Chapter One
It had been nearly two months since the Worthington Labs incident and Jean, Scott, and Charles' memorials. Ororo Munroe and Logan had not heard from Dr. Moira MacTaggert, while the X-Infirmary was now running low on supplies.
One day, Ororo was in her office, grading tests and other papers, getting ready for her Advanced Geo-Physics class when the tele-com blinked awake. "Ororo" said a familiar Scottish accent.
"Dr. MacTaggert?" replied Ororo. "Why haven't you contacted us? We've completely run out of supplies in the Infirmary."
"Well, 'ah can explain, 'ah've been doing some tests on the body born wit no higha brain functions, due to tha fact the 'es awake and speakin'. There's somethin' else, it seems that th' body is Charles brother, and als' that Charles transferred his mind into the body. He had don' it afta Jean had atomized his entire body." Moira explained.
"So ah've been testin his physical and mental abilities and 'ave concluded that Charles is back, the same as ever,
"The Professor is alive?"
"Aye"
"Has he made any progress? Is he alright?"
"He's not only made progress, he's actually walkin again! Ah just sent im and a new jet and supplies back to the Mansion. He should be there any time." Moira finally said.
"Thank you Moira. You don't know what this means to us all."
"No problem" and with that the tele-com switched off, the screen turning that shined black. Ororo couldn't believe it. Charles. Alive! And walking! She was so happy that just as she was leaving Kurt teleported in and pecked her on the cheek.
"Hi, Kurt. How was Germany?" she asked her newfound lover.
"It vas as I remembered. The mountains and castles vere beautiful." he replied affectionately.
"Good." Ororo touched his cheek, and ran her hands through his blue-black hair. But just as she leaned in, the door banged open.
She looked in and there was Logan, but he was panting, and he looked as though he had seen a ghost.
Earlier:
Logan was taking his route to the courtyard, the place he had buried the love of his life. Jean. Jean Grey. He had been walking out here every week, carrying with him a single fire red rose, for over a month. He always had hoped that she wasn't really dead, but then he remembered that night, and remembered the leftover blood on his claws, and that horrible scream.
"Hey darlin'" he said as he sat in front of the pink granite tombstone that marked her grave. He set the rose down affectionately and sat there for a minute longer, his fingertips lingering over the delicate petals.
… Elsewhere…
"Jean? Jean wake up."
A woman with lustrously long, fire red hair lay on an unfamiliar ground, neither cold nor hot. Her eyes opened, their emerald color breath taking, like deep pools of a dim forest. She raised her head and her hair cascaded down, and she looked about the strange place she was in.
"Wh-where am I? Jean asked, more to herself than to anyone. "Nice Stars."
"You're in the White Hot Room. And I am Death." a heavily Scottish accented man said. He was wearing dark blue denim overalls and a white undershirt, a hard hat atop his head. He looked nothing like what one would think of when one thought of Death.
"Okay, so … Death, where am I and why am I here? And what is this place?" Jean queried.
"Jean, to answer the latter of the two questions you have, we are in the M'Kkran Crystal, hidden in th' deepest reaches of space. There is no need to wonder why you're here, though I should just remind ya. As ya know, you are one of the most powerful beings in the Universe. You and your descendants alone are capable of harnessing the kind of power you now wield."
"And what is this power exactly?"
"The power of the Phoenix. You called upon the full extent of yer powers at Alkali Lake, to save yer friends and the men ya love. It answered yer call, and it chose you. It is not an entity, for I know that is what you think it. Nor is it a hidden Personality that is inside of yer mind as Charles saw it. It is and has been the complete form of the Life Force of the Universe."
"It is ancient and powerful, yet it is not inherently evil. Yes it destroys, but that is to make more life, a grand design, if you will, for the cosmos."
"But why me? Why Jean Grey?" Jean panted.
"Because the Phoenix Force came from ya and yet not. Ye are the source, the Avatar, chosen by it, with it encoded into yer DNA. Yer unique in yer powers, and ye have the potential to be one of the most powerful beings in the history of the cosmos."
Jean looked around and then felt a warm tingle covering her body. "What happened to my costume?" She looked down and found that her black leather uniform had changed to pure white. The tubing was now purple with a Gold Phoenix emblem on her chest.
"This lass is the true form of ye." Death whispered.
"But why?! Why can't I just be myself?! Not this being of unlimited power!" she whimpered.
"As I said, ye called for it lass, and it answered, but it craved and hungered for ye in return. It came to ye, and will come to yer descendants. Lass, it is yers by right, and yers alone. No other can harness it to the extent. Yer family is the family of the Phoenix, and as such and has been for generations, by all the names given to it."
"Alright, but what am I doing here?" Jean finally asked.
"Yer here to face that which ye fear the most." Death answered nonchalantly.
And with that, Dark Phoenix appeared before them, her long hair charged and flowing, her deep red outfit tattered and there in her gut were three slashes.
"You aren't going to return Dear Jean. I am!!" Dark Phoenix cackled, "I will return and destroy everything!! Hahaha!!!" She walked up and Jean saw that her eyes were coal black, blacker than the deepest recesses of space.
