-XXXX-
War slashed, but X23 blocked and spun inwards, elbowing him in the ribs. However, it left her open and she gritted her teeth in pain when six claws stabbed into her lower back. War lifted her up on his claws and slammed her against a building wall. X23 elbowed backwards, striking him in the face, before whirling around and slashing
"Logan, you have to stop this," she said, dodging his claws, "You have to fight it"
"Shut up, you irritating little clone," War growled
"I am more than a clone," X23 retaliated
"Really? How so, X?"
War lunged and slashed, pushing X23 against the wall. She kneed him in the ribs and slashed him across the face, before kicking him in the chest. War flipped onto his feet, ducking X23's slash and stabbing her in the stomach, before throwing her onto the street. He charged at her, but she kicked his legs out from underneath, sending him sprawling nearby
"All my life, I thought I was nothing but a tool," X23 said, getting up, "Just a weapon for use by Stryker. But then, you taught me that I was more than that"
"Shut up and die"
War slashed, but X23 ducked and stabbed into his ribs. Snarling, War punched her, then grabbed her arm and snapped it at the elbow. X23 refused to cry out, as War threw her along the street. Cuts appeared on her back and flank, but healed, as she positioned her broken arm back into place and waited for it to heal completely
"I am more than a clone and you know it. Well, Logan does anyway," X23 said as War approached, "I am your flesh and blood. I am your daughter"
"You are no child of mine," War growled
He kicked her in the stomach, then uppercutted her. X23 flicked out her foot claw and stabbed War in the chest, but he grabbed her by the leg and throat, before dropping her onto the road. She kicked him in the jaw and with her arm healed, flipped onto her feet, popping her claws out. War growled and lunged at her
"I'm sorry…Dad"
War faulted in his attack, as X23 dodged and slashed his throat. War stumbled back, falling to his knees, the word 'Dad' reverberating through his mind. It touched something deep inside, bringing Logan to the surface and fight against the brainwashing that had been inflicted on him. Wolverine growled as he fought a mental battle, before finally breaking the mind control. He gasped in short breaths, supporting himself on his hands and knees as X23 knelt beside him
"You okay?"
"I'm good, kid. Thanks"
He looked over his shoulder at the battle raging on
"What do you say we go lend a hand?"
"I say that's a good idea"
"Good. Come on, Laura"
-XXXX-
Cyclops unleashed a powerful laser blast, knocking one Sentinel down, as another Sentinel fired at him. Cyclops dived out of the way, as Gambit threw several cards. They exploded around the Sentinel's hand, completely severing it. Gambit grinned and did a mocking bow, before dodging a third Sentinel's restraining tendril. Meanwhile, Phoenix was having a telekinetic battle with Apocalypse. Anything caught in their way was destroyed in the furious fight. Colossus lifted up a nearby van and launched it at Apocalypse. He backhanded it with ease, accidentally taking down Death, who had Spider-Man in his clutches, ready to deliver a final blow. Spider-Man zipped onto a nearby building, watching as Death plummeted to the road with the van
"That's gonna hurt in the morning"
Iron Man landed and removed the van, as Death sat up, holding his head in pain
"How you feeling, Warren?" he asked cautiously, as Spider-Man landed nearby
"Like I woke up from a really bad nightmare," Archangel replied, shakily getting up
"Yeah, welcome to the club"
"So the bad guy is now on our side?" Spider-Man said, "I need a scorecard"
Archangel looked over at Apocalypse fighting the X-Men and a savage look overcame him, as he spread his metallic wings and took off
"This is going to end messily," Spider-Man commented
Apocalypse dodged Phoenix's pryokinetic attack and launched a telekinetic blast, smashing her through a building, then dodging Havoc's energy blasts. Teleporting beside Havoc, he lifted him up and was about to throw him when Archangel flew down, firing several feathers. Apocalypse dropped Havoc, stumbling back as he removed the feathers and Archangel landed before him
