Disclaimer: The X-Men are the property of Marvel. Golan and Cirrus belong exclusively to Star and are used with permission. Corrinth retains all rights to Ilehana Xavier and Ori. Lamby retains all rights to Blaze.
A/N: This story is a joint work between Lamby and Corrinth, based on Corrinth's X-Men the Movie fanfiction of the same name. Reviews always welcome.
06
Ilehana's eyes rolled upward, then down as her eyelids closed. Logan in that moment he forgot their mini-fight and went to her, one hand catching the laptop before it fell to the floor, the other hand closing on her arm and guiding her to a chair. She'd gone pale, and combined with the haunted look on her face she might almost have been a ghost. When she opened her eyes again she felt it was like waking from a dream. The room was misty and unfocused, the only thing she could hear, see or feel was Logan. She reached up and hugged him to her momentarily. "Forgive me." The words were so quiet that only he could here them.
"Nothin' to forgive." He answered softly. "You okay, babe?"
"Yeah." Suddenly, the rest of the room came back into her world and she noticed how concerned they all seemed. She cleared her throat and squared her shoulders evenly. "I'm fine, Logan, really. Blaze, would you set up the laptop please?"
"Of course." Blaze answered quickly. Ori had moved to sit by Ilehana's knee, his telepathic abilities helping to steady her powers once more. She sighed and shook her head. The time was coming, that much was for sure, this was getting harder and harder to control. If only...
#Wishing for him to be here will only make it worse. You must concentrate. # Ori admonished wolfishly. She knew he was right, but there had been something about that the voice that had spoken to her. Could it have been him? Could her father have spoken to her from wherever Mystique had taken him, not matter what she had done to him to quash his telepathic powers? #Concentrate! # Ori boomed in her head, a powerful remonstration, and Ilehana brought her mind's ramblings under control. Grateful for Ori's ever-calming presence, her hand rested idly between his ears as she began to explain.
"I was a child when I first learned of the Guardians." She began, "Although I didn't realise it at the time. I was plagued by nightmares of beings that exuded power, revelled in their abilities. They seemed so evil, so cruel, but as time went on, I began to realise that they were behaving much in the way we do; they beat down those who would do harm in the world. I suffered the nightmares for years, on and off. I hated them, because no matter where I went, or what I did, they followed. It wasn't until I was twelve, when I started travelling around with my high school classes, that they went away. But instead of nightmares, I started feeling a pull, like I was being drawn somewhere, like a wolf to a kill."
#This tale touches even me, pack-sister. # Ori smiled in her head as Ilehana took a shaky breath.
"I followed these feelings for years, I was taken to the farthest flung corners of every continent, to peoples so ancient that they are no longer even recognised. Everywhere I went, I found something; tiny snippets of information, sometimes phrases, sometimes just single words. Eventually I found all the pieces to the puzzle, along with Mystique, although I was too blinded by my powers to realise it." Using the laptop, she showed them pictures of various areas and writings as she went along.
"But what does this tale have to do with Mystique and her new clan abducting the Professor?" Blaze asked, a little confused. "Or with us?"
"I believe Mystique is gathering her own Guardians of Destiny. Each Guardian has control of a power, metal, energy, fire, air, earth, thought and water. Or in other words, Colossus, Wanda, Pyro, Quicksilver, Avalanche and Mystique, who manipulates the eye and mind into seeing something that isn't truly there. She must also have someone to fit the power of water. She must think she can use my father as Chosen One, to unlock the Guardian powers for her and her cronies."
"Hang on, please." Nightcrawler begged. "Something isn't making sense here."
"Kurt's right, Vixen." Storm agreed. "We know how you learned of these Guardians, now tell us what you have learned."
"Alright, Storm. I'll start at the beginning." Ilehana's tone was patient, combined with the smallest hint of pride. "As the legends tell, it began in darkness, before the universe and even time itself existed...
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"Undefended, the Earth descended further into darkness, and would continue to fall until such time as the legends should be reborn..." Ilehana took a moment to see the awe inspired into her comrades. "The legends tell that those who are destined to be Guardians shall come together at the appropriate time, along with three Witnesses - those who shall oversee the process. Then there is the Key, whose power is designed to release the power of the Guardians. And there is one other, whose official title is Chosen One."
"And his function? Why does it have to be the Professor?" Scott asked. Something was going unsaid here. Why was Blaze so incredulous? Storm looked uncomfortable too... Scott wondered what he could possibly be missing here...
"I'm not entirely sure." Ilehana offered, but would not look Scott in the eye. She knew, he was sure of it, but she was too afraid to admit whatever it was.
"Wait a minute." Logan reached for her hand. "You've got some hair-brained idea that some of us are these Guardians, haven't you?"
"Well..."
"He's right, isn't he?" Storm sounded like she was caught in a snare, with her oxygen supply being cut off. "Look at us - Bobby is Water, Golan is Earth, Blaze is Fire, Scott is Energy, you or Jean could be Thought, I'm... I'm Air I suppose...No! Not again! I won't be manipulated again!"
And with that the one who had once been called a goddess by her people got up and backed away from the table, her face caught in a similar expression to a rabbit in a car's headlights, a terrified awe. Ilehana could see Storm was having trouble keeping herself and her power under control, before she turned and ran from the room. Then there was silence.
"This has been a lot to take in." Vixen offered quietly. "I suggest we leave it for now. Dismissed." And she turned her chair away from them all so that they could not see the disappointment on her face.