"No! I won't allow it!!" Jean cried.
Dark Phoenix telekinetically hurled a piece of a tower at Jean, who waved her hand and blocked, sending it flying back towards the sender. Dark Phoenix simply tossed it aside, without lifting a hand. Jean then tapped into the Phoenix Force and began assaulting Dark Phoenix, her inner demon, with the strengthened telekinesis, and flames that lapped at the edges of Dark Phoenix's trench coat.
"The only way we can resolve this is one of us is going to have to die!!" screamed Dark Phoenix.
"Not on my watch, you bitch!!" retaliated Jean.
When she thought, she saw that she began to grow to an enormous size, becoming gigantic, the many towers shrinking to tiny pricks of metal and glass. She took her hands and scooped up the now writhing Dark Phoenix, and looked at her. She pressed both hands upon her chest and watched as Dark Phoenix disappeared into her body.
She watched as the world grew bigger, and she then stood face to face, once again, with Death.
"Well done, lass." he said as she collapsed on the ground, her heart beating fast. "The time has come, lassie, there is someone waiting for ye on the other side"
"Hey Darlin" Jean heard, the voice hoarse and familiar.
She smirked, "Alright" and with that all went white.
Back in the Courtyard
Logan sat by the grave stone, his fingers gently caressing the petals of the single rose. He was silent and calm, for once he didn't think of his new classes to teach and the student he had to go fetch from differing parts of the U.S. He just sat and had an astounding feeling of peace, when suddenly the ground shock violently. He gasped and jumped back as the soil above the grave began to, not collapse but literally dissolve.
White and red and gold flames burst forth in a chaotic fashion, and suddenly a single bare foot stepped from it, the skin olive and delicate. "Hello, Logan" a familiar voice said. Logan looked from the foot and saw that in the flames was the face of his love, her ruby hair flowing this way and that in the flames. He held out his hand and she took, finally stepping out of the flames, only to reveal her lack of clothing.
"Jeannie, is this really you or is this the Phoenix??" Logan asked hesitantly.
"Logan, I am always the Phoenix, and I am always today and forever more, I am no longer Phoenix or Dark Phoenix. I am White Phoenix, Fire and Life Incarante, and I am here to stay." Jean replied.
"Yeah well, erm … can ya put some clothes, cuz you're only naked in my dreams."
"Oh" Jean smirked. As she said that, white flames engulfed all but her face only to dissipate, revealing a completely white leather uniform, purple tubing with a giant gold Phoenix emblem upon her breast. "As I said, Logan, I'm White Phoenix, and I am here to stay."
"Let me go 'Ro" Logan whispered.
Back in 'Ro's office, the present:
"Logan" admonished Storm jumping aways from Kurt. "What in the name of the Goddess are you doing here?!"
"'Ro" Logan panted, "Jean … She's back!! I ranup as fast as I could, she wants to see you."
"What? Wait one moment. Who's back first of all and second, why run up to me, why couldn't 'she' come up here with you??"
"Well, to answer yer questions. A. who do you think??!! Red hair!! Green eyes!! Tried to destroy the world!! Get the picture!! B. She wanted to … I don't know why!!!"
"Jean!!! Why didn't you sound the alarm!! You imbocile!!!!"
"This isn't alarm thing!!! This is a sort of return!! Go and see, then you'll understand!!!
"Alright, but let's guard ourselves, we don't know what she may try."
Back in the Courtyard:
Jean was standing by the three grave markers, one pink; hers, one red, and one gold. Her eyes were closed, her brow furrowed as she concentrated on two people she held dear: Charles and Scott. That was when she sesned five new presences coming towards her, all except one tense and frightened. "Hello, 'Ro. Hank. Kurt. Bobby. Hello again Logan." she said to all of them without opening her eyes.
"Jean, is it truly you?" 'Ro asked cautiously. Her mind was rushing trying to see if it was possible. "I thought … I saw Logan stab you … you were dead."
"Well, he didn't stab me. He, in short, stabbed a weird clone, that acted as me. The body however was mine, just not in mind. Though I do remember the feeling, and let me say, it wasn't pleasant. But no I don't have scars. Anyways, I was meant to come back now, when I came back it was the wrong time, I was out of balance and I needed to become balanced. I had come back too soon and it wasn't time, but now, I am ready and here, and I am no longer Phoneix. I am White Phoenix of the Crown, whole and balanced, and shall be thus forever."
Ororo looked unconvinced hoping that what she said were true. "How can I trust you, you killed Scott and … nearly the Professor."
"No I didn't, I was just trying to sense Scott and Charles and I have found them, and Charles is actually very close. Scott is also alive, very much so … but … he's with someone … another woman … a cold woman. See, I would never kill anyone."
"I am not sure about Scott though …" Ororo concluded.
"Sister, here if I am may, I will show you." Jean said. She held her hand up to her friends face and asked.
"Yes, you may enter." was all Ororo said.
