Thanks so much to all of those who reviewed; it means a lot to me! Hope that you enjoy this next chapter of Spirit's Life!

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I don't know how much time had passed before I was able to open my eyes again. I gave a groggy growl, lifting my head a few inches before it fell back into the ground. I knew I was still muzzled, that I was still in a cage. The cool liquid in my veins reminded me that there was an IV stuck in my leg. I turned my head to weakly pull at it, but I didn't get very far, my head falling back down to rest on my paws. I was just about to give up completely and go back to sleep when my whole body heated up, filling with energy. I snarled, recognizing that jolt of energy.

It was Phoenix.

I made to stand, dragging my heavy limbs under me. My vision went funky, covered in black spots, and I shook my head in an attempt to clear it. To my horror, the spots only got bigger, and I felt my legs give out completely before everything went black.

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I was looking out over chaos. Bodies were burning and people were screaming. The world seemed to be on fire.

I could see the X-Men, fighting against what looked to be other mutants. It took me a while to recognize the mutants that were a part of Magneto's group. I started to rush to their aid, only to find that I couldn't. I tried again and got the same results. There was a deep chuckle, and I mentally snarled.

"Come now, Spirit, you're really going to treat me like your enemy?" Phoenix asked. "I'm going to create a whole new world! Only the strong survive, as you well know. We're so much alike."

"I'm nothing like you!" I roared back, even though my thoughts were kept inside Jean's head, where I was clearly being held captive.

"Oh, but you are, little wolf," Phoenix purred, filling me with that familiar, comforting rage. "You are so much like me. We both survived, did we not? We took down the weak and made sure that the strong prevailed. The world should be like that, don't you think? We can rule over these pathetic humans and become what we were really meant to be: rulers!"

I snarled, trying to find a way to escape from Phoenix's mental hold. Chains came and seemed to hold me down, keeping me in place "No!" I howled, tearing at the chains with fang and claw. Phoenix only laughed at my attempts.

"I will hold you with me for the rest of my days," Phoenix said, taunting me. "You will never be free of me!"

I couldn't think of a good response, and that scared me. I just tore at the chains that Phoenix had holding me in Jean's head, trying to block out her manic laughter.

"Just watch, little wolf," Phoenix said, forcing me to look through her eyes as soldiers tried to shot at Jean's physical body. "Watch as I destroy them all!"

And I did. I had no choice but to be moved by Phoenix, her mind overpowering mine. I watched in horror as innocent men were disintegrated just for following orders. Mutants within her range were destroyed in seconds.

"I will tear this world to pieces!" Phoenix screeched in elation. My eyes were drawn to my surroundings as Jean started to move into the air, the water and earth moving upwards with her. Pure elation and joy seared into my body, and I almost felt just as happy about the destruction as Phoenix did. Almost.

"I can't let you do this," I said, my voice surprisingly soft despite the noise going on around us. I could feel my physical body now, my strength fading as Phoenix drained it for herself. "I won't let you do this." I went back to tearing at the mental chains that held me, trying to free myself.

"It's no use."

I started at this voice because it wasn't Phoenix's. It was Jean's. I turned towards the source of the voice, seeing a very different Jean. This one was thin and weak, her body like twigs; she was a shell of the vibrant young woman I used to know. And, like me, she was chained within her own body.

"Jean," I whispered, crawling over to her. I tugged at her chains, but they were as hard as mine.

"It's no use, Spirit," Jean told me, reaching a hand out to touch my ears. "She's too strong."

I gave Jean's hand a gentle lick before my blackened eyes turned hard. "Against you, maybe," I said. "Definitely against me. But not against both of us together." And with that, I tore at Jean's chains with a vigor I didn't know I had. Jean, finding strength in my words, struggled against the chains that held her.

"Stop!" Phoenix screeched, slamming into both of us. "Stop that this instant!"

I snarled, turning and snapping at this darker version of Jean, the one that was slowly killing her. And me, for that matter. "Shut up, bitch," I growled before mentally attacking Phoenix as Jean went about breaking her chains. Phoenix dug at my head, making me want to give up. But then I'd look out and see the destruction that Phoenix was causing, and I knew that I couldn't let Phoenix kill them. So, despite the pain, I attacked Phoenix, keeping her away from Jean. Phoenix was a lot stronger than me, that was for sure, but I had more of a cause; I was fighting to keep my pack alive. I didn't care if that meant I would die trying, but I would not stop until Phoenix was destroyed. Our fight seemed to take hours, but in reality was only seconds. It was mostly a battle of wills, doing our best to inflict pain on the other. I could feel my consciousness fading; Phoenix's strikes were taking their toll.

I could see movement from Jean's eye, and I was distracted for a split second as I saw Logan slowly trying to approach Jean's body. The next thing I knew, I was on the ground, Phoenix having ripped deep into my mind. I screamed, trying to keep my consciousness together before it shattered completely. Phoenix stood over me, black eyes narrowed. "You've messed with me for the last time, wolf," she hissed, hand raised to finish me off for the last time.

Phoenix suddenly gasped, looking down at her chest. Three metal claws protruded from it, dripping blood. While we'd been fighting, Jean had escaped from her mental bonds and taken control of her body, giving Logan the moment he needed. Jean seemed to smile, finally at peace and away from Phoenix once and for all.

I smiled, feeling my own mental form wavering as Phoenix's grasp loosened. "You've lost," I said.

Phoenix gave one last smile, eyes dark with hatred and fury. "Wanna bet?" she asked before lunging at me just as I disappeared.

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Dun Dun Dun! What's going to happen to Spirit now? The more reviews, the faster I get the next chapter up! Thanks again for all of those who reviewed last chapter!

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