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.

13

"What wrong with them?" Bobby asked Golan, indicating to Colossus and Electra stood impassively watching as Logan used his claws to free Xavier and Ilehana helped her father to sit up slowly. Golan shrugged his broad shoulders, not understanding either why these two of Magneto and Mystique's small army hadn't gotten involved in the fight. Ori sat by Colossus' side, alert but un-aggressive as his ears twitched. Obviously the telepathic wolf knew something.

"I think I can explain that." The Professor began, flicking his wheelchair into forward so he could approach Electra and Colossus, Ilehana and Logan shadowing him protectively. "You are hearing things, aren't you?" Electra and Colossus looked at each other, then back at Xavier as they nodded. Charles addressed them as much as the rest of the gathered mutants, "There is a voice in the air, whispering. It calls the Witnesses to be ready. The time for the Guardians to be reborn is here."

A strange look passed over Ilehana's face as she met her father's eyes, so like her own and equally glittering with tears. The time… He knew as well as she did what the time meant for her, the Chosen One. But Charles' soothing voice hid his emotions well as he spoke quietly to her and her alone. "You've done well to get them all here. Are you ready?"

"I'm ready." Ilehana acknowledged. "Just let me say my goodbyes."

"Goodbyes?" Logan choked on the word, but she ignored him, going over to her friends, looking each one in the eye as she addressed them.

"Golan, Bobby… look after each other, and the other students. You X-Men are the future for the whole world, one day that will be clear to you. Tell the others to be strong." Golan and Bobby nodded solemnly, matured at that moment beyond their years.

"Ororo," Ilehana turned to Storm and with great sadness wished she had had the time to get to know the weather goddess a little better. In another life, they could have shared much in common. "Thank you, for trusting me in this, for everything you've done for me." Storm didn't hide the tears that fell, and the temperature in the Temple dropped a little.

"Scott, dear Scott, my brother…" Ilehana could find no words, instead stepping forward to embrace him, feeling his tears mix with her own. He hung onto her with all his strength, to this woman who had welcomed him to the Xavier Mansion, kept him company in a strange place, helped him to think of it as home when he had been young and lost. Eventually Ilehana extracted herself from his grip, managing a weak smile. She turned to her rival, who was a rival no longer. "Jean, please take care of my father, he will need you more than ever now." Jean nodded, unable to speak. Ilehana did not prolong her agony, leaving the young couple for the pair of thieves.

"Gam… Remy, Laura, I hope that, after all this, you will both realise where it is you truly belong." Blaze shook her head, disbelieving, wriggling out from under Gambit's hand on her shoulder to embrace her friend fiercely.

"Don't you dare do this!" The emotional redhead demanded of her flatmate, "You can't…"

"I must." Ilehana separated herself from Blaze as Gambit wrapped his arms around the fire elemental to keep her, or him for that matter, from doing anything foolish. He struggled for something to say to Ilehana, but no words would form. Knowing how he felt, Ilehana smiled and nodded to him. "Gambit, I think the X-Men will find a place for you now."

And then she came to Logan, who by now was fighting hard to retain his confused mix of emotions; anger, sorrow, even fear. He'd almost lost her so many times… and now he really had to say goodbye? It wasn't fair, damn it! He needed her. She was his counterweight, his balance; he loved her for cryin' out loud!

#Logan, you have been everything to me, my love. # She spoke telepathically to give them a little privacy. #If I had any choice in the matter…#

#There's always a choice, damn it! Always! #

#Not here, not now Logan. If I don't do this, I die anyway. This power is killing me; my mind just can't control it. # She touched his cheek tenderly. #Let me leave knowing I've completed my quest. I know you love me, Logan, so set me free. #

She hugged him to her, had the breath crushed out of her as he held her in return, knowing he was trying to capture her scent, the feel of her, then the sight of her to memory. Knowing that this was his way of saying goodbye… Ilehana accepted a sound kiss eagerly from Logan, for once not caring that everyone was watching. It did not last long enough before she pulled away, his fingers brushing her soft cheek.

