With a wince, a green sword materialized in Rogue's hand.
"Are you out of your mind?" Scott snapped, moving in front of her. He started toward Jean but Rogue screamed, causing everyone to jump.
"Don't go near her!" She screamed frantically. Jean chuckled, making a flaming orb in her hand.
"Aw, how cute Rogue. You get pity sex and start planning your life with him..." Rogue inhaled but was otherwise impassive. "Can't say I'm surprised." Scott frowned. He hated seeing Rogue wounded by Jean like this. "I am what was, what is, and what will be. Before you," She grinned, baring her teeth. "After you. Scott's love will always be there." She turned to him. "Right, Scott?" He sighed.
His hand hovered hesitantly over his visor, watching Jean's every move. "Just think... You're not yourself." He asserted, ushering near her cautiously. She shook her head. "I know you. This isn't you."
"But I am, Scott... I am more myself than I've ever been." The flames swelled around her as she talked, making everyone feel uneasy.
"No, this isn't you." She interrupted him with laughter.
"I saved this wretched planet, and from something of his creation no less..." She sent her wrathful glare to the professor, who laid slumped against Kitty on the ground. "Even from beyond the astral plane, dear professor. I am back to clean up your messes..." She hissed, hovering closer to him.
"Charles!" Erik cried, making his way near the telepath to defend him. Jean only smiled. Rogue moved with her.
"Cain't let you do that, Jean." She said breathlessly. She watched her closely. "Just focus on yourself, all of yourself."
"No," Xavier held up a shaking hand. "She has every right to interrogate me. Whatever was swirling around in my mind..." He dropped his gaze. "Led to the creation of Onslaught. And Jean had to risk going Dark Phoenix in our dimension to help." He looked into her mirthless eyes. "Forgive me, Jean." Flames rose around her in a wave. Erik screamed and sent a magnetic pulse at Jean, panting.
Rogue stood in front of Kitty and the professor, erecting a telepathic barrier.
"Forgive you... For what you did to me? To all of us? Time and time again?" She made a replica earth in her hands of flames. It crumbled through her fingers. "Tell me, Charles Xavier, if you crusade for peace... Why are you only involved when the world is in danger of ending?" She snapped. "As a horseman, by not handling my powers correctly, by making Onslaught... If your goal was world peace then you are a failure!" She screamed, flames spreading around her.
"BOBBY!" Scott cried. He iced up and began trying to put out her flames but they were relentless.
"Such a world deserves to burn. For Charles Xavier's transgressions alone..." Ororo rose to the sky, her eyes glowing white.
"KINGS OF HEAVEN, LEND ME YOUR STORMS!" She cried, her arms reached above her. Thunder clapped above them as rain cascaded down, drenching everyone. Jean's flames remained untouched. Erik shook his head in horror, flashing back to his times in the camps.
"Charles," He gasped, staring at Jean with wide eyes. "There has to be something you could do." He stared at his former protege, his brow furrowed. "A killswitch? Anything!" He cried as the flames approached them. Bobby began icing a physical wall in front of the telepathic one Rogue and Emma were erecting.
"It is futile." Jean said as she slithered toward them. She jumped when one of Scott's blasts hit her. She turned to face him as he fired again.
"Jean, c'mon. I know you're in there." She smiled but then laughed.
"Scott you don't understand... What felt like a few moments to you was an ETERNITY for me, battling all of his worst and most depraved thoughts and desires!" She looked hatefully at him. "After I tear him molecule from molecule... I will burn this world into nothing." She smiled. "And we will have it all, my love!" He shrugged from her touch. "It's all for us!"
"Jean stop! You're stronger than this-"
"And what if I'm not?" She roared, advancing on him with flames.
"Scott!" Xavier shouted.
"Shades!" Logan leapt at Jean but she smacked him back with ease.
"You won't heal." She warned. "Don't make me hurt you." She turned her attention back to Scott. "You will accept what remains of this world as a token of my love." He shook his head defiantly.
"You can't do this." He said, his voice shaking. Jean grew closer.
"Scott-" Kurt screamed.
"Or you will burn." Jean finished, sending a wall of flame at her beloved.
