Chapter 19: Fight to the Death

The sky turned completely black and the wind started to whip up around them outside. Everyone watched as Mystique's eyes glowed red from the power of the amulet. Wherever the darkness went, buildings crumbled and aged dramatically as some fell apart. The X-men looked at the officers and SWAT that surrounded them in horror.

"What is this?" One officer yelled as he looked at the darkness covering everything.

"Get it off me!" Screamed another as tiny black beads began to cover his body at an enormous speed.

"No!" Bellowed another as his body succumbed to the darkness and his body was covered in black beads. Horrified the X-men watched with heavy trepidation. When the beads left his body, it looked as if he had suffered third degree burns and was buried alive. His flesh was pitch black dark with his insides showing in various areas. His clothes where completely torn and now hung from his body as he looked at himself with disgust. He looked back at the others with round eyes that looked as if they were going to fall out of their sockets. They all began running around in fear at what they had become.

Mystique watched with joy as the people ran into the city as well. "Pity." She simply stated. You could hear the screams of people in the distance as cars screeched and things toppled over and transformations took place. "Now, humans shall feel the wrath of what true power is and will wish that they never shunned me as a child! But, first I will destroy you, once and for all!"

Psyfire's body stopped glowing gold during her speech. Gambit looked over along with Storm to see Chantel looking slightly different. Her clothes changed to that of an Egyptian woman warrior. A gold plate covered her chest leaving her stomach bare. White pants covered her legs and gold jewelry and a headpiece adorned her body. Her eyes lit with white as she was possessed by the warrior spirit Isis who protected the safety of the amulet eons ago. At the end of Mystique's rant Psyfire ran up and tried to slam her with the scepter however someone unexpected jumped in the way.

Nicole who was now glowing red had moved in the way to intercept her punch. Mystique looked at the scene in front with a smirk. "Well isn't this a surprise? How lovely?" She stated dryly. "You've come back to join us." Mystique looked back at the sky and lightening erupted as the darkness spread to the cities further out assisting the destruction taking place.

"You will suffer for your crimes!" The now possessed Psyfire said in union with Isis to Mystique. Suddenly Nicole swung Psyfire back a bit. Psyfire caught herself and stopped in a crouch. Mystique stepped forward and looked at Nicole with a smirk. "Take care of the others, Hatshepsut!"

With a nod, the former queen that had inhabited Nicole's body ran out toward the X-men and began to help the dead warriors fight them off.

Mystique turned her attention to Psyfire and ran up to her to deal a blow. Their fight had begun as they each took turns to disarm the other. Mystique flew towards Psyfire with great speed and grabbed her by her hair. She swung her into an ancient structure powerfully knocking a hole into the structure. Debris and sand went into different directions at the impact. Psyfire squinted at the pain but moved out of Mystiques grasp and kicked at Mystique in her stomach to get her off and pushed her back. Mystique roundhouse kicked Psyfire and missed over her head by some inches then swung the other leg over her head as well in a body twist. Psyfire dodged her kick to the body and swung her fist landing it to Mystique's shoulder who stepped back from the force. With a growl Mystique ran back and punched at Psyfire repeatedly before landing one on the jaw. She side swiped Psyfire under her legs causing her to fall heavily on her back. Sand swept up from the area around them at the impact. Psyfire quickly got up seeing Mystique jump at her with another kick. Mystique's feet met dirt as Psyfire dodged it and flew into the air. Mystique stood slowly to her full height and she flew at Psyfire fast with her hand pulled back calling forth energy into her palm. She pushed forward releasing a black energy blast out of her outstretched hand. Psyfire dodged it quickly and let one of her own powerful blasts go at her. Suddenly their fight went to the sky. Mystique shot out black power from her hand that met Psyfire's red energy blast. Red and black energy illuminated the night sky.

Jacob had snapped out of it breathing heavily in his wolf form. He stood shakily watching everything go down. With a powerful kick of his legs he jumped up and landed in front of the army of the dead and began to fight as he took out ten at a time.

Gambit was taking care of a few on his own trying to make his way to Mystique. "Merde!" He yelled as more came at him. His staff let out a bit of electrical charge as he sliced through the ones nearby. He looked up as Nicole flew past him toward Jean who was dealing a powerful blow to Mystique's minions. He backed up into Scott. His attention was directed at blasting through a few coming his way.

"There are too many!" Scott yelled as he blasted through another body.

"Dis wasn't in da job description." Gambit joked as he punched one in the face.

Suddenly Scott's expression darkened as he saw Nicole create a large fire ball in her hands and aimed it at Jeans. "Move Jean!" shouted Scott as the fire blast met Jeans back and burned a hole through her uniform as it met her flesh. She immediately fell over and her psychic barrier kicked in to protect her subconsciously. Gambit saw this and his facial expression hardened at Nicole's change in behavior. He saw the unnatural red glow of her eyes. Both men ran towards Jean to protect her body from the onslaught of the dead that were attacking against her shield.

