Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men

BW: I have lots of muse tonight. Enjoy!

Famine

"I don't get it! Why do we have to take the Blackbird into the city? Why not just take cars? I mean, it's only a twenty minute drive to the city." Jubilee chattered to Kitty.

Kitty smiled slightly. "Well, like, look at it this way. It'll only take like, ten minutes if we, like, take the Blackbird."

Jubilee rolled her eyes. "Still doesn't make any sense." She muttered.

When they finally arrived in the main hanger, they realized they were last ones. Scott however, didn't seem to notice, as he was in the middle of naming people. "Deathstryke, Jubilee, Nightcrawler, Ghost, Gambit, Psylocke, Colossus, Ivy, and Avalanche will remain in the Blackbird. If we need backup you guys are going to come help us. Got it?"

Everyone nodded and piled into the X-Jet. Cannonball was smiling slightly. He turned to Julia who was giving him a funny look. He explained. "My first real mission as an X-Men. I've been waiting for this forever!"

"Oh...." Julia took a seat in the back of the jet with Lance, who began whispering to her urgently.

Storm and Cyclops flew the Blackbird, and just under ten minutes they were landing the jet in an empty street of the normally busy New York.

"Okay everyone. Keep a sharp eye out for Famine. And keep you're communicators on at all times." The X-Men chosen to stay behind remained in the Blackbird while the others walked down the ramp, trying to locate the first horseman of Apocalypse.

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Death looked at a building close by, shooting optic blasts out of her eyes at the building. She watched it crumble and rubble covered the area.

She sighed in boredom. Long ago, the civilians had run away and she had no desire to chase them. She would prefer they jumped out at her and she could shoot wildly at them, enjoying the screams of terror that escaped their lips. Perhaps if she left and came back, they would be back in the streets.

Yes, that would work perfectly, but where would she go? She couldn't go back to the base. Apocalypse would get mad she hadn't finished the job.

Death smirked. Yes, she would check on the other horsemen and see how they were doing. She blinked once, and was gone with a BAMF.

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Jean nodded to Scott. "He's in an alley down a few streets."

Cyclops nodded back. "Let's go get him then." He put a hand to his visor as he led the group down the street.

After a couple of minutes something shot out from an alley and hit a billboard resting on top of a building. The billboard teetered for a second before falling off the building and falling towards the X-Men.

Jean raised an arm and stopped the billboard from crushing them. With a grunt she set the billboard down further down the street.

Out from the shadows of the alley, Famine came out, smirking slightly. "Hello again." He said in a voice filled with malice.

Danielle felt tears prick her eyes when she saw his blood red eyes, twisted smirk and dark hair. Oh Alex, what happened to you? Her mind cried.

Cyclops froze for a second before speaking. "Alright Famine. We know you want to fight us, but you can't possibly expect to beat us, so just give up now."

Scarlet Witch slapped a hand to her forehead. He's a horseman for crying out loud! Does he really expect to negotiate with him.

Famine had a sarcastic look on his face. "You think I should give up? And what would my master say?" His face hardened. "I don't think she'd forgive me."

"Whoa! Say what?!" Quicksilver yelled in surprise. "Apocalypse is a woman?!?! That's disturbing!"

Famine shot Quicksilver an impatient look. He hadn't meant to say that. It was a slip of the tongue. Oh well. "I didn't mean Apocalypse. I meant my real Master."

Cyclops narrowed his eyes. "And who's your real Master?" He asked.

Famine shook his head. "You'll find out." He growled. "Now let's fight!"

He shot a blast, which Cyclops ran in front of, opening his visor so that his own optic blasts met those of his brother's.

Pyro looked eager to join the fight, but Jean sent him a sharp look. "Don't Pyro. Let Scott handle this." Pyro scowled but lowered his hands.
Danielle felt her eyes begin to water again. Alex why do you want to fight us? She squeezed her eyes shut. What did Apocalypse do to you? Why'd he change you?! I love you!

