora sat up slowly, letting all the scenes of before flash across her mind. The kidnapping of her baby, the plea of her baby boy as it screamed for his mother's help. The betrayal of Nivea by what was supposed to be her friend. Now, now they had the nerve to attack her. They had the medicated gaul to attack her. As if it was her own fault that they were nothing but filthy traitors.
Kill her. . . Make them pay. . . Make them all pay. . . Pay. . . Kill them. ..
Her body began to pulsate angrily as her rage began to build. Her lavender eyes glowed fiercely and amber waves of energy flowed from her petite frame. Her eyes met with sapphire ones as she pulled herself off. He nodded at her, a silent gesture to confirm their next attack. The final attack. The one that would decide their fates from then on out.
Both stood next to each other, their auras pulsating in an exact rhythm. Rogue and Spike glanced at each other in silent comprehension, then turned to watch as Aspen and Aurora began their final attack.
Rogue and Spike closed their eyes simultaneously. Warmth flowed through their bodies, as they pressured their auras out. They could feel as each molecule pulled in and out of their energy. The sheer intensity of their auras caused for the room to shift around them, very much like earlier.
Rogue opened her emerald eyes to glare over at Aspen and Aurora. Her once emerald eyes now an extremely light green. Blood tinged the outer linings of her eyeball and ran down her face like tears. Her teeth shone brightly as her canines began to extend downwards. Her hair flew into the air, flowing around her face as if she was possessed. Her mouth curled into a sadistic smile as she watched their reactions. Her shoulders burned like fire, as the tattoos began to rupture. They yearned for blood, the blood of those unfaithful, unworthy to walk the plane of existence amongst pure creatures.
A low growl escaped from Spike's lips as he watched with underlying pleasure as Aspen's eyes began to widen at Spike's appearance. His hair, whipped across his face blending in with the white strands that fell across his forehead. His eyes glowed a precocious olive green tinted with golden streaks. The whites of his teeth reflected off the fire embers, that was so conveniently placed in between them. His body ached for the taste of flesh again, the sound of agonizing screams like music to his ears.
Aurora growled low in her throat at the spectacle before her. They were outmatched skill wise and powers alike. But she wouldn't run away, she never would.
Closing her eyes, she formed her aura into the shape of daggers and hurled them over at Rogue.
The daggers, sharp and piercing as the best cut knife, soared through the air with precision and ease but was stopped dead short as it connected with Rogue's aura wall. Instead they flew around her, circling her body. They cut the air around her, their swooshing ringing off the wall.
Spike's smirk grew wider when he felt the ground tremble beneath him. Dagger stalagmites shot up from the ground and attempted to impale his torso. Yet, Spike remained unmoved, he stretched out his aura and shattered them.
Rogue and Spike set out another wave of their aura, making the room shift even more. Vast winds whipped around their body, giving the impression that they were somehow hovering above ground. Their eyes stared at Aspen and Aurora coldly.
The burning on Rogue's shoulders, began to dig into her skin. Creating pools of blood around her feet, they called for a reckoning.
Rogue lifted her head up, her eyes scanning the heavens above her. Only she could see the darting streaks of amber flashing above her. Spike looked down below them, he watched as crimson red dye pooled around their bodies, pulling them under.
Time to weigh your sins. . .
Both Rogue and Spike spoke in unison. Their monotonous tones echoing into their opponents minds.
Aurora watched in horror as a two huge vipers wrapped themselves around the base of Rogue's body. They slithered around her, hissing as their scarlet eyes connected to meet with their next targets. Rogue's aura swirled with colors blending in with crimson red and verdant green. Her eyes stared out blankly at them, piercing icily into their souls.
The vipers hissed defiantly and slithered from Rogue's body and slid over to Spike's broad shoulders. They wrapped around his throat and leaned their heads upwards. A soft voice illuminated through the vast noise of winds.
A verdict has been made. . .
Spike closed his eyes as he felt their reptilian skin slide against his flesh. A burning warmth flowed through his body, his hands itched with the yearning to kill. He could feel as the verdict echoed through his mind repeatedly.
He snapped his eyes open, a wry smirk placed across his face. Dark splays of light flashed across Spike's aura, emitting a blackened shadow over his face.
You have been judged. . . Prepare for the consequences. .
Aspen watched in horror as his aura dissipated before him. Spike's continued to tinge with blackness, and he had once more closed his eyes. Glancing over at Rogue, he found himself caught in her heartless stare. Her eyes pierced into his mind, activating the voices in his mind. They screamed louder, echoing against the throbbing walls of his mentality. Ripping his gaze away from her frosty eyes, he watched in terror as he saw Spike's eyes slowly open.
They glowed a bright scarlet, and illuminated a portion of his face. The dark aura still flowing around his body. They pulled upon his face, casting a deathly prose around him. His face was darkened despite the furiously glowing eyes and his twisted smile. If anything else, Spike now resembled that of a skeleton's face.
