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Chapter Six: The Phoenix!

Jean Grey couldn't sleep. She spent all night focusing her power in the Phoenix she knew was still inside of her. The red hair woman wanted to free the Phoenix and, at the same time, to have control over it. However, Jean knew she couldn't have both, not alone at least, she needed Professor's help. At 6am she already was in the kitchen, eating a bowl of cereals and waiting for Professor, he usually wakes up at that time of the morning. He shouldn't take long.

The weak sunlight started to enter in his room trough the open window. He looked to the body next to him, Eric. How good it felt to have that man next to him; Charles tried to get up without wake him up, but Eric wouldn't sleep relaxed, he was always afraid, always watching, even in his sleep. Charles told him to take a bath and relax a little, while he was going to talk with Jean, who was waiting for him in the kitchen.

"Good morning, Jean." Said Charles.

"Professor, good morning."

Silence. "Do you want to talk with me, don't you?"

"Yes, it's complicated…"

"Jean…" interrupted her, Charles. "What is this power I'm feeling? Is it…Phoenix?"

"Professor, I called for Phoenix's power last night."

"Jean! That's too dangerous; I don't believe you have the strength to control that power!"

"I know! That's why I need your help. Maybe both of us have the power to control it and…and…"

"And bring Scott to life." Finished Charles. "No, Jean. First of all, we don't know if that is possible, to bring someone to life; and second, I'm not willing to take the risk of freeing the Phoenix, you know how dangerous it is. Are we clear, Jean?"

"Yes."

Charles went back to his room. He waited for Eric to finish his bath and telepathically communicated for everyone to meet in the Danger Room in an hour.

"So, what's about this meeting?" asked Eric.

"Well, I want everyone to be fine with each other mainly."

"Charles, you know that that will be difficult!"

"I know; and Logan will form groups for battle. Before you sai anything against, Eric, Logan's good in what he does."

An hour had past, but the brotherhood wasn't there yet.

"So, Mystique, you joined the good guys." Provoked her, Magneto, but Mystique just walked away and joined Charles' side.

Twenty minutes later, they finally arrived. "Well, is everyone here?" asked Charles. "Good, then I can start."

"Professor." Beast interrupt. "Rogue's not here yet."

"Is it too soon for the girl?" The Brotherhood laugh.

Wolverine walk trough the door and went to Rogue's room. He didn't even bothered to knock the door, he she was still asleep; waking up at 2pm everyday was a vicious now.

"Wake up, girl! You're late and everyone's waiting for you. I want you down there in 5minutes, did you hear me?"

"Shit!" said Rogue, "I fell asleep."

When she arrived to the Danger Room, she heard the X-Men and the Brotherhood almost fighting each other, with Logan, Jean, Ororo and Hank trying to calm the things down.

"Oh, look, she's here!" said John looking at Rogue with angry eyes, but she ignored him. Rogue could also feel someone else looking at her. It was a guy, maybe John's age, with red eyes.

"Now, please, calm down." Xavier started. "I know we have our differences, I know we fought many times, but starting today we'll have to cooperate. There is a greater enemy and only if we fight together, we can win. I know this will be difficult, but lets try to fight together and not with each other. Wolverine will be your teacher, he will form groups and you'll obey his decision." Charles went next to Magneto and watched Wolverine lecturing the team.

Wolverine asked to the Brotherhood fight, because he needed to know what groups he should make. Everyone was surprised when they saw X-23 mutation and when Wolverine approached her, she tried to attack him. It took a while until she calmed down.

"Ok, I'll divide us in five teams of four:

Team A: Toad (Todd); Jubilee; Colossus (Peter); Nightcrawler (Kurt).

Team B: Saberthoot (Creed); Wolverine (Logan); Storm (Ororo); Beast (Hank).

Team C: Quicksilver (Pietro); Scarlet Witch (Wanda); Iceman (Bobby); Shadowcat (Kitty).

Team D: Jean; Angel (Warren); Juggernaut (Caine); Mystique (Raven).

Team E: Rogue; Pyro (John); X-23; Gambit (Remy).

Now, Team A will fight team C. Next is Team D against Team E." explained Logan.