"You're gonna pay for what you did to me," Archangel growled
"You wanted your wings and I gave them to you," Apocalypse said calmly
Archangel growled and launched himself at Apocalypse, only to be thrown aside easily, as Wolverine and X23 came in, slashing at the ancient mutant. He whirled around and backhanded them both, as Famine lunged at the pair. Wolverine was on his feet in an instant, blocking Famine's strike and knocking him down. Cyclops fired an optic blast at Apocalypse, who deflected it with his shield, before creating a spear out of the shield and striking Cyclops in the chest. He went down, as Apocalypse turned and smacked down Archangel with a war hammer
Iron Man and Spider-Man flew in, firing projectiles at Apocalypse, who blocked them, before flying up towards them. At that moment, Phoenix burst out of the building, wreathed in flames, as she shot towards Apocalypse. He punched down Iron Man, before grabbing Phoenix by the throat and flying higher into the sky
"Let's see how powerful that Dark Phoenix really is," he grinned
"I don't think you really want to know," Phoenix said
Flames appeared in her eyes, as the aura of fire around her grew larger. However, as the air got thinner, the flames slowly started to die. Apocalypse grinned, as he raised his left arm, now a sword. But as he was about to deliver the blow, a laser beam struck his arm and he let Phoenix go. Summoning her power, Phoenix burst into flames and flew back at Apocalypse, as Iron Man joined her. This time, the flames didn't die out in the thin atmosphere
"You're tapping into the dark reserves," Apocalypse said, "How long will that last before you're consumed by the Dark Phoenix?"
"Long enough to destroy you," she growled
She launched a large fireball, which Apocalypse batted aside, as Iron Man flew up and delivered a blow to Apocalypse's jaw. The ancient mutant retaliated with a blow to Iron Man's mid section, then delivered a hammer drop to his face. The blow dazed Iron Man as he fell back towards Earth. Phoenix kicked Apocalypse in the stomach, as he punched her in the face and kneed her in the ribs. Phoenix tapped further into her dark reserves, creating a bigger aura of flames around her, as she telekinetically blasted Apocalypse out into space. She flew after him, the mystical flames protecting her from the deadly effects of outer space
"Impressive powers you have there," Apocalypse grinned, "But it won't help you for long. Soon, it will consume you and compel you to destroy everything in your way"
"Shut up! I'll hold out long enough to destroy you," Phoenix growled
"Hm, we'll see"
-XXXX-
Meanwhile, the rest of the X-Men and Spider-Man were fighting against the Sentinels, as Wolverine and X23 fought against Famine, who was able to hold his own against the pair. Famine slashed Wolverine across the chest, then kicked X23 in the stomach when she came up behind him, before slashing a double uppercut on Wolverine, throwing him onto his back. X23 lunged, kicking Famine in the back with her bladed foot. He roared and elbowed her, before grabbing her and throwing her aside. Wolverine got to his feet and slashed Famine across the chest, then stabbed him in the stomach. Famine struck his father and threw him aside, before battling his sister
Getting to his feet, Wolverine raced at Famine, tackling him around the waist and rolling across the street. Famine kicked him off and flipped onto his feet, as Wolverine blocked his furious strikes and countered with his own. X23 slashed at Famine's unprotected back, but he turned around in time and grabbed her wrist, before stabbing her in the chest. Wolverine grabbed Famine by the shoulders and kneed him in the back, then threw him onto the road. At that moment, Iron Man came flying down. He had been dazed by Apocalypse's attack and was trying to slow him momentum, but only to a slight degree. Just as he managed to stabilise himself, it was too late and he slammed into Famine, crushing him into the road. Wolverine rushed over and rolled Iron Man away, before checking for Famine's vitals. He was still alive, but unconscious, the red glow in his eyes having faded away
"Get him to the X-Jet," Wolverine told X23, "And you," he said to Iron Man, "You're coming with me"
-XXXX-
