Disclaimer: I own nothing ... unfortunately.
Author's Notes: Hi everyone. This is the new chapter. Haven't fixed spelling, I'm sorry. Will do that with the next update. In the meantime: PLEASE REVIEW :)
Author's Note Number Two: I'm such a sucker for Happy Endings, so please forgive me. (Hope I didn't say too much ;)
Storm
Her body, starting to disintegrate, tightly held by his arms.
This is how I find them.
I dare not say that I knew it would come to this, for I had hoped with all my heart that it wouldn't. But now we're here and what was done is done, and nothing seems to be the same anymore. We have won, have proven ourselves, but the price we paid was too high. Two good friends and one Mentor dead, countless other Mutants either dead as well or without their powers. We don't know what happened to Rogue or what will happen to the little mutant boy, whose power was one of the reasons for this conflict.
And then there is the question about the school. Should we really keep it open? I was so sure that we should after the death of the Professor, but now, looking at the ruins in front of me I'm not so sure anymore. Is this really worth it? Will I be able to make it work?
My eyes fall on Logan, who is now quietly sobbing, even though I'm sure he will deny it later. Jean has completely disappeared and all that's left of her are some flakes, likes ashes, that are swirling around Logan, and settling down on his arms. The whole island seems to be covered in ashes. He flexes his hands and I see and hear his blades extending. They are covered in blood. Jeans blood. He looks at them, but doesn't say a word. I wonder what he is thinking. What do you do, after you had to kill the person you loved. Knew you had to kill her, because it was the only way to save her. How can you live on after something like this? How did Jean cope after she found out the other part of her personality had killed Scott? Hadn't she begged for Logan to kill her after he told her?
And here am I, complaining that I don't know how to live on, but still alive. And looking around me again I realize that this is the reason we have to keep the school open. To teach, to guide. To make sure powers are used wisely. And to make sure powers that are used for evil deeds will be opposed. Cause we are X-Men. We stand united to defend human or mutants from all evil sources. And that cannot change.
I see movement, and according to Logans face, he's seen it to. I could swear the landscape around us has not changed since I stepped back on the island and found Logan and Jean. But now it seems different. Everything is covered in ashes, and everything seems to be moving. The movements are slow, but they seem to be coming from everywhere. Logan stepps beside me, his blades, still extended ready for battle should the need arise. But what is coming out from under the ashes surprises me.
It's everyone. Soldiers are getting up, dusting off their camouflage pants and shirts, looking around, disoriented, as though they're not sure where they are. And there are mutants as well, leaning upon each other, helping each other up.
I feel Logan tense beside me. 'Aren't those...' He doesn't finish his sentence, but I know what he means. 'Yes, they are.'
These are the people that Jean killed. Everyone she disintegrated with her power only minutes ago is standing before us, as though nothing ever happened. They are covered in ashes, but no one seems to be hurt. And what's more: everyone is here. The mutants that got killed during the first wave and the soldiers that got hit by the burning cars, yes, even the mutant girl I electrocuted; everyone is here. It seems that everyone that got disintegrated by Jean, no matter if alive or already dead is completely back to life. It's a miracle. And a gift.
All of them are disoriented and no one seems to be thinking straigth. What seems more is that neither Soldiers, nor mutants are disturbed by the other group. They look as though they are happy to be alive at all. Someone should do something. I guess it's gonna be me. 'Everyone listen. You should start making your way across the bridge towards the main land. Help should already be on the way.' The mass of people decides that what I said sounds like a good plan, and everybody is slowly but steady moving towards the bridge. I muster (?) my work and decide that this status quo between soldiers and mutants is as good a first step as any, though I'm not sure that it's gonna last for long. But I can hope, right?
I turn back to Logan, wondering why he hasn't said anything yet, wondering why he's not moving with everybody else. His gaze is locked at a point where the research building used to stand and I turn around to follow it. I can barely make them out, for all the ashes and dust that is still flying around, but it looks like there is someone walking, no, hobbling towards us. Guessing that it's just another mutant or soldier I wouldn't have bothered to look for very long, but Logan must have sensed something. He inclines his head and begins sniffling. 'Storm. Wind' He orders me and I comply for the urgency in his voice.
As the wind blows away the dust I can now see more clearly. There are two men moving towards us, one leaning heavily on the other. My eyes must be playing tricks with me, for what I see cannot be true. But they are as real as the mutants and soldiers making their way across the bridge, and when Logans breaks into a run towards them, I follow him.