The students of the institute stood along with Magneto's acolytes over a long desert highway. Nothing but cacti and dirt could be seen along with a single sign standing within the dirt, it was a warning sign stating beware of snakes. Scott stood in front of the sign and pouted doubt filling his mind.
"There's nothing here for miles! This has got to be a trap!" he said accusing Magneto. The man smiled and walked up to the sign bending it back like a lever. Once bent the ground around them began to rattle and shake until a large hole opened up revealing a long passageway. The older man smirked at Scott who sighed annoyed. "I'm still keeping my eye on you."
The group entered the metallic pathway until they caught a horrible sight. All around them on the walls and the floor were puddles of blood. The very air around them stunk of death and decay, some of the younger students heaved and cringed at the sight in fear and disgust.
"Did someone beet us to them?" asked Sabertooth looking glum that he missed out on the slaughter. Professor Xavier stared into the mess of gore and shook his head in sorrow.
"So much death…" Magneto turned to the professor.
"Do you sense anyone one Charles?" Xavier closed his eyes and concentrated, after a minute he shook his head sadly.
"There is only a small group deep within the complex. They are frightened and injured but alive… let's hurry!" the group went deeper within the underground building until they came to a large room full of computers and a single throne. "Dear Lord!"
there within the room were the owners of the blood, all around them were bodies torn asunder carelessly tossed around the room in a garden of flesh, bone, and blood. Yet what troubled the students more was their faces. One would think that they would be contorted in shock and fear, if only they were.
"They..." shuttered Kitty holding her hands over her mouth. "Their smiling."
Every single face was one of utter joy, as if they were begging to be killed. Sabertooth stood over the body of a man in a lab coat he ran his clawed finger through the blood and growled.
"They've been dead for days. The blood is to thick and the flesh is rotting. What ever happened here they ones who did it are long gone." Magneto cringed and walked to one of the many computers looking for an answer. He turned to the others and told them to find the captured mutants.
"Very well." said Xavier. He turned to the others and pointed to a large metal door at the side of the room. "They are down in this room."
They all left Magneto to his work entering the door leading into a long hall. The door at the end of the hall was locked with large slabs of metal. Scott and Alex stood in front of the door side by side unleashing their beams of energy at them blasting them off. The two opened the door revealing a room full of unconscious people laying in front of a single hooded man who smiled joyfully at the group of people.
"Thank god!" he shouted shaking the people awake. The crowed awoke looking malnourished but alive. The students turned to them helping them to their feet.
"Do you know what happened to your captors?" asked Xavier hoping to find out more about the dead bodies.
"We don't know… we've been stuck here for days since they stopped bringing us food and water…" the hooded man eyed the students cautiously. "you are here to save us right?"
"Of course. Please follow us." not wanting to argue the people followed them out of the room back into the main hall. They all gasped and screamed in fear of the dead body's. Xavier ordered the students to take the people out of the complex and approached Magneto who was still working on the monitor. "Have you found anything Erik?"
"Unfortunately I have… they have captured these mutants with the intent to fuze their power into one being, their experiment seceded and they sent it..." He paused looking very pale.
"Where?" asked Charles.
"… To the north pole."
/X-men\\\\\\\\\\\
Once the X-jet finally landed I jumped out into the cold snow excited to get even a few feet from Logan and Gambit. We landed within the town hall grounds and scattered to find any survivors. I was so glad Liam suggested us to split up. Some time alone would do me good. I decided to check within the town hall building it being the biggest and most protected building made me think of it as a good place for people to hide.
"Helloooo!" I shouted once I stepped inside getting no answer. Confused at first I realized that they might be hiding from whoever attacked. "I'm here to help! I'm Liam's friend!"
"Liam?" I almost jumped out of my skin when a man of about twenty stood out from the shadows. He looked like an older version of Liam, full with a goatee and sharp icy blue eyes. "How do you know Liam?"
"I'm one of his class mates. We came to help when our professor told us you were all in trouble." he looked catious so I handed him my communicator. "I'm not lying. Just press the red button and call out for him and he'll prove me right."
"… Fine." he did as I asked and held the radio to his ear. "Liam?"
"Bro!? Your alive! where are you!?" I could hear Liam shouting from the radio from where I was standing. The man smiled and sighed with relief upon hearing Liam's voice.
