12

The sphere circled almost lazily over the front grounds of the mansion before coming to rest on the grass between the fountain and the mansion. The mansion's automated defenses emerged from various points in the walkway, bushes and the fountain itself and launched a volley at the sphere, but they then shuddered slightly and retreated back into whatever hiding spots they had originally been concealed in.

As the defenses retracted, the X-Men rushed out of the front door, many still in their pajamas. Cyclops came out first, already dressed and checking that his visor was secure. Wolverine followed him, the short Canadian had a snarl on his face and his fists were clenched. Jean and Rogue were both still in tank tops and pajama bottoms, though Rogue was strapping the pouch of throwing discs she had grabbed from her dresser to her hip. A lot of her skin was exposed and she felt vulnerable as she tried to keep her distance from the others. Nightcrawler teleported next to Cyclops, his tail swishing in the air and patches of fur sticking up at odd angles. He had still been asleep when the message came from Xavier. Laura had leapt off the balcony of her room and landed as lightly as a cat on the ground near Wolverine. Unlike him, she unsheathed her claws immediately. Colossus came to stand on the other side of Cyclops, the metal of his bare chest gleaming in the sun. Gambit stood close to Rogue with a charged card in his hand and the other gripping his expanded staff. His trademark coat, which he wore over a tank top and pair of boxers blew in the wind being kicked up by Storm, who was floating down from her rooftop greenhouse with arms outstretched. Shadowcat, Mirage and Magma stayed farther back on one side of Xavier, who wheeled out with Beast and Sunspot on his other side and Havok, Boom Boom and Beserker forming another line in from of him. Inside the mansion, the Rasputins watched along side Iceman, Multiple and Wolfsbane, who were ordered to stay back.

The Institute mutants, formed in two lines around Xavier, waited as the sphere rested without moving. "He disabled the defenses," Beast said quietly, looking at a few of the cannons that had not fully retracted and hung limp.

"Let's cut that thing open," Wolverine said with a slight sideways look at Laura.

"No!" Cyclops said. "Wait and see what we're up against."

The sphere was much larger than any one they had seen Magneto use before. "He spring for zhe minivan?" Nightcrawler asked.

"Focus, we don't want a repeat of last week, not on our turf," Cyclops said.

The top of the sphere cracked open and the seemingly solid and smooth metal broke into sections and retracted into itself while the front split open and revealed a ramp. Magneto walked down this ramp, his cape billowing in the wind and his helmet gleaming in the sun. Beside him walked Wanda with her large coat, and Quicksilver seemed to appear out of no where in front of them. Behind them walked the tall, dusky black man Bishop and the pale, black-haired woman Sage. Lastly, towering above them all, came the Juggernaut.

They fanned out, with Magneto standing in the center with his arms crossed over his ches and his cape sweeping behind him. The others came to focus on the X-Men, forming a line behind and to the sides of Magneto. Bishop's fingers lazily stroked the butt of one his pistols while Sage bent to examine one of the unretracted cannons next to her. She looked for a moment as if she was fascinated with the technology and disassembling it in her mind, but then suddenly pushed it away with lost interest, sending it spinning around on its rotating arm. Juggernaut cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing loudly off the brick of the mansion. Quicksilver stood next to his sister, his eyes glancing at rapid speed from one X-Man to another. Wanda stood with her hands in her pockets, the tail of her coat blowing almost in rhythm with her father's cape.

There the two sides stood, at least twenty feet between them as they eyed each other, some more nervously that others, until finally Magneto stepped forward to close some distance. "Hello Charles. I did not expect such a large welcome from you."

Charles wheeled his way to the front of his students, assuring them with a wave of his hand that it would be okay. "You have chosen to appear unannounced Erik. There are those who might consider that an act of aggression, considering our precarious relationship."

"I apologize for not phoning ahead. But as you can tell, we are not here to fight you."

"As much as we want to be," muttered Juggernaut under his breath, though due to his size it came out quite loud. Bishop and Sage both gave menacing glances at him.

Magneto ignored him and continued. "On the contrary, we are here to discuss our mutual future Charles."