The fight between the team A and C finished quickly. Team C had lost because they didn't cooperate. Shadowcat and Iceman fought together and the twins weren't paying attention. Wolverine told them they should fight together; if Quicksilver and Iceman had fought together against Nightcrawler they could have immobilize him, for example.

Now was team D against team E and the winner would fight against team A, the winner. Team E won. Rogue was really strong and everyone was amazed; she, Pyro and gambit were a very good team, but X-23 was more individual. Then Team A and E fought each other and the winner would fight against team B, Wolverine explained.

Team E won, but lost against Wolverine's team. X-23 wanted to fight more against Wolverine, but she couldn't with so many people around, they would stop her. She watch him close, Wolverine's was talking with the girl from her team, with white streaks. The girl was angry, but Wolverine putted his hand in her shoulder and she smiled. X-23 felt jealous, although she wouldn't ever admit it.

After a bath, X-23 joined the others for the lunch. She could see the hostility between the Brotherhood and X-Men. One team was on one side of the table and the other in the other side. She sits next to gambit, which was right in front of the white strikes' girl. The girl was sitting next to Wolverine. X-23 understood that Wolverine and Storm were a couple, that was Ok for, but she didn't understand his relationship with the girl.

"Logan," called Rogue. "can we talk after the meal?"

"Sure, kid. Are you okay?"

"Yes, don't worry."

What does she wants now, thought X-23. She wanted to fight Wolverine, make him see it was his fault she suffered those experiences; it was his fault she had bad dreams and didn't remember her life before becoming X-23.

"So, Rogue, isn't it?" asked Gambit besides X-23. "You're super strong, uh?"

"Guess I am." Was the only answer Rogue gave him. She wasn't going to explain her mutation now.

"My name's Remy Lebeau. Could you show me the mansion after lunch?"

"I'm sorry, I can't." said the girl coldly. "Why don't you ask Pyro, he used to live here." They looked at Pyro, who had been looking at Rogue.

"Didn't you took the "cure"? Why are you super strong now, traitor?" asked her Pyro.

"That's none of your business, John."

John laugh, "And look, Bobby trade you for the Kitty over there, huh?" Rogue left the table with this and X-23 smiled.

Later, X-23 was searching for Gambit, he was the only guy she like to talk. He was…cute. Well, it wasn't because he was cute, of course! She found him talking with Rogue.

"Remy!" she called.

"X? What now? I'm busy, chère."

"I need to talk with you."

"I'm talking with Rogue now."

"No, you're not!" said Rogue, and left them.

"Oh, dear, I think the girl don't like Remy."

"Of course she doesn't." said X-23, "She's an X-Men!"

"Look X, the girl will like Remy. Every girl does. So, what did you want to talk about?"

"Oh, it's about Wolverine. He's my father!"

In the garden, Rogue was waiting for Wolverine, she needed him. When he finally appeared he came with Ororo.

"Logan!" she called him.

"Rogue, have you seen Jean?"

"No, why?"

"She didn't appeared for lunch and she isn't in her bedroom." Explained Ororo. "We're worried."

"I'm sure she's fine. Maybe she wants to be alone; maybe she went to Scott's grave." Rogue suggested. "Can we talk, Logan?"

"Sure, what's going on, kid?"

"Logan, I…" Rogue started, but tears fell from her eyes.

"Hey, hey! What's up, kid?"

"Joe died!"

"What? Who…Who's Joe?"

"The blond guy I touched! I killed him!"

"No, wait a minute, Rogue. You don't know that. And even if it's true, it's not your fault."

"But I do know. He's inside of me, blaming me. He's so angry; but I didn't want to kill him, I swear!"

"I know, kid. Calm down." Logan put his arms around her and tried to calm her down.

Not far from there, X-23 watches them. "I should be the one you comfort; I'm the one who's your daughter; I'm the one who suffered the most!"

Rogue was coming to her room, but Kitty's yells made her stop and enter Bobby's room. Bobby and John were fighting in the floor and Kitty was trying to stop them.

"Hey, stop it! Both of you, stop!" With her strength, Rogue easily pushed John from Bobby. "You guys are 10 years old, or what?" Rogue pushed John to her room and he almost fell.

"Rogue! Take it easy!" John told her.

"What do you you're doing, John? When will you guys stop this fight?"

"He started!" said Pyro like a spoiled child.