"SCOTT," Emma screamed, making a barrier in front of him. 'She's absolutely mad!' Rogue flew forward quickly with the Soul Sword drawn high.
"JEAN!" It landed, but an invisible layer divided Jean and the mystical weapon. A smile slid over her face as she guffawed at Rogue's attempt. She grabbed the sword with her bare hand, causing Rogue to howl.
"I cannot kill you..." She began casually. "As that would just upset Scott." A chilling impassivity washed over her. "But I tire of you bothering me." She clutched a fist and Rogue was immersed in darkness. 'Stay sharp, it's jus' an optical illusion...' Jean pushed her away from her. She staggered unsurely, using her other senses to perceive around her.
"Ah still sense you, Jean." She said, holding her hands out unsurely. Everyone exchanged glances.
"Rogue...?" Kitty said unsurely. Scott's forehead became knitted.
"Rogue, what's wrong?" He asked, panicking quickly. "Stop it." He barked at Jean.
"Jean used an optical illusion to make everything dark, I'm ok." She explained, trying to convince herself. Jean chuckled.
"No, Rogue. I took your sight." Panic rang a five alarm bell in Rogue's head as she looked around. "When you learn how to act maybe you'll get it back." Nothing but darkness as far as the eye could see. "And if you don't behave I'll make sure to show you that there are worse things than blindness." In an instant Rogue fell to the ground, panicking and screaming. Scott collapsed helplessly to her side.
"Jean, no."
Erik moved forward, his eyes glowing yellow. "You are no different than the abomination Charles' consciousness gave life. I would know, I am half of Onslaught." He said, using a pulse to push her back. Rogue's screaming ceased and she trembled on the ground. She would never discuss out loud the visions Jean had sent her. Logan wormed his way near her, a warm had helping to calm her.
"I-I can't..." She choked out, her breath hitching. "Logan-"
"Shh. I know. I'm right here. I'll always be right here." He told her firmly, his dark eyes on Jean. "Jean..."
"Jean Elaine Grey." The professor's voice tore Jean from Scott and Rogue. She faced him, her eyes seething.
"You dare address me by my earth name? You may call your destructor Dark Phoenix!" She demanded, her hand gnarled into a claw.
"Stop this." He continued, his face severe. "Stop punishing everyone when it's me you should be lashing out against." Erik turned to him in disbelief.
"Do you have a death wish?!" Xavier hung his head.
"He's right, y'know. Don't provoke her." Kitty urged. "Nobody could blame you for all this..." Xavier felt his eyes getting watery.
"But it is my fault, Katherine. I failed Jean and I failed at every single thing I promised to accomplish. I... Am a failure. So much so, Onslaught was formed. And had Jean not saved us our world would've ended..." He looked up at her, tears streaming down his face. "How could I ever ask you to forgive me?" Jean crossed her arms.
"Yes, how could you? Because of you I was banished to the ends of the space time continuum! Alone, missing pieces of myself..." Her mascara ran black down her face as she seethed. "I never asked for this! For the Phoenix! And you..." She pointed an accusing finger at him. "You took away my god given right to defend my destiny!" The flames swelled again as she screamed, fire coming from her eyes. Erik moved quickly in front of Charles and Kitty, erecting an electromagnetic shield.
Rogue clutched to Logan, shaking like a little girl as Scott rose to his feet. "JEAN,"
"What's happening," She asked Logan, straining to see even though it was pointless. He didn't respond, watching Erik's shield closely incase he had to protect Charles. Scott ripped his visor off and shot Jean.
"Wait," Jean's eyes narrowed. "Are you trying to hurt me?"
"Stop this, Jean. Enough. Please." She faced him, her face screwed in a rage. Rogue shot to her feet, the Soul Sword shining weakly in her hand.
"Rogue, DON'T!" Logan screamed. A flaming knife appeared on Jean's hand.
"I've had enough!" She flew forward towards a defenseless Rogue. With a scream, Scott shoved her out of the way.
"Watch out!" He shouted, slamming her out of the way. Rogue tumbled to the ground.
"SCOTT, NO!" Bobby screamed, shooting a stream of ice toward him and Jean as if it would help. It was already too late. The flaming dagger pierced Scott's chest to a chorus of shrieks.