"Daddy…" Ilehana uttered, breaking eventually from Logan's touch and running across the room to throw herself into her father's arms. Tears fell on all sides then, even the manly Logan and Gambit were noted to wipe their hands across their eyes.

"My baby…" Charles Xavier held his daughter tight to him, his hand stroking her long blonde hair, tears falling from his soulful eyes. "My daughter." Father and daughter remained united for only a moment, a moment neither wanted to end. But finally, she drew away, for if she did not do it then, she might never have the courage to do it at all. As she did, her father spoke gently in her head. #Remember, Ilehana, I will love you always, I am so very, very proud of you………#

#And I you. # She replied, sighing and moving to stand alone, a sacrifice for everything and everyone she believed in, Ilehana Xavier turned to the Witnesses and nodded. "I'm ready now."

"It's time." Xavier, Electra and Colossus murmured together.

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Stood beside the Altar of the Ancients, Ilehana cast one last long, loving look at her friends, knowing that this was the only option but wishing just for a moment that it did not have to be. Gambit stood beside her, her father, Colossus and Electra stood on her other side. The Guardians were upon their rightful symbols, Ori at the back of the hall.

"Here and now…" Colossus' voice boomed out into the silence, not quite aware of where the words were coming from, but knowing they were the right ones.

"At the appointed time…" Electra continued.

"In the appointed place…" Xavier's voice was rich with sadness, but touched with right-ness. No matter how he hated it, this was how it was destined to be.

"We bear Witness to the rebirth of the Guardians of Destiny." All three spoke in perfect unison.

"You sure I gotta do this, Cherie?" Remy asked gently. Eyes fixed on Logan's bowed head, Ilehana nodded just once.

#Trust me, Remy you cannot hurt me. # And she allowed Gambit to take hold of her arm with his bare hands. All around her, orange light shone as Gambit charged her with his explosive power. As he knew he had to, to save himself, he dived away. But there came no explosion, at least not in the conventional sense. Swathed in her powers, only the energy around Ilehana charged, contracting around her and then expanding suddenly in a great shockwave. The hall filled with a burst of bright light, pure white, making everyone shield his or her eyes.

Colour, pure and simple, elegant beyond any shade of paint or fracture of rainbow swathed each of the Guardians in true power. As one, their faces lit up, feeling that everything was right, as it should be. In a ribbon of orange, Blaze smiled, falling passionately into her fire-form, whilst Iceman in a band of blue grinned at the ease in which he became purest ice. Storm, surrounded by yellow sunlight had never felt so empowered and so able to cope with the power, as she lifted her form on the winds to hover feet above the floor. Red energy flowed into Cyclops, making him gasp with the wonder of it. Golan blinked slowly, enjoying the dulcet green tones that made him feel so strong to his core. Violet for the Guardian of Thought, for Jean, as she understood now she was so much stronger than she had ever though she was. And Logan released his claws in his silver-steel surroundings, feeling new strength and adrenaline pumping through him, fighting the sadness and despair he felt; now he felt new, alive…

The Witnesses were not left untouched by the flow of power. They all felt stronger, more complete, whole even though for Xavier something so important was missing. Even Gambit felt stronger than ever before, charging a deck of cards with just a little energy and tossing them into the air where they spat like firecrackers. The mood changed in that moment from one of mourning to one of celebration. A celebration of the rebirth of the Guardians of Destiny, a celebration of all Ilehana Xavier had been and had given. She would never be forgotten…

And watching them all, Vixen-as-wolf smiled. Her job was done, and though she might never again walk amongst them, she was pleased for them all.

#I thought…# Ori was puzzled.

#The texts said I had to give up my human life. That doesn't mean dying, Ori. You and I, we have our own lives now, as wolves as it always should have been. # She trotted over to him, touched her nose to his.

#As is always should have been. # He echoed as they exited the temple, leaving the new Guardians to their celebrations. #I like the sound of that. # And not one of the X-Men saw them leave…