"Liam!" he stuttered his words full of emotion he tried to hold back. "We're in town hall, come quick!"
it took the other four a minute to enter the building Liam instantly rushed into his brothers arms with teary eyes full of worry. The intense emotions coming from the two men reminded me of my own brother and the way we once were… before…
"How is everyone!? Where's mom and dad? Katara is she OK?" Liam rushed his words barley able to contain his fear of his loved ones being hurt or worse. The older man sighed and shook his head.
"Mom and aunt Katara are OK… but… Dad he..." before he could answer the door leading deeper into the building opened revealing a man missing his arm and one of his legs. Bandages were strewn from the stubs of his limbs covered in dried blood. The man had a grim look in his eye the other seemingly plucked out leaving a bloodyed bandage over his face, despite the dread and horror within his heart he faked a smile for the two younger men.
"I'm fine… just a bit lighter then usual." Liam looked like he was about to faint upon seeing his father in such a horrible state.
"What the hell happened!?" he shouted rushing to his father who pulled him into an odd hug with only one of his arms. Two woman one old and the other about the same age as Logan and Gambit walked in behind the nearly limbless man.
"Watch your language!" said the younger of the two woman. The older rolled her eyes and walked toward Liam and his father.
"It is good to see you little Avatar. Yet such a horrible time..." Liam turned to the old woman looking grim.
"What's happening Aunty?" the woman sighed and shook her head.
"The most horrible of things. Someone is intending to free the spirit of chaos." I tilted my head confused.
"Spirit of chaos?" I asked. The woman turned to me and gasped, her heart was so full of praise and joy just by looking at me.
"it cant be!" she said walking up to me and cupping my face in her hands. She stared into my eyes and her eyes began to tear with overwhelming happiness. "You have returned to us, eldest of the pale lady."
"You… you can tell I'm a spirit by just looking at me?" I asked confused. She chuckled warmly as if it was nothing.
"Of course... Are people have been in tune with the spirits since we settled in the cold north. The Pale Lady was the one who gave us the power over the tides and the gift of the Avatar so that we could speak to her children and the spirits that live within the world… we have not seen one of the Lady's children in so long, that we believed they were dead or beyond our reach." she spoke so passionately that my own heart was moved by her words. I bowed graciously and summoned Crest.
"In that case let me personally introduce you to the original wolf." once his black fuzzy self materialized she cooed at him lovingly and rubbed between his ears.
"You are cuter then the depictions we have of you." Crest smiled at that and bowed graciously.
'Thank you. Now please tell me more of this Chaos spirit. I have never heard of it until now...' the woman sighed and thought.
"So long ago before the dawn of human civilization there was the Pale Lady. A woman of great power and a heart to match who used her magic to tend to the endless wild life within our little world. Despite the praise she gained from the animals and few people of the world that thrived there, she was lonely because she was the only one of her kind. She chose to expanded her power and gave life to the elements; creatures of stone, water, air, and fire took shape and became the first spirits.
However a horrible price came from her spell, the elements were unversed with how to live their life's and caused horrible destruction to the earth with their their element. Their actions made the few humans of the world fear and hate them and that animosity took form from their hearts into a being of pure chaos who used it's power to enthrall them turning them into monsters to do it's bidding.
This spirit was given the name Vaatu the spirit of destruction. The Pale Lady had no choice but to stop the villainous spirit, they fought for days on end until one night she decided to fight the spirit on it's own ground… by using another spirit.
From her heart full of light she created a being born of her love and passion for all life that entangled Vaatu with equal power. Using this new spirit she trapped him within an enchanted tree where he still sleeps for all eternity… or so we hoped." Crest closed his eyes and his fur stood on end once the woman finished her tale. He growled within his throat and looked up at the ceiling enraged.
'I will not allow it to escape!' he turned to the door and rushed outside into the cold before I could stop him.
"Crest wait!" It was to late he was long gone and I had no idea where to find him within the snow filed tundra. I turned to the woman frightened for my fuzzy friend. "Where is the tree!?"
"Deep within the forest. But you mustn't go, it is guarded by a dangerous spirit in human form that attacks all who try to enter." I smirked and turned of my image inducer.
"I am a dangerous spirit!" I turned to Logan who smiled proudly at me and Gambit who was smirking slyly at my tail. "Guys lets go!"
"Wait!" Liam's brother shouted out. "I'm coming with you!"