"Scott," Jean moaned, pulling back instantly. "NO," An orange light enveloped them both, tears leaking down Jean's face as Scott slowly revived.
"She... She brought him back. Like it was nothing..." Emma mused, trying to wrap her head around the psychic effort that feat took. He gasped, looking around worriedly and trying to account for everyone. 'D-Did she...'
"S-Scott..." She moaned, cradling her head. "I brought you back but I lost pieces of me..." Rogue listened carefully to what she said.
'Her pieces... She's mentioned that. In the astral plane... She's losing her sense of self!' She thought worriedly. Xavier held a hand to his head and focused.
'My only shot at redemption is if I can help Jean defeat Dark Phoenix!' He thought desperately, screaming out as he tried to enter her mind. Jean immediately began screaming and shouting terribly.
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD," She screamed, the black mascara running down her face. Rogue wordlessly slipped her glove off of her hand.
"I'm gonna direct you." Logan said quickly, bracing her shoulders. She nodded. "Tap into my powers. Dive deep into them. They'll do the rest." He touched her bare hand for a brief moment, snarling from the sensation. Rogue shuddered. scrolling past traumatic memories to his abilities. She honed in on Jean's unique scent and Rogue could pinpoint her. Growling, she dashed forward with her hand stretched.
"LEAVE MY HEAD ALONE!" She shouted as Rogue hooked one arm around her face. Scott took the opportunity to try to ground her.
"Focus on me! I know you better than anyone ever has, and anyone ever will! You're Jean Elaine Grey. Not the Phoenix. You know that!" With a yell she flung Rogue off of her, looking around wildly.
"Becoming, becoming, becoming..." Jean moaned, looking around with wide green eyes.
'Come home, Jean. We are here. Let me do what I failed to do before. Help you.' She looked eyes with professor Xavier.
"Professor...?" She uttered softly. His face broke out into a grin.
"Jean..."
Erik looked at his friend incredulously. 'He can't think this is working...' "Charles!"
Flames flashed in Jean's eye. With a feral scream, a wash of flames rose. Xavier rose in the sky, high above everyone else. Emma found herself reaching out desperately, as though she were a telekinetic. 'I have to help him!' She thought, convinced he was going to die.
"WIND," Ororo screamed in a strangled cry, trying to keep him away from her. The wind whipped around them but it wasn't the weather goddess. They were the Phoenix's chaotic powers. Jean shrieked as she held the professor right where she wanted him.
"I've flown from the ends of space dreaming of this moment..." She announced, glaring at her former mentor.
"Jean..." Xavier sighed, feeling her awesome might easily.
"NO, JEAN!" Logan shouted from beside Rogue. "Don't do it!"
"JEAN, PLEASE." Scott shouted. Xavier just smiled.
"It's okay," He mouthed. "Don't let it control you." With a grunt he disappeared into a pile of ash.
"NO," Erik screamed, releasing a magnetic pulse that leveled hundreds of trees. "WHY-"
"PROFESSOR!" Scott roared, running over to the spot where the professor used to be. Kitty screamed as the wind blew the ashes through her, scrambling out of their way.
"No, no! Not the professor!" She shouted.
"JEAN, WHY?" Scott ripped his visor off and fired into the sky and stared at the spot where the professor had once been. Rogue whipped around helplessly.
"No... What's happening?!" She cried, tears welling in her eyes. Bobby and Amara ran to her side, each grabbing an arm. Jean slowly lowered to the ground, her hand on her face. Ororo collapsed to her knees, a ring of sobbing teenagers around her.
"By the gods, Charles... Why..." She pounded the ground in grief. "Why not me... God, I can't do this without you, Charles. The kids!" Emma wiped at her face.
"Pull it together, Ororo." She insisted, the tear on her face betraying the cold tone of her voice. "They need you."
Jean shook her head, looking around in a daze. "Professor..." Logan approached her, bracing her shoulders.
"You're Jean. Jean Grey." He pressed, staring urgently into her eyes. "Jean..."
"Jean?" She repeated. Scott crashed at her side, staring tearfully into her face.