"You were in his room, so I bet you went there to start something!"

"I just went to say he shouldn't have left you!" He didn't mean to say that, but he was angry and the words just came out.

"What? What do you mean?"

"I… nothing. I…"

"Since when do you care about me?" asked Rogue quietly.

"It's not that… I just think he was stupid by leaving you when your powers came back."

"It wasn't like that John. We broke up a little after I take the cure. He and Kitty are meant for each other, I guess."

"So, and this new power of yours?"

"I… When I touched him… well, I stole it from one of the Lightening People." Said Rogue, sitting in her bed.

"Damn! I bet you hurt him big time"

"I…killed him."

John wished he didn't have said that. He sited next to her, "I'm sorry; I didn't know. Are you ok?"

"I am. I… I'll never forget this. I don't only have his memories, but also his power to remind me."

They were silent for some moments, sitting in Rogue's bed, each one enjoying the company of the other; both felt lonely for a long time.

"Why did you leave us, John?" asked Rogue suddenly. "I missed you." John looked at her when he heard her last words. He wanted to tell her how much he missed her, but his pride didn't let him. He murmured something about going to bed and walked away.

Later that night, Rogue woke up with a knock in her door. X-23 was in front of her, she was wearing her usually uniform and she was looking to the floor while she entered in Rogue's room.

"Can I help you?"

"Your name Rogue, right?" asked her X-23, still looking to the floor.

"Yeah…"

"You're the one who took the "cure", right?"

"Huh…yeah."

Finally, X-23 looked at Rogue, "You're a traitor then! So, what does Wolverine sees in you, you're weak and stupid!"

"Hey, girl, watch it!"

"I hate you and your perfect life; everyone loves you!" with that, X-23 jumped onto Rogue with her claws out. The two fought seriously and soon there was some young mutants watching them.

"Stop it now!" screamed Ororo, while Logan grabbed X-23 and Hank, Rogue. "What happened?"

"That girl's nuts!" said Rogue.

"I hate you!" screamed X-23 spitting blood, thanks to a hard punch from Rogue. Logan was able to take X-23 away and Rogue went to bed again, but she couldn't sleep; she could hear X-23 voice, telling she hated her and that Rogue's life was perfect. She didn't know a thing about Rogue, so how dare she saying those things?! Rogue wished her life was perfect, but it was far from it.

"What happened? You're supposed to work with us not against!" said Logan.

"It's your fault, Wolverine! If you haven't escape, if you haven't run away, I wouldn't have these claws inside of me, I wouldn't have been a guinea pig; I would remember who I am." The girl jumped to attack Wolverine now, but he was able to mobilize the girl.

"Hey, hey, calm down! I don't even know you. I'm sorry if you passed for a bad time, but so did I; and if I knew about you I wouldn't have left you in that place. This is all knew for me; I never heard of you. And what has Rogue to do with this?"

"Because… I don't remember my life, or who I am. I just know what they told me: that you are my father!" this confession of X-23 was a chock to Wolverine.

"That can't be! No way!" started Logan, but when he saw the lost expression of the young girl, who should as old as Rogue he calmed down. "Look, kid, maybe I am, but I don't know. I can't remember my past; but maybe Charles can help us tomorrow morning, you'll just have to trust him. Now let's go to bed."

"Will you like me how you like Rogue?" asked X-23 to Logan's back.

"Kid, I already like you. However, don't judge Rogue, she's a nice kid."

The rest of the night could have been a regular one, but in one room a power was surging stronger and stronger. Jean Grey was willing to free the Phoenix if that meant bringing back her lover, Scott Summers. Her room started to glow with a bright light, coming from Jean. She could feel Phoenix power, so intense, so strong.

Next morning they all met in kitchen for breakfast. Logan told Charles about last night incident with X-23 and asked him if he could try to read the girl's mind. Xavier agreed and planned it for that night.

Wanda and Pietro were talking animatedly with Kitty, Rogue, Bobby and Jubilee. They were happy to know they could tag along just well.

Hank went to have breakfast with Trish. He heard some comments about how handsome he was before leaving, but that only made him happier.

Magneto was talking with Mystique, and it wasn't a nice conversation, no, they were arguing a lot. Mystique knew he was up to something against the X-men.

