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Chapter 6
Zoicite's return...and hints of fire
Unaware of the events happening in the Great Lakes area, the X-Men and Brotherhood continue on with their lives as if nothing had happened. After the walking of her mind, Amy had remained silent for a couple of days, as she relives all the memories she had of the young man who was a General of the Negaverse.
Wanting to check up on her the two cats are about to when the Professor shakes his head. "She will come to us when she is ready. Right now she is very confused and to her it is not a good feeling."
Luna about to protest is silenced by Artemis. "As much as I would hate to agree with you professor you are right. For Amy to be confused is highly unusual. Still she is young in this lifetime, may I suggest that you enroll her in school? She would like that very much..."
"Agreed Artemis...maybe thinking of something else for a while will clear her head..." The Professor comments with a slight smile. He had assigned her to share a room with Kitty and Rogue and from what he has seen and heard from both young women. It was a good plan. The two had made her smile.
Kitty, with her love of books and Rogue with her no nonsense attitude had opened up the young woman some since the events of the mind merge. Making a call to the Principal of Bayside, he begins making arrangements for the young woman to enroll, as he also makes a mental call to Hank Summers known as Beast.
About twenty minutes later he has finished talking to both individuals and is saying goodbye as the young woman with blue hair walks in.
"Grettings Amy..."
"Greetings Professor Xavier...I heard that you were going to enroll me in school."
"Yes in fact I just got off the phone with the Principal and he agreed."
"Thank you..."
"Do not thank me yet, we will be outfitting you with something Kurt has as well. An image inducer to hide your appearance, I do not know about yours and the others past, but unfortunately, people today will not take too kindly to your blue hair..."
"It is understandable..." She replies, she was startled the first time she had seen Kurt without his image inducer. Hearing him speak about the life he has lead up until the professor found him. It was depressing...she thought about what Serena would have done, and so she just waved it aside as if it was nothing.
Making friends with the German teenager, she talked with him and learned much about the others in the mansion and their skills from Kurt, even though some of it was the same that Kitty and rogue had explained to her. She still after talking with Kurt felt better a little...but still lost in thoughts of a blonde haired general, she stays where she is despite the Professor continuing to work.
Nodding his head, he is about to do something else, when he notices her remaining. "Is there something you wish to talk about?"
"Professor...why?"
"Why Zoicite? Why did you have to remember?"
She nods her head slowly. Despite all her thoughts over the past couple of days she has not been able to answer that question.
"Chibi at first told me it was because he would help to grow stronger and even more powerful. She also told me, that when the time comes the Earth itself could become a barren wasteland, and that he and the other four would be needed to support the Prince."
"That I know..."
"But you know why I think he needed to be brought back? That even I can't answer, but one thing is for certain...maybe it was so that the two of you can have a second chance at happiness?"
With those words, she smiles warmly. Her eyes filled with something akin to relief, and hope. "Thank you so much Professor."
"You are welcome"
As she turns to leave, he watches her out of the corner of his eye. "If you want to choose your disguise go down to the lab. Hank will fine-tune it as best he can to your own looks."
"Thank you..."
She leaves and goes down to the lab. Having seen Kurt, she was not surprised as why Hank was called the Beast.
"Hello?"
"Amy it is a pleasure to meet you. I'm Hank Summers a.k.a Beast."
Shaking his hand and looking around the lab as if in heaven, Hank chuckles a little. As she looks around, he types some things into a computer from which a simple bracelet like device is. Hearing the sound, she excitedly looks over his shoulder amazed at the technology of the computer.
"It is almost like my Mercury computer..."
"Mercury computer?" Hank asks quizzically. Amy, excited to share something with one who seems to be a fellow scientist, pulls the compact computer with the symbol of her planet upon its case. Flipping it open, she holds it out in her hands as he takes a gander at it.
"So small..."
"Yes, but from what Luna and Artemis have told me, it contains the entire Libraries of most of the planets from the Silver Millennium."
"Including scientific knowledge?"
"Yes" She replies and gesturing to a separate computer, she fiddles around a little, and after connecting, downloads several of the main books from the collection concerning the various planets.
"Here, this is just a few..." She smiles and moves aside to allow him to look. He gasps in pleasure, and starts asking questions of the young woman concerning certain books and their titles. The inducer is momentarily forgotten.