"Jean? It's Scott. I'm here." He breathed, grabbing her face. "F-Focus on me."
"You optimistic fools," Erik rose, his white hair swaying as metal rose around him. "Your desire to spare that monstrosity killed Charles!" He bellowed, tears in his eyes. "His inability to hold you responsible for the monster you became was his undoing!" He lifted the metal from the ground, pushing it towards her with a grunt. "I won't let you get away with it, Phoenix!"
Bobby shot some out of the air with ice. Rogue used Erik's own power and fielded what metal she could while blind. Scott shot and optic blast that Erik deflected, scowling. "Back off!" He roared, preparing to fire another one. Erik rose higher in the air.
"Never. Nobody loved Charles more than me!" He declared. Logan spat on the ground.
"Got a twisted definition of love, then." He growled, his hair standing on end. Jean stood, watching everyone's efforts to protect her.
"My... Friends." She waved her hand and the metal disappeared. She looked at Erik with a determined look. "I know who and what I am, now. Take responsibility, Erik." Her suit changed to white and she hovered as well. "You've always been the foil to Xavier. The very foil who made Onslaught possible. The sneaking doubt Xavier always had and died having! You just couldn't pass up an opportunity to undermine him. You could've chose peace!" The flames leapt out at Erik, causing him to scream and fall to the ground.
"You are so righteous, Magneto. You never spare a thought to the things you've done. And how they've affected people. You deceived Charles and tried to murder his closest friend. Setting the stage for everything that's happened today." Jean covered her chest solemnly. "That is not to say I am not responsible for what I've done here..." She stared at the sizzled spot on the ground he'd left. "The Phoenix lives as a testament of what power without vision becomes." She turned towards him. "Can you say the same? Have you had enough?"
Erik cowered before Jean's unimaginable might. She shown so brightly it might as well have been daylight. She was a second sun. He shielded his eyes. They ached from brightness with which she shone. "Enough, Erik. Let us both try to learn and atone for our mistakes. Have you had enough?" He nodded pitifully.
"Y-Yes, Jean... I have had enough..." She placed her hand on the weary mutants back.
"There, there." She said quietly. He moved suddenly and gripped her wrist. She grunted, first, in surprise. Then she reared back in pain.. "Nnngh-"
"Enough!" He growled.
Before long the blood was leaking out of her eyes and mouth. Kitty began screaming and then the commotion began. Logan could smell it before he could see it. Jean's insides were rupturing into a massive bleed. She was dying. Right now. Soon, the Phoenix force wouldn't be able to do anything for her.
"JEAN," He screamed rabidly. Rogue whipped her head around helplessly, still plunged in total darkness.
"V-Vhat's happening to her?!" Kurt screamed as she began hacking up blood. "H-Help her!"
"NO," Scott stuttered to his feet as everyone stood frozen in terror. "DAMN IT, JEAN. NO,"
"S-Scott? Jean?" Rogue cried out, stumbling forward on unsteady feet. She was halted by a metal arm.
"Try not to move too much." Piotr said quietly, watching the horrible scene unfold.
"Lensherr..." She hissed. "What did you do..." He looked up at her bitterly, panting from the effort.
"It's a lethal electro-magnetic pulse, Jean." He said tiredly to the team's shock. "You're having a planetary stroke! All the power stored had to go somewhere. The act may have killed me, but that's besides the point." Logan shook his head.
"No," He uttered. "No..."
"However," He staggered to his feet in front of them. "I will not be judged by the likes of you." He watched with a pinched stare as Jean stuttered to her knees, panting.
"Erik..." She fell on side, twitching.
"No, HANG ON!" Scott screamed, grabbing her and holding her tight. "Jean... I can't lose you again..." She smiled despite the earth shattering pain she was in.
"What's going on?" Rogue sobbed, looking in the direction she heard sound.
"You never lost me, Scott. And even now you won't. I'm the Phoenix. Just like our love I am always and forever." He sobbed savagely like a wounded animal.
"Jean, don't go. I can't do this without you..." She reached up weakly and touched his face. He could feel her blood.
"I'm so sorry... For what I put you through. For leaving... For taking the professor."
