Author's Note: This story takes place after the war ends in X-3, but as if Jean had never reappeared after X-2. She is still missing as of the start of this fic; everyone she killed in X-3 is therefore alive.
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Prologue: Jean Grey
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She could feel everything.
Most people could see the large things around them; they could hear a small range of sounds, and navigate their way through the world well enough to avoid injury, most of the time. Jean had accepted that level of awareness her entire life. But now, out of necessity, and to save all those she loved most in the world, she had opened her mind. Unhooked the shaky latch that blocked out all of the universe's joyful motion from her conscious mind.
She raised her hand and the floods froze.
She'd gained more than just awareness. She could literally feel every molecule on the planet. She could reach out and touch any of them if she wanted. She could rest her hand on the wall of the Great Pyramid of Giza, or pick up the whole thing and move it to Bangkok if she wanted. She could brush the hair back from Scott's face. She could—
She could lift their jet into the air, hold back the water, keep Nightcrawler from teleporting, and carry on a conversation with her loved ones by controlling the Professor, all at once. So she did.
Jean felt her body turn to flame, a thousand nuclear fusions going off inside her like she was a miniature sun. She maneuvered the plane into safety, and then from fire she became water.