"..." I thought for a moment, we could use the help but if something happened there would be no one there to keep the rest of his family safe. "they need you right now."
"But..." he knew I was right but I could feel the doubt rushing through his heart. He wanted to fight so badly and it shown greatly form not just his heart. I smiled and placed my hand on his chest.
"I promise we will be alright. They need you more then we do." he turned his head to see his father smiling despite his mangled state. He took a sad breath and nodded his head he looked toured Liam and then back at me full of resolve.
"Keep him safe for me then." I smiled and nodded my head.
"You got it!" Liam said his goodbyes and we rushed through the doors. The snow flurried down on us as Liam stood pointing out down the street.
"The forest is down this road! Lets go!"
/X-men\\\\\\\\\\\\
"I cant believe it!" standing in-front of a large hallow tree was a woman with long green hair and piercing eyes. She extended her arms and smiled widely then cackled in joyful laughter. "Finally after century's of waiting the very end of the world is within my grasp!"
"I am honored that I have lived long enough to see the end with you my lady." by her side stood an old man covered in a thick layer of dust. The man coughed and wheezed in pain but managed to stay upright as if he was barely holding on to his life.
"My dear basilisk the waiting we have done… the pain we inflicted… the lives we ruined..." the woman lowered her head as if in morning as a man covered in blood approached the massive tree. She chuckled lightly and rose her head until she was out right laughing menacing. "Completely worth it!"
The man covered in blood slowly placed his hand on the trunk, as he neared the bark the ground itself rattled and moaned in pain, the air stiffened and the sky above erupted in dark clouds that cackled with thunder and lightning. The moment he touched the tree it shattered into thousands of burning twigs and broken logs scattering throughout the large forest around them.
There where the tree once stood tall and proud was a peculiar sight, a large mass of dark red shadows hovered there above the ground. Within its center was a large diamond shaped eye that glowed brightly agents the darkness of its form. The large eye scanned the ground and spotted the man covered in blood and seemed to smile.
'You are mine.' a loud raspy voice echoed from the dark being as it rushed the man slamming into his chest rapping him within its large tendrils. The man just dangled within its grasp content with leaving his life within its clutches. The dark being began to absorb within the man as the tendrils wrapped over his body harder and harder until there was nothing left of it but a diamond shape mark on the mans chest.
The man then slowly began to rise high into the sky as an aura of dark red energy surround him in an orb of swirling power. The woman shouted up to the man in total ecstasy.
"We have freed you great one and wish only one thing of you!" the man opened his eyes which glowed dark red as he stared down at her. The woman smiled brightly and softly spoke the words. "to destroy everything."
'NEVER!' from behind the woman leaped Crest who bit down on her neck and tossed her within his maw making the woman collide with one of the many trees. The old man coughed with shock and turned to face the wolf.
"Dam you mongrel!" the old mans eyes glowed brightly with vengeance as he stared down the large wolf. "Be frozen in time forever!"
'Growl!' a wave of light emitted from the man hitting Crest who shrugged it off as if it was nothing. The old man wheezed in shock.
"impossible! You 'cough!' should 'cough!' be stone!" the wolf showed no mercy for the old man leaping up high and biting down on his neck drawling out thick red blood and dust. Crest pinned the man to the ground with his paw and pulled at his neck ripping the skin off his body leaving him spurting out and slowly dieing. "i.. i'm sorry lady… Hydra…."
"YOU DAMED BEAST!" With a yelp Crest was tossed back by a single punch from the green haired woman. He slowly rose to his paws and growled out at the woman. Her eyes shined with a furry at him as she scaled with total complete rage and hatred. "You pathetic mongrel do you really think you can stop me now? My ancestor killed you long ago and I intend to do the same!"
'?' Crest rose one paw and tilted his head looking into the green eyes of the woman. She laughed and covered her forehead pulling her bangs out of her face. There above her nose and eyebrows was a silted green eye. 'You…'
Crest's fur stiffened and his limbs shook as he stared into the horrid woman's eye. A sly smile crossed her lips and she howled out in laughter. The wolf charged the woman only for a large tendril to come crashing into him lifting him up into the air to face the man covered in blood.
'Your fate is sealed child of the goddess. Give me my regards to your whore of a mother.' the tendril constricted around Crest's neck and squeezed strangling the life from his body.