"Jean-"
"But you have to listen to me." She tried to smile despite her organs failing. "Live, Scott. Be happy and live. You have so much life in you... Give it to someone. And be happy... Scott.."
"Jean, no." He looked around helplessly as everyone just watched. "Get someone! Kurt! Rogue, get Hank. Now!" Logan blinked, inhaling against his will. He already knew it.
"Shades." He said, his voice quiet. "She's-"
"No!" He screamed, tearing his visor off and and firing into the sky again. Kitty collapsed into Piotr's arms sobbing. Scott closed his eyes and then opened them, firing directly at Erik.
"Scott!" Emma screamed.
Erik flew back into the ground. Rogue looked around, scanning rapidly through her amassed psyches. 'No...' She thought. "No... I don't feel Jean, at all." Everyone turned to her. "Not even as a normal psyche, she..." She fell to her knees and began sobbing helplessly. "She's gone..." She threw her face in her hands and screamed. They had never been close in life, but when Jean ascended to Phoenix they understood each other. So many instances they wouldn't have survived without her. What would they do now? Scott rose, stalking towards Erik.
Logan shot his claws out and followed, a dark look in his eyes.
"Scott, Logan! Stop this!" Ororo wept. "Enough death! No more, Charles would hate this."
"Charles is gone, 'Ro. And now," He turned back towards Erik.
"So is Jean!" Scott stood towering over Magneto, his hand on his visor.
"H-He's not really gonna do this, is he?" Amara asked in disbelief, watching to see what would happen next.
"After what's just happened..." Bobby was quiet, letting his voice trail off. He held his arm in front of her should she try to interfere.
"You're never gonna hurt anyone again." Scott said, taking his visor off. He started to shoot a blast but it was halted by a force he couldn't see.
"Stop it, Scott." Rogue said, tears trailing down her face. He was lifted against his will and dragged away from Erik.
"Rogue," Logan rushed forward with shocking speed, his claws outstretched for Erik.
"Don't stop me, Stripes!" He screamed, slashing toward him. "Just let me!" His claws were enveloped in red. Rogue was standing now, and though she could not see she had effectively restrained Logan. He struggled for a moment before smiling. He couldn't help but be impressed. "Is this the first time you've ever used Wanda's powers on your own?"
She inhaled sharply. "Guess I had a good reason." She turned toward Erik, a fire in her eyes. "You. Go."
"Anna..." He dropped his gaze. He knew she would hate him, but he still regretted that. "I-"
"The only reason I saved you is 'cause X-Men don't kill. And Jean and the professor's bodies are still warm!" She steeled her face. "But if you return in our lives I will kill you myself." He staggered back in shock. "Now GO." He started to move when the rest of the team crowded around her. He took to the dark sky and disappeared.
She fell to her knees, Kurt falling with her and enveloping her in a hug. "I'm here." He said quietly. It was all he could say. "I'm here." A chorus of sniffles and muffled sobs sounded out amongst the team.
What did the X-Men do without professor Xavier?
Logan erupted into a roar, slamming his fist into the ground repeatedly.
"NO. Charles... Charles..." He cried out, screaming at the ground. Kitty collapsed beside him and threw her arms around his neck. Her body shook and convulsed with child-like sobs. He clutched her violently, hanging on for dear life. "H-Half-Pint..." He gasped.
Xavier Institute Courtyard, Thursday Mar. 22nd 10:21 pm
JEAN GREY
"SHE WILL RISE AGAIN"
Beside that headstone was another grave that read:
Charles Francis "Professor" Xavier
Father. Teacher. Leader.
"I can't believe this is happening..." Kitty murmured beside Piotr in a crisp, a-line black dress. Kurt sighed beside her, Amanda on his other side.
"It's kind of beautiful in a vay." He mused sadly. "They both vould've loved being buried beside one another." She sighed loudly, making Piotr squeeze on her shoulder. Nobody had taken the re-loss of Jean well, and losing the professor had cast a dark cloud over the whole institute. "Ve must make our silver linings, Katya." She elbowed him playfully as he cast a look at his adopted sister.