X-23, Remy and John were sitting quietly, each of them with their own problems. "Remy, would you like to go training a little later?" asked the girl.

"Well, sure, chère. I'll do anything to be in your company. John, you can't take your eyes from Rogue! I understand that, I really do, but let me tell you she's a little cold; at least with me. And with that super strength, well her boyfriend must hide if she's mad with him." Remy laughed.

"Tell me about it," said X-23. "last night she almost broke my teeth, and I think she was being careful."

"Oh, yeah, last night you attacked John's princess!"

The girl laughed, "Yeah, but if you could take with the pain, she's not a strong enemy."

"First," said John, finally, "she's not my princess! And second, it's not her strength you should fear, trust me."

In one second, they could all feel the mansion trembling. They had to lean against something not to fall.

"Oh, my God! So much power!" exclaimed Wanda, her power worked like waves of great power, and she could feel other powers around her.

"Yes, and I know this power! It's the Phoenix!" after Xavier said that, the walls started to crack. "To Jean's room, quickly!"

The walls from Jean's room were destroyed and the mutants couldn't go further and reach the red hair woman, because a great power was coming out from her body. She was standing on her bed in the middle of the room, eyes closed and opened arms.

"What can we do, Charles? If this goes on, she will destroy us all, like she did to you!" remembered magneto.

"We know that, Magneto!" Ororo exclaimed.

"I can only see one solution, but that means we had to…" started the Professor.

"…kill her. I can't do that again, Charles! Don't ask me to kill her again!" yelled Wolverine.

"I can't reach her mind! Not like this, she's too strong for me." Charles said, and a greater wave of power appeared, forcing them to step away from Jean.

"I don't see any other solution, Wolverine!" yelled Mystique. "It's she or us!"

Logan's claws popped out, but Rogue called him before he moved, "Logan!" he looked at her, "You're the only one who can get near Jean, right?"

"I'm the only one who can heal fast enough to get there!"

"No, you're not. I can do it too!" interrupted X-23.

"But you would have to kill Jean, also. I have an idea." Said Rogue.

Logan took only a second to understand her idea and spoke against it. "Oh, no, you're not. It's too dangerous kid, you're not going there!"

"How could she?" asked Pietro.

"It's the only way!" insisted Rogue.

"You can die!" said Charles knowing what Rogue wanted to do.

"And she may live." Was the only answer Rogue gave, and then she took her gloves off and grabbed Logan's face. She didn't want to hurt him much, but she needed to be sure she would take enough of his healing factor to get near Jean. They saw Wolverine falling on his knees weak, and Rogue entered in the barrier of power. Slowly and painfully she arrived next to Jean, but the woman opened suddenly and a wave of power pushed back Rogue and the others.

"Rogue!" screamed John.

"I can do this!" exclaimed the girl, and again walked to Jean, whose eyes seemed to be on fire. Rogue's skin was opening wounds and healing at the same time, and that was really painful; when finally she got there, Rogue grabbed Jean's face with her naked hands. First they could hear Rogue's scream and next it joined her Jean's; both screaming in pain. After a while they passed out. Logan hurried and grabbed Jean, confirming if she was still alive.

"How strong." Said Magneto, quietly.

"That's not a surprise, last time the Phoenix was free, it was hell n earth." Said Logan.

"I wasn't referring to Jean." Snapped Eric, coldly, and his eyes went to John, who was catching Rogue from the floor.

Logan was about to say something, but Charles asked them to take the both women to the infirmary, "I already called Dr. McCoy, he's on his way."

"What the hell happened?" exclaimed Remy later that day in Bobby's room.

"I heard Jean wanted to bring Scott to life again, using the power of Phoenix." Explained Jubilee. "What I heard Logan and Ororo speaking about it yesterday!" she said, when she saw the looks of her friends.

"But what about Rogue? How could she put Jean unconscious?" asked Pietro.

"Yeah, I thought her power was the super strength." Started X-23 with contempt, "But I guess she jus likes to show off. What's her power then?"

"She can absorb other people's energy, as also memories and, in case of mutants, she absorbs their powers for an amount of time. She gain her super strength days ago, when she fought one of the Lightening People, I think she killed him, and his power is now with her." Explained Bobby.

"Wow, cool power!" said Wanda.