Danielle shook her head, the tears receding. I can fix him! She ran over to Famine who was too busy in his battle of optic blasts with Cyclops that he failed to notice her. She ran into him, bowling him over. Famine landed on his back and she stood up and entered his mind before he could process what was happening.

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Death sat on the top of a roof over-looking New York. She had her feet dangling over the side of the building and watched as Mirage knocked Famine over and put a hand to her temples.

Death growled but stayed where she was, waiting to see how this would all turn out. As much as she feared losing Famine, she wanted to see if they had found the way to do so yet.

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Shadowcat caught Danielle, who for the moment was limp. She shot Jean a questioning look.

Jean smiled and nodded. "Don't worry Kitty. Danielle's power works mostly in making illusions. However the rare time she enters someone's mind, her body tends to go limp for a while. She'll be fine."

The smile dropped from her face as she looked at the top of a nearby building a series of thoughts that weren't her own entered her mind. "Hurry! Help me! She's going to kill me!"

Everyone shot each other questioning looks, but it was Jean who turned her head to see what Kitty was staring at. She tugged on the sleeve of Scott and whispered to him in an urgent tone. "Scott. Call for back-up. Now."

Scott's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he communicated with the others. "X-Men? We need your back-up." He heard a "On our way!" From Deathstryke, before turning it off.

He turned to Jean. "What's going on?"

Jean didn't answer, she just kept looking up. Everyone turned their gaze to where Jean was looking and gasped in surprise.

There was Death sitting on top of a nearby building, a big smirk on her face. Her feet were swinging as if she was a little kid. "Oh don't mind me!" She yelled down, her tone laced with sarcasm and malice. "I'm just here to observe."

Jean shook her head. "What do you really want Death? A fight? Blood? You're not here to just watch."

Death jumped down and landed on the ground in a crouching position. She looked up at everyone and a smirk made it's way to her lips. Slowly she stood up, and noticed how those nearby took a few steps back.

She turned to Kitty slowly. "Hand me over her body and I'll make all those horrible thoughts go away."

Kitty clutched Danielle's body to her chest. "No." She said in a shaky voice.

Death took a few steps closer. "Give her here. I know you'd don't like those nasty thoughts. All the killing. And blood." She glanced over her shoulder, surveying the crowd until the blood red eyes rested on Jubilee. "The mauled remains of your best friend."

Shadowcat looked down at the unconscious Mirage then back up at Death. "But if I hand her over, you'll kill her." Death didn't reply so she continued in an unsure voice. "And later, you'll kill me anyways. So why should I?"

Jean took a step forward towards Death. "Leave her alone Death. Where's the glory in killing an unconscious person?"

Death cocked her head a bit to the side. "My name is Death. I specialize in torturing others, causing them so much pain, they cry for release. I kill not for the glory, but for my entertainment. Mangled bodies, a river of blood, that's my calling." She raised a hand and pointed it at Boom-Boom who was the next closest X-Men. "Kill a few of your friends before your very eyes. Then we'll see what you say. Last chance. Hand the illusionist over!" She tone sharpened to one that demanded order.

Kitty couldn't stop shaking now. She slowly shook her head from side to side. "No. I.....I can't just hand over Danielle."

Death sighed. "Very well. I'll come get her myself." She took one step and turned to the group. "If you're wondering why you can't move, it's because I hexed your feet. Good luck trying to move. It'll never happen." She continued her slow walk over to Kitty, who seemed frozen on the spot.

"Kitty! Run!" Scott yelled. "Don't just sit there!"

Kitty shook her head a little, eyes glued to Death. "I can't.... I'm.... stuck." She said, a little above a whisper.

Suddenly Peter jumped in front of her. "Back away!" He said in a tone filled with so much venom, it scared Kitty, even though she was more then aware he was on her side.

Death opened her mouth and yawned. "Right. I suppose I have to go through you to get to Mirage. Very well." Very lazily, she took up a fighting stance.

AN: Please review so that I know my fans haven't all completely upped and left me :(