'Y.. you will not destroy this world!' Crest coughed out as his body began to fade into a cloud of thick smoke. With one last glare Crest wheezed out the words. 'He will stop you…'
'A shadow… then where is the real wolf?' the man stared down at the woman and lowered to the ground walking up to her his tendrils danced around her threateningly. 'You wish this world into darkness? Then tell me where the real wolf resides.' the woman bowed down in respect and pointed out into the woods.
"He is on his way here lord Vaatu. Just leave him to me, and ill… AGH!" one of the mans dark tendrils rapped around her neck while others rapped themselves around her limbs. "No! Please I can still be of use!"
'…' the man pulled her to his face and stared into her frightened eyes. 'No, I don't think you can.'
"AAAGH!" with that he pulled at her limbs tearing them from their sockets and rendering her into nothing but a torso. He walked into the woods as she lay there crying into the snow and dirt. "I… I wanted to… see… th…. End…..."
/X-men\\\\\\
We ran into the forest as it began to get colder and colder the more deeper we got inside. I rapped my hood around my head and shivered as my tail felt like it was going to freeze off. This was horrible! I looked back to see the others in about the same state I was in. Colossus transformed his skin into metal just to keep from loosing his body heat, Liam huffed into his hands letting his fire warm him up while Logan and Gambit glared at each other letting their hate for each other keep them warm.
"Liam… how much farther is it to the prison?" I asked my voice shuttering in the cold. He shook his head and sighed more heat into his palms.
"I'm not sure, nut I got the feeling we're getting closer!" he sounded hopeful but I could feel the doubt in his heart. He had no idea where we were going! I grumbled under my breath and tried to summon my fire only to let it die out. Something in the air here was keeping me from using my fire. This did not bode well for me since I had the feeling we were being watched. The forest around us felt so foreboding to me like something within it would pounce on me and tear me apart.
"Hold on Cher!" Gambit walked up to me and rapped his trench coat around me. The thick fabric felt great on my arms and I sighed into its warmth. I smiled up at him and thanked him for the gesture. I turned to see Logan seething in rage, he huffed and kept walking into the forest past us. I felt his heart and could feel anger not solely placed with Gambit. I bit my lip and rushed after him.
"Logan wait!" I garbed his arm and leaned into him and smiling up at him. "I'm sorry… you know I only love you right?"
"… I know pup." I sighed in relief as I felt him become reassured only to see him smirking triumphantly. I ran my hand through my hair and scratched my ears exasperated by the whole situation.
'Whoosh!' the wind suddenly picked up and started to berate us with snow, it was as if something was trying to force us to turn back as the wind started to halt are advance. I tried my best to push on foreword but it was completely useless. I pushed my way to a tree and stood behind it blocking the wind enough for me to see Logan, Gambit, and Colossus completely frozen solid.
"NO!" I turned to find Liam standing near a tree like me, he was shouting something but it was near impossible to hear from the roaring of the wind and snow. "What is it!?"
"Behind you!" taking a breath I turned to face the endless trees. There standing on one on the many branches was a young man within a blue hood. He clung to a large hooked staff and crouched on the branch glaring at us both from under the hood.
'Get out.' the boy lifted his staff and swung it in our direction making the wind and snow ram into us pushing us back into the trees and crashing into the ground. I staggered to my feet and looked up to see Liam smashing rocks at the trees trying to send the boy to the ground only for him to fly gracefully within the air.
"There's no time for this!" shouted Liam as he burned through the earth sending lava flying onto the trees burning down the forest around us. The boy not being held back tossed his staff at Liam hitting it onto his chest and sending him back once again while he froze the very flames around them in a battle agents fire and ice.
"But..." what ever this guy was he might not be able to stand agents him alone. Liam stood to his feet and used the boys own staff the swipe at him pulling him to the ground and raising the earth to trap his limbs to the ground, only for the wind to yank him from the rock.
"No buts! Just go I'll take care of the guys and this punk! You need to stop them before they free the spirit, That comes first!" I knew he was right but at the condition I was in I didn't think I could even put a dent agents that monster… regretfully I ran through past the boy who seemed to focus on Liam. I charged through the forest until the wind finally calmed and halted to a light gust. The more I entered the woods the more I felt something inside me forbidding me from going any further. I gulped down my fear and continued inside when I saw something that made my heart stop. There standing in the snow naked as the day he was born was my brother. My breath stopped and my throat ran dry as I looked into his ruby red eyes. My lip quivered into a small smile as I run up to him taking him in my arms. I cried with laughter and joy as he hugged me back.