"Yeah, why the hell did she wanted to take the cure? She's really a traitor." said X-23.

"It's not like that, X!" exclaimed Jubilee, "Her power it kinda sucks…"

"Yeah." A voice behind them said; when they look they saw John leaning on the door. "Imagine if you had the worst memories of Magneto in your head; or if you wake up at night because of somebody else's nightmares; or worst, imagine a power that wouldn't let you touch other people without hurting them… a lot."

"She can't control it?" asked Remy.

"Nop."

"Oh, please, she's just acting like a victim. And she's not that strong." Said X-23.

"Right." John said, "By, the way, X, the Professor has to enter on Jean's mind, because of that Phoenix's problem, and maybe Rogue's too; he's guessing that that will fatigue him. He asked me to tell you would read your mind tomorrow, if there's no problem."

"Figures." Said the girl, and walked out the door.

At the infirmary, Charles was entering on Jean's mind at that moment. He only took five minutes and he seemed satisfied.

"So?" asked Hank.

"Well, the Phoenix was very weak, it's interesting, but it seemed that just part of her was there. I guess we will not have to worry about it anymore."

"Hmmm, maybe Rogue has the other power. Well, it's what her power does, right?"

"Good point, Hank. Do you think she handles my intrusion?"

"Certainly, they both will wake up soon, and only Jean will have to take some time to recover from Rogue's attack. Rogue will wake up fully recovered, I think."

"Good." And then Charles entered in Rogue's mind; it also took him only five minutes. "You were right, doctor. Rogue also has a part of the Phoenix on her. With the Phoenix separate I think we don't need to worry."

"Yes, but it will be difficult for them."

"I know what you mean, Hank. Jean will be embarrassed by trying to use the Phoenix and her heart will be broken, because Scott's not here."

"And Rogue," continued Hank, "she will have another "persona" to deal with."

"Yes, poor girl."

"I'm used to that, Professor."

"Rogue!" exclaimed hank, examining the girl. "How are you feeling, child?"

"I'm not a child Hank?"

"I think she's just fine, Hank." Said Charles, smiling.

"Professor, how's Jean?"

"She'll wake up soon."

"I know that what she did was wrong, but don't be so rough on her, she's so sad." Asked Rogue.

"I promise I won't be, and I know she will punish herself for what she did. Now, do you think you're able to go on a mission with the others later?"

"Yes, I'm good. And if we don't take too long, maybe I can use this extra power I got from Jean!"

"Perfect! I'm going to tell others, we'll meet at 5pm."

"Sooo… Hank. How did your date went?"

Hank laughed. "Pretty good, but I had to interrupt it because of some problems in here!"

"I'm sorry about that! When do I get to meet her?"

Jean woke up a little later, but she was tired, frustrated and ashamed for her actions. She went to her room, and started to cry. Someone knocked the door, but Jean didn't respond. Ororo entered in the room.

"Jean?" the goddess of the weather called her.

"Ororo, please, I know I made a mistake, but, please, just leave me alone!"

"I can't do that, Jean. I'm worried about you."

"Why? You're afraid I will steal Logan from you; I can read your mind. But, guess what, Logan loves you, he chooses you!"

"Jean! You shouldn't read other people's mind!" said Ororo annoyed. "But, you're right. I was afraid at first, but I was happy too. You're my best friend, and I forgive you, and I don't blame what you did as Phoenix."

"But, it is my fault, Ororo. It's my fault all this people is dead; it's my fault Scott's dead!"

"It is not! Jean, people die, you're not the only one who has to face the death of someone you love. But people are able to go on with life, and so are you. I have a mission now, but I want you to stay here and rest. I want you to think about your actions."

"I wish I was still dead!" Jean said.

"Stop it! You're being a child! You were dead, but you came back, that means something, by the goddess, it means you still have things to do in this life. Think aout it, my friend."

At 5pm they all met to hear what they should do. They could a virtual map on a big table; the cities attacked by the LP were mark with a red X.

"Your mission is to find if there are survivors." Explained Charles.

"We should go fight these people!" said Saberthoot.

"Calm down, you are not ready for that, yet. And according to the journalist Trish, they are separated by groups; I'll be here trying to find where they're going to attack next."

Next chap: more Ryro! ) Hope you like it!