"I wasn't aware that we had one. I was under the impression that we severed ties long ago, over disagreements to large to settle. Though, I admit, a reconciliation would be welcomed in these troubled times." His shoulders slumped and he looked much older for a moment before he recomposed himself.

"Indeed old friend," Magneto said with a smile. "After all, we are both seeking the same ends. But we cannot deny that the climate is shifting, moving us away from those goals we set so long ago. I am sorry to say that it has become obvious that mankind is taking the stance that I said they would take. They have not welcomed us with open arms," he said with a hint of sarcasim, "and even now prepare to make war with us. The Sentinel program has not ceased since the defeat of Apocalypse. One spark would unleash their wrath against us."

Xavier let out a sigh and shook his head. "And yet you continue to create them by attacking military facilities and freeing dangerous criminals."

Juggernaut stepped forward, punching his fist into his hand. "Nothing I would like to do more than tear down your mansion and smash in your face brother, right in front of your little kids. Show you how dangerous I really am."

"You will do no such thing." Colossus had moved in front of Juggernaut, a full head shorter than the giant. He glared upwards with his pure silver eyes, his face stoic and unreadable despite the menace in his voice.

"Don't worry Tin Man, we'll go another round someday and I'll crush you like a can. But like I was trying to tell my dear brother, we've all got bigger problems than me to worry about."

"Both of you stand down," Magneto said, pushing each of them away from the other with a wave of his hand. He turned back to Xavier. "We did not come here for a physical confrontation. I have come to extend my invitation to Avalon one last time."

"And what is it you plan to do with Avalon Erik?" Xavier asked. "Is that where you will launch your attack on humanity? Is it your stronghold of power that you will wield in the name of mutants everywhere? Your training ground for the next generation of mutants that will terrorize the world?"

"If need be, yes. I do not deny that I am willing to fight the humans if necessary, but Avalon is our sanctuary more than anything. Once, long ago, we argued over whether or not we should isolate ourselves and our people from humanity, to allow them to grow and prosper as a people outside of humanity. I have come to see, perhaps for now, that is what is needed. We need to discover ourselves, to determine how we will shape the world to come. And only together in Brotherhood will we weather the coming storm.

"You know better than anyone Charles that there are those of us who can aide so many, those who can heal and whose gifts are of great minds. How do you propose they stop a Sentinel, who does not care what good a mutant might bring to the world? On Avalon we can protect them."

"We protect them better by showing the world the good we can bring to us all," Xavier said. "Even I came to the conclusion that isolation would only hurt us in the end. We only increase their fear by hiding away. Now that we have been exposed we must be open. By being open and building relationship with humanity we help to show we are not monsters, but that we only wish to live in peace."

"As you have been doing for years Xavier. How peaceful has your lives been?"

"Would be a lot more peaceful if we weren't fightin' you and your goons all the time bub," Wolverine said, pointing at Magneto to emphasize his point.

"Of course, the very presence of Logan brings chaos and trouble to your doorstep," Magneto said dismissively. He turned to the students. "You are ridiculed, feared and shunned by your fellow classmates at school. For every friend you have kept after your secret was revealed, you have lost a dozen. Even when they know the power you wield, they attack you. This world does not want you, does not want you to live peacefully with it but to leave it. Why do you continue to deny your own safety and happiness by living this life?"

"I know what joining you is like," Cyclops said. "We're not going to be your soldiers for you so you can wage your war."

"Even if it meant protecting your own people against what you know is coming?" Magneto asked. "Why do you train in the Danger Room Cyclops? Controlling your powers and strategic application of them are hardly the same thing. You know as well as I do that Xavier is training you to prevent history from repeating itself. United we will have that ability, and will be able to protect more than just ourselves, but all mutantkind."

"What do you mean history repeating?" Cyclops asked, his voice faltering a bit.

Magneto scanned the crowd gathered in front of him. He could see Xavier's face pale, and the ones who had been with him the longest, the original X-Men, were glancing sideways at one another. Behind him, he could hear Juggernaut chuckling, the deep base shaking the ground ever so slightly.

"Oh this is too good baby Brother, you didn't even bother telling them," Juggernaut laughed.

