Thanks so much to all of those who reviewed; it means a lot to me! I'm glad that I could move so many of you; it makes me feel accomplished in life! Some shoutouts to those who reviewed:

Virginia l: I guess we'll just found out. ;)

HextheDaydreamer: Me too! Those last few chapters had me bawling! (Her stories are also amazing, peeps, so don't be afraid to check them out!)

BrySt1: Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying the story!

Hassingthecoolone: Thank you so so so much for your review! It made my day and made me feel all warm and fuzzy. Definitely one of the best reviews I've gotten in a long time. Thanks for being such a faithful reader!

Hope that you enjoy this next chapter of Spirit's Life! I'd also like to see if you guys can guess where Spirit's going next! Hint: it's a movie.

()()()()()()

Logan carried me back to the mansion, seeing as I barely had the strength to stand, much less walk. There wasn't anyone in sight as he pushed open the front doors of the mansion, the silence broken when he called out for the others. "Hank!" he shouted. "Rogue, Storm! Come here!"

There was a few more moments of silence before I could hear the heavy footsteps of Hank coming down the stairs, followed by the lighter footsteps of Storm and Rogue.

"Logan, what's wro-?" Hank started to ask before his eyes fell onto my wasted form. "Damn it Logan. What have you done?"

Storm gasped when she saw me, as did Rogue. Rogue even tried to come towards me, but Hank stopped her, putting his arm out in front of her.

"I haven't done anything," Logan growled, tightening his grip around me. I squirmed slightly at the grasp, the first time I'd moved since coming back home, causing the others to gasp again.

"That's not possible," Hank said, his voice hushed. "We saw her die. She was dead for hours!"

My ears shot up at that, and my eyes narrowed. That familiar rage burned within my gut, and I had to fight to keep it under control. When had I died? What was going on? I didn't like the way Hank was staring at me, like I was about to go feral. He'd placed himself in front of Storm and Rogue, blocking them from sight. I whined softly, ears going back. What had I done?

"Logan, she could still harbor the Phoenix," Hank told him. "She's still a danger to us."

"No, you're wrong, Hank," Logan replied, keeping his own temper in check. "Look at her, Hank. She can barely move on her own; I found her out in the forest, having collapsed on the way out."

Annoyed, I voiced my thoughts. 'Is someone going to tell me what's going on? I am right here, you know.'

At my voice, Rogue gave a cry, dodging around Hank's arm to come to Logan's side. She began stroking my head, and I gently wagged my tail, summoning up the strength to lick her hand before my head fell limp against Logan's arm. "She's better," Rogue said, still petting my head. "Hank, even you have to see that the Phoenix is gone."

Hank sighed. "I don't know, Rogue," he said. "She's still different, that's for sure." He turned his dark gaze to Logan. "Would you at least let us put her in quarantine until we can figure all this out? Make sure that the Phoenix is really gone?"

I growled in irritation. 'I'm right here, Hank,' I said. 'Don't treat me like I don't understand you. I'll go into quarantine if that's what it takes.'

My voice sounded exhausted now; I was exhausted. I laid my head back on Logan's arm, eyes closing as I fell asleep.

()()()()()()

For a month, I was in quarantine. Hank was less wary around me now that it was clear Phoenix was gone, for the most part at least. I didn't tell him about the rage that churred in my belly whenever someone came close to me, and how hard it was to push it back down. But it became easier with time. I hoped that one day, I wouldn't even have to worry about that little piece of Phoenix that remained inside of me.

When I'd first arrived to quarantine, Hank had set up an IV drip to help me get better. I admit, I hated it, but I knew that the blue mutant had a point. I was slowly able to move from liquid food to solid food, and the weight slowly came back to me. My ribs didn't protrude as much, my fur was turning white again. The IV was able to come out after about two weeks, and I was soon able to stand on my own four feet again. I was still far from completely healthy, but I was getting there.

Logan came to visit me everyday, even though he wasn't allowed into the same room as I was. He talked to me about what had happened, and I told him about how Phoenix had held me captive within Jean's body. I was horrified to find out what I had become while Phoenix had taken over; I never wanted to become that feral, mindless beast again.

By the time 30 days had passed, Hank finally released me from my sentence. It was nice to be able to get out from the tiny room I'd been held in, able to move my legs and really get the stiffness out of them. I was still scared to try shifting, though Logan and Rogue both encouraged me to try. Finally, I did. It was the longest shift ever. It took me ten minutes to finally shift into my human form, and man did it hurt! By the time I'd finally shifted, I was laying on the ground panting with the exertion. Now, all I had to worry about was my healing ability, which was slow to return.