Flashes of light and sound flashed beneath Ororo's eyes and beneath Jean's as they saw what Jean had seen. Scenes of a man and woman, the man with brown hair, tall, his naked torso facing away, with ruby sunglasses on, the woman, naked and shining like a diamond, long blonde hair waist length, draped over his right shoulder. They were sitting in front of a fire; it was snowing outside, nearly a blizzard. Then the woman looked up and looked at Jean and Ororo, and she said something silently and Scott looked, but saw nothing. Then the light faded and Ororo opened her eyes.
"As you can see, Scott is very much alive and is not alone." Jean said with a hint of regret that seemed to be more of a knowing lost love.
"Well it is good to see that you have returned!! My sister!!!" replied Ororo as she embraced Jean in strong arms.
As the two best friends embraced for the first in a long time, there came a loud humming from over head. Jean and the rest of the group looked up to see a new X-Jet beginning it's decsent and landing gently upon the grass. As the steps fell to the ground, some creature with the bluest fur stepped gracefully down. He was carrying several boxes, though all were nearly toppling over. He set them down and looked up, his yellow eyes feline and perceptive.
Beasts looked from Ororo to Jean and back again, his pupils widening to their full extent, his maw dropping revealing a set of finely pointed teeth. Then, the sound of footsteps on metal resounded in the silent courtyard, as Charles Xavier stepped off the plane.
"I thought I sensed something." he stated, "But I had not thought this. What do you want Phoenix, more innocent people to kill??!" that was when he began attempting to assault Jean's mind, but to no avail. She simply cocked her head and looked at him. He struggled to gain access until finally she relented, allowing him into her mind.
Where am I? he pondered as he looked inside her mind, for he now stood on the precipe of a beach, an ocean of Light, and with each step further, the hotter it became. Jean, what is this??
Charles, this is what my mind truly is. You need not fear Charles for it is safe. Jean said cooly, as she stood on the ocean, her hair flowing with every wave of light and heat passed her.
Jean, what do you mean this is your mind, your mind has never made me want to fear going closer. I fear that the further I enter, the closer I come to turning to ash!! This is not your mind. I will not believe it!
Charles, listen to me, Jean began, I was meant to come back, but what happened was I came back too soon. I am meant to be here, now, for there is work to be done, but I don't know how long, I may have to go back. Time however can no longer ravage me, for when I die, I only come back,a perpetual cycle, of Fire and Life, Fire and Death. I am White Phoenix. As she said this a giant flame sprung from the light, changing and changing, forming a giant flaming bird in the sky. The fire surrounded Jean, and yet it did no harm to her.
That was when all went dark in Charles' mind, and he looked upon the woman with red hair. "I see" was all he could say and he walked straight to her. He looked in her emerald eyes and she into his blue ones. They stared for several moments, reading each other, until Charles raised his arms and brought her into his embrace. She leaned in and returned the hug, once again united with her mentor and colleague. As she held him, she used her powers, and to everyones surprise, to lift the seven boxes and send them floating endlessly into the mansion.
As Charles let go of Jean he sighed. "Jean, if this truly is you, why did I not originally sense you? Why did you cloak youreslf from me?" he asked.
"Because Charles," she replied, "I didn't want you to be worried, and if you wish you may test my body and mind for any anomalies, in the newly restocked Infirmiray."
"That can wait, but yes I would like to do that, for your powers may still have control issues. However, I am glad to see you, and I see you have a new outfit!!" he stated, taking the uniform in for the first time. The leather was pure white, and had no imperfections. On her hips, there was something different, a sort of hip cloak, the bottom forming an emblem of some kind, bird like and graceful.
"And you I, and thank you!!" replied Jean enthusiastically, spinning on the spot. As she slowed and came to a stop, she noticed two things; both Kurt and Logan were kneeling, Logan facing her, Kurt before Ororo. Logan held a deep purple box, velvet and shimmering. He opened the small box, revealing a silver band with a large red Star Sapphire with two white diamonds on each side.
"Jeannie, you know that I have loved ya since I first set eyes on ya. Ever since the Alcatraz incident, I haven't thought of anything other than you, nothing. And so I kneel before ya, not as a mutant, or freak a'nature, but as a man in love, to ask ya, if you will take my hand in marriage?" Logan sputtered.
Jean looked at him, dumbfounded. Charles, Beast, and Bobby all stood looking between the two couples, and while Ororo looked at Kurt with a smile, Jean was not as sure. Her mind raced, and her heart beat rose. She concentrated on Scott, and looked once more upon the man she ahd once loved. He saw the woman and him lying in bed, her maincured hand resting on his chest. And there on that hand, on the ring finger was three rings, sings of marriage, and Jean's mind was made up. She left the image and returned to the present.
"Logan, I have known you for several years, and though I was with someone, I had an attraction to you, and though the good guys are not what they appear, I would like to take you home." Jean said, reminding him of what she had once said before her untimely death. "So, in other words, yes. Yes, I will marry you, Logan."
With that, Logan slipped the ring on her finger, rising while doing so, and he placed his strangely soft lips upon hers. She was breathless for a moment as he kissed her, opening her mouth allowing him access. He explored for several seconds, while she to explored, before their liplock broke. She looked into his ice-blue eyes and smiled.