Sensing the bond forming between the Ice Senshi and the older mutant, the Professor smiles, and returns to his work. He is surprised though as Ororo comes in and picks up the remote to the TV in his office.
"What is it?"
"This is something I think you should see."
Turning it on to the news, the Professor and herself watch as a news team focuses on the stone carvings. He gazes at it listening to the farmer, who talks about how it just appeared out of nowhere. As he studies it, an archaeologist is interviewed as he seems to translate the words for those watching...
Betrayed by his family...
Respected by the Prince...
Cared for by She who is of ice...
Tricked and brainwashed into destroying what he treasures...
The General King of Space and Knowledge rests within...
May love set him free...
As it ends that segment, Xavier looks to the elegant woman with a nod of his head. "Go...fetch her and Beast. Have Wolverine come as well."
"What about the students?"
Looking thoughtful, yet sensing something will happen. He gestures to her. "Rogue and Colossus."
"Do you trust him? He once worked for Magneto..." Ororo states.
"True... but I have a feeling strength and maybe something else will be needed. And I do trust him..."
Hearing this, she leaves and he sends a thought out to the two felines who were basking outside in the open air, during the fine summer day.
:I believe a general has been located:
Acknowledging his thoughts, the two felines grumble about the timing and promptly go into the house. Shimmering into their human forms, they watch as Amy and a couple of others come forward.
"What's going on?"
"Your General may have been found..." Is all the Professor says looking at the small group.
"Are you sure?"
"By all accounts, a mysterious stone carving has appeared in the Great Lakes area. According to the inscriptions read over the news...by all accounts it is Zoicite who has surfaced."
Looking to Luna and Artemis, she feels their warmth surround her. "Do not worry Amy, we will be with you."
Grateful as the sentiment is echoed; they turn and travel towards the jet, once again to take off for the Great Lakes. They are unaware as a mutual enemy-friend as he arrived had seen the same broadcast; he turns to the two accompanying him and heads there as well.
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Elsewhere...
Apocalypse, thrusts his arms out in anger, punching through several of his minions who die by his hands.
:Irritated are we: Comes the laughing reply of Chaos from inside his body.
:They have awaked the one of Ice, Mercury lives...:
:And your point is: Chaos comments on seemingly amused.
Stilling as his temper calms at the tone of the being who resides within him. Apocalypse stills as words are whispered to him. Plans are made and once more, he smiles.
"Come forth and serve Juxal"
A large monster appears. It's eyes in pain and agony as it struggles against the order. Laughing at the obvious discomfort of the one before it, he begins to shape and the soul within writhes in agony. Now a creature of nightmares has arisen and growls at the one who did this to him.
"You will obey..."
"Go now...repeat these words at the stone temple" Apocalypse bends down into what was once an ear, and repeats them over and over. Satisfied that his creation knows what to do, he lets it go and it disappears.
:Let the games begin...: Chaos chuckles from within and all those watch as the Black aura surrounding Apocalypse increases exponentially.
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Great Lakes...
Approaching the great lakes in disguise a group of older people except for three teenagers approach the stone carving and are shocked by their surroundings. All around them lay forms in a heap as if asleep. But as they flip the bodies over...sighs of relief as the people seem to be simply asleep.
"Everyone be alert..."
Stepping gingerly over some of the people, they are shocked as a voice from behind calls out to them.
"So I see you all noticed the news as well?"
Turning around, the X-men brace themselves at the sight of Magneto, along with Sabertooth, and Gambit.
Growling as if itching for a fight, Wolverine and Sabertooth look at one another hungrily, with the desire to destroy.
"Patience Sabertooth...I have a feeling soon you will be fighting all that you need." Magneto gestures as he puts a restraining hand on the mutant's shoulders. With a wave of a hand, Wolverine is forced still because of the metal outlining his exoskeleton.
"Wolverine still, as I speak to the one who is in charge."
Beast stepping forward looks to Magneto and as the mutant's eyes glaze, the voice of Charles Xavier speaks forth.
"Greetings Eric, it has been quite sometime..."
"It has my dear and old friend."
"What brings you here..."
"I had a visitor...she told me that you needed me..."