()()()()()()

By the time I was fully recovered, two more months had passed. I was the picture of health, however, my fur white and glossy, muscle thick under my fur. Even my shattered teeth had fallen out and been replaced with new ones, my healing factor having helped with that.

Now, I laid about the mansion like I should have been, helping Storm, now headmaster, with the students. Logan had finally left once I got better, off to travel like he should be. Life felt perfect. Life was perfect.

()()()()()()

And I was bored out of my mind. I was restless with energy, wanting something to do. Storm offered to even make me a teacher at the school in Logan's place, but I turned her down; to be honest, I couldn't see myself dealing with the pups.

I took to working in the training room by myself and with some of the other X-Men. I taught them the value of teamwork and tactics, but that's all I could really teach them; I just wasn't made to be a teacher. A few times, I went out to the woods and wouldn't return for weeks on end. And still, I couldn't soothe the coldness in my heart. Yes, Phoenix still lingered within me. I found later after looking in the mirror for the first time in months that Phoenix's mark would always reside within me. One of my blue eyes had returned, while the other remained a jet black. I still had to fight to keep Phoenix locked away; I wasn't going to let her control me, not again. I was through being her puppet. That didn't stop the others from shying away from me when they met my gaze or from turning and walking in the other direction when I started towards them. Even in a mansion full of mutants, I was an outcast. It didn't bother me that much, since I was used to being on my own, but it still hurt to see that fear in their eyes.

When I wasn't in the training room, I went to sit by the Professor's grave to talk to him. I'd take the diamond necklace that he'd given me and I'd rub the teardrop gem as I talked to his spirit. Even though I felt stupid trying to connect to a dead man, it did make me feel better. When I was finished, I'd replace the necklace by his headstone and leave.

It was turning one of my private moments that Logan found me. He'd come up behind me while I'd been gazing into the skies overhead, rubbing the diamond.

"Don't think too hard, Sprite," he teased, causing me to startle and whip around. "You may burst your brain."

"Logan!" I exclaimed, getting to my feet and tackling him in a hug. "When did you get back?"

"Just now," Logan replied, giving me a tight hug. "Storm said you'd be out here. It gets kind of boring without a war going on, yeah?"

I shrugged, pulling away from Logan's embrace and averting eye contact, a habit I'd picked up in the last couple of months; no one liked looking at my now mismatched eyes. "A bit," I admitted.

Logan took my chin in his hand, forcing me to look at him. "You've got nothing to hide from me, Sprite," he told me softly. "I'll love ya no matter what you look like."

I smiled at that; it was the nicest thing anyone had said to me in a long time. "Thanks Logan," I said.

"So," Logan started, wrapping an arm over my shoulders as he lead me towards the woods, "what now?"

I chuckled slightly. "What now," I agreed. "It's too quiet here for me, Logan. I'm bored and I can't keep living like this. I just don't feel welcome in the mansion anymore. Maybe my time here has finally finished."

"Now that's just crazy talk," Logan said, looking down at me as we walked. "You're always welcome here!"

"By you maybe," I said darkly. "But you haven't been here the past few months. They fear me, Logan. They know Phoenix is in me, and they are scared."

Logan sighed, pulling us to a stop and stepping in front of me so that he could look into my eyes. "Everyone's scared of something," he started. "I guess we just need to wait and see how things turn out. I know it's frustrating, Sprite, but we'll get through it like we always do."

I smiled faintly, but I couldn't make it reach my eyes. "Maybe I need to go somewhere else for a little while," I told him. "To a place where I am not known, where I can disappear."

"You don't want to do that, Sprite," Logan warned. "You'll go crazy being by yourself like that, especially for a long period of time."

"What do you suggest then?" I finally snapped, exasperated. "Because I'm out of options."

Logan was silent for a few moments before he spoke again. "In my honest opinion, I think that you should stay here," he said. "But I know that's not what you want."

I gave a firm nod. "I'll come back," I promised. "But I just need to be away from here for awhile. I need action."

"I understand," Logan assured me. "We'll think of something."

()()()()()()

You guys know the drill! The more reviews, the faster I get the next chapter up! Thanks again for all of those who reviewed last chapter; they made my day! Again, I'd also like to see what your guesses are for where Spirit will be next. There will be about two more chapters left of Part I before I'll start Part II.

I've also just started college, so I don't know how often I'll be able to post chapters. Just bear with me for awhile as I get used to this new life. Thanks again for everything! You guys rock!

ML out