Her long hair was plaited and curled like a medieval princess (courtesy of Kitty while she was still recovering her eyesight). She stood, her arm stoically hooked in Remy's. He had healed well from his injuries from Mr. Sinister and had taken Logan's advice to 'protect Rogue' quite literally, especially now that she couldn't see. She was getting some shadows and lights back, so Hank was hopeful.
"I'll neva be an X-Man." He'd said suddenly, leading Rogue safely through the courtyard. "I'll have nothin' but free time. Just accept Remy help wit'out so much of a scowl." He pleaded. "Ya face might get stuck like dat." She bit back a smile. "But really. Not for my sake. But for yours, Rogue. Ya live wit' enough wit'out dealin' wit dat." She sighed.
"Ah don't do forgiveness well." She said, the first of few words in a couple of days. Remy backed away from her slightly. "All mah life, people have betrayed me and told me the value of forgiveness in the same breath. How can I get there if people won't stop betraying me?" He turned away from her, ashamed. 'I put her through hell... I should toss myself off a cliff if I care about de fille.'
She looked toward him, her eyes unseeing. "I didn't understand until Jean... The professor..." Rogue held back tears. "I can't hold a grudge and feel all this loss, Remy. I can't stand it. So if I forgive you it won't be for you, or even for me." She was quiet. "It'll just be because it's easier. And I'm blind. And..." Tears streamed freely down her face and Remy fought the urge to wipe them away. "I don' have the energy required to hate you right now."
He nodded sympathetically. "Dat work for Remy." He said quietly, studying her face. 'I'll protect you.' He thought.
She stood in a boxy, black dress that went past her knees. She stood bravely like a statue, unsure of how to articulate her very specific type of loss. Psyches were a burden most of the time. The bane of her existence. But they're a small connection to the person. She lamented not having one of Rahne and was at a loss to not be able to feel Jean. She felt a void. Hollow. Jean had always been the gentle push Rogue needed to succeeded.
What would the X-Men do without the professor and Jean?
Scott stood in front of both of the headstones, numb. He'd been just crying and rubbing his fingers over them both. He was supposed to say some words but he was too overwrought with grief to bring himself to. Nobody said anything, knowing the exact profound grief everyone else was feeling. They all just stood, silently, and reflected on the loss they had all experienced.
Eventually, the crowd broke away, students who couldn't take the feeling anymore stumbling off on their own to make sense of it. It hadn't been long enough but Scott tore himself away, brushing his fingers over the stones one last time. He frowned when he saw Rogue and Remy standing behind him. He hated that he was around Rogue.
"Marie," He began, his eyes narrowed toward Remy. "Why don't we get you inside to rest?" He gently unhooked her arm from Remy's and guided her.
"Scott,"
"C'mon." He said, his following glare saying everything he didn't need to. "Rest is the best shot we have at getting those eyes back." She nodded.
"I know, I know." She sighed, feeling useless without her eyes and without her connection to Jean. Logan watched yards away, a cigar in his mouth. He couldn't be close to all the grieving. All the tears. All the pain. There was more than he could handle inside of himself, he couldn't feel theirs too.
"Jean..." He looked at his calloused hands. "Why..." It had been hard enough being separated by light years but life and death? It was unbearable. Jean was the embodiment of love, and without her their world had none. There was a gaping hole in his chest where she used to be, and if that wasn't hard enough Charles was gone. "Chuck..." He clutched his fist. If there were two people who made Logan a better man, they were them. What was to do now? He scrubbed a hand over his face.
"I never wanted to live in a world without either of them." He felt a wind rustle past him and it felt like Jean's calming voice. She was still somewhere. She had to be. "I don't now what to do, you guys." He said quietly, his hands jammed in his pockets. "You both made me an alright guy. Now..." Another wind blew, more persistent. He chuckled to himself. "Okay, okay." He looked up to the sky. "I'll stop whining now. People need me." He turned towards school with a more determined face. "For you both, I'll get through this." And for once, even though he had all but inherited the school from Jean and Charles, he believed it.
Because in a world with just their memory, anything was possible.
FIN
A/N: This felt like a good place to segue toward an end to this saga. To anyone who's been reading or reviewing, thank you from the bottom of my heart. As I write through one story my brain simultaneously plans others... So see you guys on the other side. XOXO