"What are they talking about Professor?" Jean said softy to her mentor.

Magneto was not laughing like the Juggernaut. Instead they could see that he wore a deep frown on his face, his eyes a mix of sadness, pity and anger. "How many secrets do you plan on keeping from these children Charles? How many lies? They have a right to know the danger they are in."

"Professor, whatever it is, we'll understand," Cyclops said, though his voice betrayed that he was very unsure.

Xavier was quiet as all eyes fell upon him in silent attention. Even Juggernaut had stopped his chuckling, waiting to see if Xavier would confess to some of his past sins. But the wheelchair bound man said nothing.

"Very well Charles, if you will not tell them then I will," Magneto said. "Several years before meeting any of you, Charles and I worked with a group of mutants in San Francisco. We had set up a boarding house there, taking in mutants from the streets or the local neighborhoods. We knew that someday the general populous would discover mutants, and we endeavored to have for them a shining example of the good mutantkind could do for the world. We had already been helping individual mutants for years, but it was the first time we decided to teach many at once. We helped them to control their powers, to be confident in who and what they were. And then while we were out helping to bring another young man into our fold, the house was attacked, the children kidnapped.

"We found them eventually, the captives of a military operation in the vein of Weapon X, run by a man named Striker."

Wolverine let out a growl. "I see you recognize the name Logan," Magneto continued. "The children were experimented on, and eventually they had been killed."

"Not all," Xavier said at last.

"No, but her fate was worse, was it not?"

Silence once again fell on both sides, but the looks on people's faces were far louder than words. They varied, from the dark and grim looks on Wolverine and Laura to the scared and worried looks on some of the New Mutants. But the X-Men's faces, the students that had been with Xavier the longest, there were looks of sadness but determination.

"That wasn't your fault Professor, or Magneto's," Scott said, breaking the silence. "You couldn't have known what would have happened."

"You were teaching those children to live peacefully Charles," Hank said softly, "like you taught me so many years ago. It wasn't your way to train them to fight, and even now that is not your primary goal."

"You've helped so many of us Professor, given us a dream to follow and hope for the future, and that help includes keeping us safe," Jean said. "The same thing won't happen again. We won't let it."

Xavier's eyes met Magneto's. "These students are better prepared Erik. We know the dangers this time, we are ready for them."

"But you recognize that they are there! You see now that there will always be those who fear the very idea of your dream. Pacifism does not solve our problem Charles, and it never will. There are too many who see mutants as a plague, or as weapons to be exploited. Your X-Men are well trained to defend themselves. Yet on Avalon not only will they be far removed and difficult to attack, but when it comes they will be protecting many helpless mutants."

"What of the mutants who don't join you Erik, those who wish to stay with their family and friends, who wish a normal life? Who will protect them? You speak of attacks, and yet every resistance from humanity we have faced since San Francisco has been due to you adding fuel to the fire! You claim you want to live peacefully and yet you continually goad humans into attacking us. If we are ever to live in peace it must be with them, we must prove we are not the evil lurking among them or just outside ready to attack. And I have no reason to believe that is exactly what you are planning on doing. You are building your army, waiting for the time to strike."

"You are always the same Charles!" Magneto said, his voice rising. "Always bowing down, never taking a stand to show the humans they cannot break us!"

"On the contrary Erik, I show them everyday by not becoming their worst fears."

They could see the anger boiling in Magneto's eyes as he stared at Xavier. But then they softened as he looked at all those surrounding him. "Not all your students must feel the same way Xavier. Some will follow me eventually. They will come to see that humanity will always hate and fear them, that only their own kind will offer any sort of solace. One day they will come to see what needs to be done we will take our rightful place of power."

"I thought your time with Apocalypse might have changed you Erik. I was wrong. You will continue to move us towards war, giving them a reason to build Sentinels, to hunt us down and destroy us. You will play the monster they already fear exists in us. You claim you want to save us from the horrors of your childhood, but it is you who will bring about their Registration Acts and the camps that you fear so much."