The eyes return to normal and Beast seems more relaxed, allowing the others to ease their tension. Luna and Artemis, having heard step forward as the others hide the ice maiden from his sight. Needing to know his intentions for they have heard much from the others and know what he is capable of...they speak...
"Describe her to us..."
"And who might you be?" He asks looking at them with interest.
"That is none of your concern. Describe her..."
"As you wish..." Describing the woman known as Galaxia, the two seem relieved. Observing as they both turn, and gesture for someone to come forth, he is stunned at the sight of a young woman who radiates power like he has never felt before. She remains silent as she studies him, holding out a crystal in front of her, the X-men and the Brotherhood led by Magneto watch as Amy shouts out...
"Eternal Mercury Crystal POWER!"
They watch as the lights and coldness that has arrived all of a sudden surround the blue haired teen to engulf her in its effervescent blue light. When it disappears, she stands before them in her uniform once again, the blue crystal glowing as it seems to scam him and the others. Magneto stunned once more just looks at her...
"Who are you?"
"I am like Galaxia...I am The eternal Senshi of Ice...I am Sailor Mercury."
"You are like her..."
"No I am not. Galaxia can destroy entire galaxies should she wish. She is infinitely stronger than all of us except for the Prince and Princess."
"What is it that they have?"
Turning around and not answering him, Sabertooth growls and reaches for her, but he is shocked, for all she does is touch him, his arm goes numb as if frozen.
Shaking it as he growls, Mercury continues on and gestures for the others to follow. Magneto seeing the forms all around him, and looking to Charles who nods his head, he gestures as he turns to the ones behind him.
"Let us move them, human or not, they were attacked and whatever it was may still be here."
Nodding their heads, the two reluctantly work side by side along with Colossus and Wolverine who move the prone people to positions far away from the stone. As this is being done, Rogue, Beast, and Mercury approaches it with nervousness.
"Frightened?"
Shaking her head, Mercury takes a on a determined stance and looks down at the writing. Reading it silently at first she begins to speak the words...
Ice that I am
Heart that I feel
Soul that I touch
I command thee
Door reveal!
Slowly, the stone rises and they enter. Watching as it sinks one more. Magneto using his magnetic ability for he senses the metal within its framework, works it so that the door and the stone remains arisen and open. Looking to Gambit, who nods his head... the Cajun follows...
"Why did you do that bub?"
"Something tells me they will need an escape route...so be ready...all of you." He replies, he doesn't know how he knows, for like Wolverine he to twitches as if fighting to remember something.
While they prepare, the two young women, and the ape like mutant advance. Their senses alert to the sounds around them, they are surprised as they hear what appear to be the sounds of battle off in the distance.
Looking fearful all of a sudden, Mercury stops. "Zoicite..."
Running as if her life depended on it, Mercury takes off at speeds that rival even that of Quicksilver much to the amazement of the mutants watching.
"Great...how do we follow her?" Rogue muttered.
"Simple ma petite belle..." Gambit replied as he appeared out of nowhere. He had observed as the young woman took off, towards the clanging sound of battle, the expression on her face. It was pure fear... "We head towards the sounds."
Gazing at Beast he simply requests with his ever charming smile. "You can hear them no?"
"I can..."
"Then take point while I stay behind...ma petite bell will be in between us..."
Rogue quietly seethes as now is not the time to smack the irritating Cajun. Looking at him with a hint of vengeance, he smiles and bends down to whisper in her ear. "I look forward to it ma cherie..."
Shivering almost unwillingly, he chuckles and she glares, whirling as she runs after the now disappearing Beast. She and he take after and heads towards the battle.
Ten minutes later...
Mercury approaches, and looks on as a young man, who both frightens and makes her feel like she is the strongest person in the world. Goes toe to toe with his ice sword against this creature, whom he struggles to not look at his eyes as the compulsion to do so is there, he whirls around as he manages to avoid, a swipe, and then time seems to freeze for but a moment as green eyes once again meet with blue...
"Mercury..."
"Zoicite..."
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Southeast Asia in the waters off the coast of Jakarta...
Something trembles deep in what little remains of the island of Krakatoa. Among the people who once lived there, but evacuated due to the horrendous volcanic eruption, that destroyed their home, and nearly the neighboring island of Jakarta with the tidal wave that it had emitted. A story was told...
In it, it was described how a red flame seemed to fall from the sky and it glowed...