The End?
"Jean!" Scott shouted, moving as close as he could without being burned.
"Scott, stay back!" Emma warned, shrinking away in abject terror, an emotion Cyclops had never actually seen from her. "It's not her, it's…"
"Phoenix!" shouted Jean's voice – but it wasn't entirely Jean's voice. She smiled at Cyclops, but it was a much more distant smile than that of a lover. "Do not fear, Scott Summers! Jean Grey loves you with all her heart, and so you are under my protection."
Cyclops looked dazed. "You're not… you're not Jean."
"Jean Grey lives. You may speak with her shortly." She turned to Emma, and if possible it seemed the flames burned even hotter. "But first…"
"No!" Emma protested. "I… I didn't. It wasn't me. I was seduced by the psychic energy of the Phoenix. The… the power. My God, the power…"
"ENOUGH EXCUSES!" Flames shot from the sky, forming a circle containing Jean and Emma. Jean hovered over Emma threateningly. "You meant to claim my power as your own, foolish girl. You meant to control me. No one can control me! I am evolution! I am life itself!"
Emma suddenly gathered herself. "Maybe I can't control you… but I did absorb some of your power. And I don't intend to die like this." She stood bolt upright, and her eyes flashed orange.
"Wait!" Scott protested, but it was too late. Emma and Jean fired massively powerful energy bursts at each other, creating a shockwave that threw everyone gathered around to the ground.
"You're too dangerous!" Emma shouted over the deafening sound. "No one can be that powerful and be uncorrupted!"
"I must be pure. I will recover what you've stolen. And then I will kill you."
"Not today!" Emma shouted, suddenly releasing all of her energy in one burst.
But Jean – or the Phoenix, or whatever she was – appeared barely phased. And Emma staggered backward, clearly spent.
The sound of unsettling laughter filled the air. "Is that it? Even with part of my power, that's the best you can do?" She rose threateningly.
"Please…" Emma almost whispered.
"JEAN, NO!" Cyclops shouted, suddenly running between the two.
"Get out of my way, Scott Summers," she warned.
"Jean, this isn't you! You would never take a life like this! Stop this!"
The energy surrounding Jean faltered for the briefest of moments, and her expression suddenly looked more human. "Scott, I…" but her expression hardened and she was once again wreathed in flames. "Get out of the way if you want to live, Scott Summers."
"Fight it, Jean!" Scott implored. "You're stronger!"
Again the terrible laughter. "Foolish boy. I am the most powerful force in the universe. No mortal, no matter how gifted, can withstand my power."
In the distance, Scott heard the sound of an approaching jet. At first he felt relieved, knowing Professor Xavier was coming, but he knew there was no way he could get here in time.
"I will only warn you one more time," Phoenix threatened.
"Emma," Scott said quietly. "If you want to live, do exactly as I say."
Emma nodded stiffly.
"Get me in there."
"What?" Emma demanded incredulously. "Are you insane?"
"I need to be inside her mind. Trust me. I know what I'm doing.
"Jean," Scott said, still refusing to address Phoenix directly. "I know you're in there. I know you can hear me. You have to fight this. You have to. I love you, Jean.
"I love you," he repeated firmly.
xxx
Aboard the X-Jet, Professor Xavier suddenly gasped.
"Professor?" Rogue asked tentatively. "Are you okay?"
"I've just detected a massive outburst of psychic energy…" Xavier explained. "We need to land! Now!"
"Sounds like I should fly."
Bishop gladly vacated the pilot's seat without complaint, and everyone was relieved to see Storm back.
Rogue glanced at Wolverine, to see if he wanted to resume the copilot position, but he merely winked encouragingly, which buoyed Rogue's spirits even more.
xxx
The jet landed literally in the middle of the lawn, near where a small group of people seemed to be gathered. Xavier was the first one out, flanked by Storm and Wolverine. Rogue and Bobby were staying on the jet with Bishop and the others for now.
"Emma," Xavier said as he saw the woman shakily getting to her feet. "Don't you think you've about overstayed your welcome?"
"Charles," Emma replied, obviously rattled. "You have no idea."
As they moved past Emma, they saw Cyclops clinging to someone.
Wolverine snorted. "Oh geeze. Which state of grief is the one where you—?"
Scott had turned slightly at the sound of their approach, revealing a slender woman in a leather uniform with brilliant red hair.
"Jean?"
xxx
A full psychic scan by Professor Xavier confirmed it. The woman now lying motionlessly on a bed in the infirmary was Jean.
But she wasn't alone.
"When she wakes up…" Cyclops asked tentatively, "will it be her, or…?"
"Until we can be sure, perhaps it would be best that she not wake up," Beast pointed out.
xxx
"You should have believed me."
"I'm not in the mood for your games anymore, Erik," Xavier answered sharply.
"Come now, Charles. You know the rules."
Xavier leaned closer to the monitor. He was as close to enraged as he had ever been. "You killed innocent mutants to further your agenda. Explain that to me, Erik. Explain how that is for the betterment of all mutantkind."
Magneto sighed. "I fear I can no longer explain myself to you, Charles. You have become so polluted by homosapien ideals that I no longer hold out hope that there is a place for you in the New Order."
For the first time since they had known each other, Xavier issued Magneto a direct threat. "You have crossed a line that cannot be un-crossed. I have been too lenient with you because of our former friendship. That ends now. As of today, I will devote every resource, every ounce of energy, every waking moment to bringing you to justice."
"Human justice, Charles?"
"You had better hope you are that lucky." With that, Xavier ended the transmission, and tried to regain his composure.
But before he could make much progress, he felt a sudden psychic jolt.
"Professor!" Storm exclaimed as she entered his office.
"I know, Ororo. She's awake."
xxx
Perhaps fittingly, Cyclops and Wolverine were with Jean in the infirmary when the others arrived. Cyclops was on his knees at her bedside, Wolverine stood alone next to the door.
"Jean?" Storm asked tentatively, and Xavier closed his eyes as he psychically reached out to her.
"It's her," Scott assured them.
Jean was obviously weak from her ordeal, and she made no effort to sit up. "Scott tells me I've missed a lot of excitement."
xxx
Storm had been surprised to see Wolverine leave the infirmary after just a few minutes, and she chased after him in the hallway. "Hey!"
"Hey," Wolverine echoed, seemingly calm.
"I was afraid you were taking off again," Storm admitted as she caught up to him.
It was understandable that she thought the sight of Jean with Scott would drive him away again. After all, it certainly had in the past.
But Wolverine just smiled, and from the bottom of his heart told her, "Got no reason to leave anymore."
xxx
Based on the X-Men films of Bryan Singer and the X-Men comics by Marvel Comics
I do not own the X-Men, or any associated characters and concepts
Charles Xavier, aka Professor X
Erik Lensherr, aka Magneto
Emma Frost, aka White Queen
Logan, aka Wolverine
Ororo Munroe, aka Storm
Jean Grey, aka Phoenix
Scott Summers, aka Cyclops
Alex Summers, aka Havok
Marie D'Ancato, aka Rogue
Raven Darkholme, aka Mystique
Kurt Wagner, aka Nightcrawler
Hank McCoy, aka Beast
Bobby Drake, aka Iceman
General Nick Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D. Director
Piotr "Peter" Rasputin, aka Colussus
Kitty Pryde, aka Shadowcat
Lucas Bishop, aka Bishop
Warren Worthington III, aka Angel
Jubilation Lee, aka Jubilee
Bolivar Trask, Secretary of Defense