"I missed you." I whisper into his chest. He keeled down and looked into my eyes, he smiled softly at me but frowned in indifference.
'Your brother is no longer here child of the moon.' I pulled away as a mass of tendrils busted from his back and slammed into me pinning me to the snowy ground.
"What are you... ACK!" one of the tendrils rapped around my throat and stopped me from speaking or even breathing. I laid in the cold snow as the tendrils tightened around my neck and limbs. I took in sharp jagged breaths as I strained my watery eyes to see my brother standing over me with eyes full of hatred. "S… Sky.. please."
'Save your breath for it shall be your last.' Skylar rose his hand and a dark purple energy danced around his fingers in a dark light. My eyes widened and my breath stopped when I finally noticed it. His heart… it… it wasn't there. This… thing! Was wearing my brothers skin! I felt a serge of energy fill me, I don't know if it was sorrow or hate but it filled me to the brim with resolve, the resolve to burn this bastard to the ground! I roared sending him back in a wave of fire. He skidded to a stop and laughed under his breath. I gritted my teeth and stood my ground.
"who are you!?" I shouted at the monster who could only smirk at me sending me into a fit of rage.
'I am the end, the end of all things in this disgusting hideous world. I am destruction incarnate, the god of chaos, I am Vaatu.' my eyes widened at the name and then I smiled widely glaring at the monster with my brothers face.
"I'm not impressed." I clawed my hand and rushed for him only to be back handed by him sending me onto a tree leaving a scared dent within the trunk. I gasped as I felt my spine ache and rattle within my back. I dropped to the snowy ground and tried to stand only to collapse to the floor.
'pathetic.' I rose my head out of the snow to see it standing over me. Before I could react it kicked me in my chest and sent me back onto the tree making it snap and fall like it was cut by a lumber jack. I tried to scream but my lungs felt like they popped with the kick. I could only make a strained gasp and a week cough. I laid there in the snow seeing dots in my eyes. I felt a pressure on top my head and cried out in pain as I looked up to see a foot crushing me into the cold dirt and ice. 'I expected more form you. You are nothing like her… she was a true warrior and you… are nothing.'
"F...fuck you..." I hissed out feeling nothing but hate for this thing. But deep down… I think this might be the end, it was just to strong… and his face… I… I cant fight him. I cant hurt Sky. It keeled down and pulled me up by my pony tail. He made me stare into his blood red eyes full of hatred.
'You, are nothing.' he rapped his hands around my neck and squeezed. I panicked and thrashed kicking at him and scratching at him with my claws but nothing I did faze him. I sent a wave of fire only for it to burn out before it could hit him.
'when you die tell Abaddon I will come for him next.' my breath hitched and my lungs spasm for air as I desperately tried to get out of his hold. My eyes started to flutter shut as I begged for someone anyone to help me. As if to answer my prayers a bolt of lightning smashed into the monster sending it flying away into the cold snow. I breathed in relief and looked up to see a familiar face.
"Wiccan!" floating there in the air was Billy Kaplan his eyes glowed with power and his hands erupted in electricity. He rushed for me and kneel down placing his hands on my chest.
"Heal!" a bright golden light flowed from his arms and entered my body filling me with warmth. My lungs breathed in deeply and the pain in my spine faded. He helped me to my feet and hid me behind his back protectively. "stand back you don't need to be a part of this."
"What?" I stood there confused, did he really intend to fight it alone? I shook my head and pushed my way in-front of him. "No way! This bastard is using my brother's body, this is personal!"
"He was my boyfriend! I loved him just as much as you." I sighed and relented, this guy was way to strong for us to fight on our own. I smiled and extended my hand to his.
"Then together." he smiled and took my hand in his. We faced the creature and glared, the wind picked up and I felt a surge of power radiate from us both. My hands were alight in fire that danced around my hands in a fury of flames while thunder crackled around Wiccan's. The monster smirked at us both and from his back danced around long dark tendrils that burned with dark power.
'Come at me then. Little child of the moon.'
/X-men\\\\\\\\\\\\\
sorry for the long wait, hope you like the story!