It happened quickly. Magneto through out his hand and Xavier's chair began to fly backwards towards the line of mutants as it crushed around Xavier's crippled legs. Beast attempted to catch him but the force of Magneto's power sent the chair crashing into the blue mutant and both flew backwards until Jean caught them in a TK bubble. Her face contorted as she worked against Magneto's power. Cyclops brought his hand to his visor and let a beam go at Magneto's head. It reflected off a shield created by the helmeted mutant and flew into the air. Colossus lunged forward and buried his fist into Juggernaut's stomach while Sage launched a volley of energy pistol blasts at the X-Men, sending many of them diving to the ground out of the way. Wolverine and Laura both lunged forward towards her, but Bishop sent them both reeling back with twin blasts from his hands. Gambit attempted to throw a card at Magneto but his coat was pulled over his head and tied around his throat before he could even lift his arm. Rogue heard him call out and turned to see what happened when she felt herself start to be lifted off the ground by a vortex that formed around her. Her ascent was shifted to the side as a giant gust of wind from Storm blew Rogue and Pietro off their feet.

With a wave of her hand, Wanda ended it just as quickly as it began. Eye and hand beams flew harmlessly in improbable directions, magnetic and telekinetic powers turned off, and those with strength were immobilized.

But as the hex washed over crowd of battling mutants, it touched on one girl who was crouching on the ground with her hands over her head, trying her hardest to keep from reaching a full panic. Her powers to generate fear and nightmares grew harder and harder to control when she herself was afraid. It was her first experience in any sort of battle with the X-Men, her Danger Room training having been mostly team building and obstacle courses, and she could feel her control slipping. As the hex came over her, that control was wrenched away from her and with a scream Danielle Moonstar's powers were released.

Wanda watched in horror as creatures of black shadows and silver fangs sprang into existence and faded away just as quickly, disappearing into a noxious green fog was forming around them. The grounds of the mansion distorted into a waste of dying trees and the mansion changed into a towering structure of twisted brick and metal, jagged iron bars on all the windows, and terrifying screams echoing out of the doorway, which seemed to reach out to her. She felt hands grab her by the arms and begin to march her forward towards the gaping doors. Franticly looking left and right she saw soldiers made out of pure metal, their stoic faces ignoring her as they dragged her to the building. From all around her she heard unintelligible whispers and manic laughing.

She jerked her arms out of the soldiers's grasps and fell forward. She could sense them reaching for her again. "No!" she screamed out, rolling onto her back and thrashed out with her legs as she tried to cover her face with her arms. "Stay away!"

"Wanda, are you all right?"

As quickly as the world had twisted, it reverted to normal. Magneto cradled her in his arms, kneeling on the ground beside her.

"Yes, I, what was that?" she asked, glancing at the mansion and finding some relief when she saw that it was back to its refined but inviting nature.

"Your hex caused the Moonstar girl to lose control."

She looked around and saw most people pulling themselves off the ground or from guarded positions. The only ones who didn't seem to be pulling themselves back together were Magneto and Juggernaut, whose mental dampening helmets had protected them somewhat, but both of their eyes told the story that they too had felt some of what everyone had just experienced. Her father puller her to her feet and he turned to look at Xavier. The wheelchair was being turned upright by Beast. He wore the same harrowed look on his face that most of the others did.

"I imagine your nightmare was as mine was Charles?"

"Worse, as I do not benefit from that ingenious helmet of yours."

He looked out over the X-Men, and over at Bishop who was holding Sage gently. "I believe there have been enough unpleasantries here for one day. My invitation to Avalon stands, though I doubt you will ever have the sense to take it."

"And I do not think you will ever take my invitation to turn away from this path you are on."

Magneto looked at Colossus and spoke again. "You may take your family home Colossus, I will not bother them again. As you can see, I have little need of you with Juggernaut by my side." He took his daughter by the shoulders turned towards the sphere. The others climbed in before him, and he walked up the ramp last behind Wanda. Pausing at the top he looked back over his shoulder towards Xavier, a smirk on his face. "I pray our next meeting is as peaceful as this one."

Xavier returned the half smile. "As do I old friend, as do I."

Magneto took the last steps into the sphere and turned back to look out the opening. The last thing Xavier saw as the sphere sealed around them was the dark outline of the trimming on Magneto's helmet.