Chapter Eleven: To Save a City/Logan's Sacrifice
And here's Chapter Eleven! I originally split these scenes, but then I wondered if they worked better as one chapter. And to my pleasant surprise, they did!
rachel: You're welcome! Yeah, this whole fight scene was pretty epic, so I hope I did all right.
fairyofdreames: You posted a handful of reviews, so here are all my responses numbered for your convenience:
1. Yeah, another reason why I'm not particularly fond of the Scott and Jean pairing is because they seemed too perfect, which is why they realized here that it was just too good to last. Evolution was, to my knowledge, the only version of X-Men where the idea of Scott and Rogue being together was explored, and I really wish that concept would come back somehow. Ugh, I would have loved to see how a fifth season would have played out, but at least we have fan fiction.
2. Lol, that was the idea; basically how the movies would turn out with my own alterations, be they minor or somewhat major.
3. Aw, thanks!
4. Well, they technically don't get 'together' until the sequel (actually, they'll have already gotten together by then). They're just gonna start with friendship first, and it will go from there (albeit off-screen).
5. I'm glad I did well with that, at least.
6. Yeah, Scott and Logan bickering make for some quick and easy entertainment, huh?
Guest: Thank you so much!
You know, receiving this much praise from you guys, and even my family, is kind of overwhelming. My parents keep gushing about how I have this writing gift. Sometimes, I don't know how to handle it. But I deeply appreciate it all the same.
Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men.
The X-Men and Wolverine gathered to look at the torch. The conversion machine had been activated, and they needed to stop it so they could save Rogue and fast.
"We gotta get her out of there," said Wolverine. "Cyclops, can you hit it?"
Cyclops aimed his visor at the machine. "The rings are moving too fast."
"Just shoot it!" Wolverine snapped.
"I'll kill her!" Cyclops yelled, panic in his voice. He turned to Storm. "Storm, can you get me up there?"
She shook her head. "I can't control it like that. You could fly right over the torch."
"Then let me go," Wolverine offered. When Cyclops stared at him, he said, "If I don't make it, then at least you can still blast the damn thing."
Cyclops quickly thought it over before nodding. "All right, do it," he said to Storm. Then he turned to Jean. "Jean, use your power. Try to steady him."
"Hang on to something," Storm warned them as her eyes began glowing white. Cyclops and Jean held onto various parts of the head as strong winds whirled around and lifted Wolverine into the air, Jean keeping him steady.
Wolverine nearly flew right over the torch, but he managed to grab onto the top of the machine in time. Magneto looked up at him in disbelief. The mutants all watched as the machine produced a bright radiation field that engulfed the torch, and slowly began spreading across the water towards Ellis Island.
Wolverine landed inside the radiation field and unsheathed his claws, ready to slice Rogue free of her cuffs. But Magneto stopped him in his place, trying to push his fist away and bending his claws.
The X-Men watched this from the head. Getting frantic, Cyclops placed his fingers on his visor again.
"Scott, wait!" Jean told him.
As Wolverine resisted Magneto's push and lifted his other fist, Rogue's bangs turned white from the radiation field. On Ellis Island, the world leaders and guests saw the radiation field reaching them, and they started to panic.
Wolverine kept fighting the push as Rogue began screaming again.
"Jean, I have to!" Cyclops shouted.
"Just wait!" she yelled.
But he couldn't wait. He had to save Rogue! "I have a shot. I'm taking it." The glimpse he caught of Magneto's cape was all he needed. He fired an optic blast at him and as he fell, Wolverine destroyed the machine, causing it to explode and the radiation field to disintegrate before it reached Ellis Island.
While Cyclops and Storm sighed in relief, Jean felt something strange. She felt as if something was growing inside of her, like a fire. Was she affected by this machine?
They quickly left the head to fly the X-Jet to the torch.
Wolverine sliced up Rogue's restraints and held her in his arms. She was completely still. It was then that he noticed the new white strands of hair that framed her face.
"Come on," he whispered.
But she wouldn't wake up. So he tore off his left glove with his teeth and gently placed his hand on her face, ready to lend her his healing ability once more. He waited for the pull of her powers, but nothing happened. He was too late. Fighting back tears, he pulled her closer to him in a tight hug, resting his face on hers.
Then he felt it. He felt the pull of her powers stronger than last time. While he gasped for air, he faintly felt his recently healed wounds reopen, blood dripping out of his uniform.
Rogue's eyes snapped open and she gasped. Realizing what was going on, she pushed Wolverine off of her. She saw the gashes on his face and his body shaking.
Soon, the X-Jet had flown near the torch. The hatch opened, revealing Cyclops and Jean.
"I'll get Logan," said Jean, carefully stepping out to carry his body into the Jet.
"Rogue!" Cyclops called, holding out his hand.
Shaking, Rogue climbed up the ramp and took his hand. He pulled her to the side to make room for Jean and Wolverine.
"Are you okay?" he softly asked her.
She shook her head. She just wanted to go home. She buried her face in his chest, and he held her close, gently stroking her newly two-toned hair.
Jean saw this and felt herself smiling for them. Then she turned back to Wolverine and pressed her lips to his forehead.
Below them, Magneto lay defeated and weakened. He barely registered the police helicopters landing nearby. Seconds later, he was being hauled away, and the X-Jet had left the Statue of Liberty.
Mystique, still weak from the fatal stab wound from Wolverine, managed to shape-shift into another cop so that she could avoid being arrested, and eventually work on freeing Magneto.
When the X-Men returned to the mansion, Jean quickly went to work setting Logan up in the med lab once again. Once he was taken care of, she saw Professor Xavier slowly open his eyes and take a breath. He had finally woken up from his coma.
"Welcome back," she said softly, smiling. "I knew you'd find your way."
He smiled back. "I had you to guide me. How did we do?"
In response, she turned to look at the slab a few feet away from the professor's. He turned his head to see Logan bandaged up and covered in tubes and wires.
They both knew he would be okay.
And there's Chapter Eleven, only two more chapters to go! According to the Wiki (and the DVD commentary), Jean using Cerebro had weakened Xavier's barriers he created to hold back the Phoenix. I believe that the radiation field further helped Phoenix slowly begin to truly awaken.
Also, why exactly did Rogue's bangs turn white in the movie? I just assumed that it was from the radiation field, but the Wiki says it's from absorbing too much of Magneto's power. I guess it's sort of the same thing, since Magneto's power was needed to use the machine.