Rogue's body trembled slightly as she felt her brother's aura change. But she did not shake out of fear, she shook out of anticipation. Her blood lust was rapidly increasing and it needed retribution immediately.
Her body shook with crimson red blending with blackness as his aura blended with hers. The verdict repeated in her mind, creating a sense of calm within her.
Goodbye.
Both Spike and Rogue shot out their auras into that of Aurora's and Aspen's. Their bodies shook involuntarily. Seizures enveloping their forms, their auras darted off into various directions, spurting out from time to time.
Rogue watched in sick delight as her blackened aura began to strangle the life out of Aurora. It tightened around her throat, swallowing her in the darkness that was soon to envelop them all. Rogue felt as tears of blood trickled down her pallid cheeks.
Spike gazed at Aspen as he struggled against his choke hold grasp that he held upon him. He watched as Aspen's pupils began to dilate and slowly fade away into a never ending darkness. His body fell limp in Spike's arms, and the last breath he felt leak out of his body floated around in his mind. And probably would continue on from then on out.
I'm sorry father. . .
Rogue stepped over to the strangling Aurora. She watched as the pain flashed across her face, when she noticed Rogue staring down at her. Tears streamed down her face when she saw Rogue lean over her body, very much like she had done with Nivea. Instead of cursing her into death, Rogue leaned down and placed a gentle kiss upon her fore head.
With that, the pain seemed to dissipate from her body. A sense of calm flowed through her, as if nothing was wrong. . As if everything would work out in the end. Not even the pulls of the darkness gathering around the edges of her eyes could pull her away from that sensation of tranquility.
Rogue stood up and walked away from the prone bodies across from her. She stood next to Spike, her hands clenched at her sides. Her aura dissipated and her original features slowly began to form back. Her once blood shot eyes were once more emerald green. The fangs retracted and were once more as they were. She gazed up at her brother, her eyes sending him a silent message.
Our deed is now done. . .purification is now complete…
Spike nodded and allowed for himself to return to his original form. He could feel as the Fate Striker pulled herself from his body and once more settled in the deep recesses of Rogue's mind.
Once more the room swirled with colors. Only this time, they did not disturb them. . The thought of what had just ensued was what plagued their minds.
Rogue and Spike found themselves once more in the arena, surrounded by an ecstatic crowd. Their screams of joy and enlightenment ringing and echoing around the room. Essex stood at his podium once more, his eyes shaded from light. The Master sat at his throne, his clear blue eyes gazing down at them with a new emotion. One would seem to think that it would be pride.
Essex raised his hands to hush the crowd.
" And the winners of the first round are Rogue Star and Spike Spiegel!"
The crowd went wild, their thirst for their blood quenched by the fierceness of the battle but a new yearning was building within them.
Rogue and Spike stared blankly, as four men, holding stretchers ran out into the arena. They picked up the prone forms of Aurora and Aspen and heaved them from the arena floor into the med bay.
Essex once more grasped their attention with the announcements of the next fight that would be soon to take place.
" Our next battle shall be fought in this same arena.. . "
He was once more cut off by the cheering of the audience. But they silenced after a slight glare from the Master.
" It shall consist of these opponents. . "
Essex pulls out a paper from his pocket.
" Remy LeBeau from the Theives Guild.. . "
More cheering from the crowd ensued.
" Paired up with Xman Wolverine. . . "
The cheering of the crowd increased when they heard the name wolverine. They all remembered his exploits outside of the Xmen. He wasn't exactly an angel and he would give them the fight they solely yearned for.
" Versus Juliun Bordereaux and the T.M.A's special operative Cadmus Bolivar!"
The audience erupted into a wild frenzy as they heard the new opponents. But was once more silenced by the Master's glare.
" But that is not all. . . Another battle shall be taking place.. . "
The audience remained silent waiting for Essex's explanation.
" The Pairings shall be: From the BrotherHood of Evil Mutants Wanda Maximoff and Acolyte John Allerdyce versus the T.M.A.'s finest Psylocke and Archangel. Plus the pairings of Merci and Henri LeBeau versus our own Jacques and Akuratsu."
Rogue and Spike glanced at each other. Their face stricken with amusement and fear all at the same time. The new pairings were going to be interesting to fight but very dangerous. Dangerous indeed.
Rogue and Spike headed out of the battlefield and found themselves at the special seatings for the fighters of the Grandiose Tournament. They would remain, only so to help encourage their friends to fight well.
Muwahahahaha!!! A new chapter indeed!! I TOLD YOU I WOULD UPDATE SOONER!!
If you have any confusion about this chapter. Tell me in your reviews. I will be sure to answer them.
Until next time. . . Au Revoir for now. . . .
~RoguesHeart~