The Brotherhood wasn't fairing too well either. Boom Boom tried to take out a few with her burst of fire but more would come to destroy her. Toad was spending much of his time running then fighting. So he hung back to watch over Flash's body. The dead had blocked them all from escaping and Avalanche couldn't take out one without having more come in its place.

"This isn't happening!" The Blob yelled as he tried to create an exit. However he was unsuccessful as a giant sand tentacle came from the sand and wrapped itself around his body and lifted him from the ground.

"Hold on Hefty!" Boom Boom yelled as she tried to blast him free but two other sand tentacles came up and wrapped themselves around her wrist and ankles. It also grew and held her in the sky. Soon all of the Brotherhood was held captive by many networks of sprawling tentacles.

"Nic, snap out of it!" Yelled Kitty as she ran toward Nicole.

Gambit knew something wasn't right and he tried to make his way over to Nicole to stop her from the destruction she was causing.

Nicole looked at the girl and grinned. "I'm sorry but that's not my name." With that she landed on the ground and swept a powerful gust of sand at Kitty which knocked her backwards. Kitty screamed as she flew towards a rock structure. She managed to turn and gasp to see what was coming. Quickly, she phased through the rock cliffs just in time before she collided.

Suddenly Nicole was struck by a bolt of lightning meant to disarm and make her pass out. She slumped but it didn't do the damage it was meant to deal. Nicole slowly turned toward the source of the attack, to see Storm headed towards her. "Well, Goddess. It's a pleasure." She stated aloud to the weather witch. She looked at a well of water below her. She lifted up her hand and suddenly a powerful jet of water reached into the sky. She squeezed her fist and the water formed a long rotating whip. She made a grabbing motion with her hands and the water vortex grabbed onto Storms body and trapped her inside it. Nicole blew out a gust of cold air and froze the top leaving Storm's body covered except for her head. Storm struggled and grunted as she tried to get free.

"What vile creature has inhabited my friend's body?" Storm yelled as she continued to struggle.

"It doesn't matter. Now die!" With that she closed her fist and the water unfroze itself. The water pressure slammed on Storm's body knocking the wind out of her, causing her to fall at a fast rate towards the stone cliffs. Jacob was swung in the air by Rogue's strength and he caught Storm just in time before she could hit the ground.

Seeing this, Nicole frowned and flew down towards the pair to be knocked out of the way by Rogue. Nicole went spiraling but caught herself. She looked at Rogue with a sinister glare and flew towards her. She grabbed her by the waist and knocked her into the rocky cliffs.

"Since when did Nicole av' supa' strength?" Questioned Nightcrawler as he watched over Bobby's body in a safe location and poofed to take out some of the dead soldier's.

Rogue grunted as she hit the rock structure with her back feeling Nicole hold onto her. She made a move to get up but, Nicole punched her back further in the hole. Rogue couldn't breathe since Nicole wouldn't let up. Nicole pulled back and pulled rocks together in a giant boulder and slammed the rock on top of Rogue's body. A loud crunch noise echoed at the impact that it made.

"No!" yelled the X-men at the sight.

Nicole smiled and looked down at them from where she was. On the inside at first she felt a bit of annoyance towards the woman she smashed in the rocky cliffs. But it went away and now she felt a hint of grief. But it vanished as soon as she shook her head. "Foolish mortal. Your body is mine!" She yelled speaking to herself.

Psyfire turned in time to see Nicole destroy Rogue. "Nicole!" She whispered at her friend's actions. Isis wasn't pleased as she peered through the eyes of her host.

Wolverine let out a fierce growl before lunging at the dead soldiers to make his way toward his once lover. He sliced through many with tears at the corner of his eyes. "Damn, Rogue!" The beast had taken over his body and put him in a fit of rage. He lunged up on the rocky cliffs and began to dig through the rock barricade. Gambit ran to the base of the cliffs and threw a charged card at the barricade. Wolverine growled at the explosion it created. He stopped at the appearance of Rogue's warn body. He dug through the rest to dig her out and get her free. Scratches and bruises now decorated her body. Blood dripped from the corner of her mouth but other than that he could see no other injuries. He took off Rogue's gloves and made her touch his face. Immediately he could feel her draining affects upon his form. He could see her healing her wounds almost instantly and her eyes opened. She sucked in a big gulp of air then released him.

Mystique shot a massive black energy wave at Psyfire during the distraction. It hit Psyfire square in the chest. Her screams echoed throughout the area and her body immediately went tumbling toward the earth's surface. Kurt saw this and teleported himself to catch her. Once she had her he teleported themselves behind a cliff out of eye view.

"Psyfire!" He said and began to shake her. Her eyes fluttered as a moan shook her body.

"Come on Psyfire!" He chanted as he tried to get her back. He looked on her hip to see a gold rod attached to her belt. He touched it and suddenly Psyfire's eyes snapped open. Afraid, he backed away seeing the white glow in her eyes.

Suddenly the cries of Nicole could be heard. Kurt moved to see what was going on behind his hiding place.

Nicole held her head in her hands as she seemed to fight with herself. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" She yelled over and over with tears pouring down her face. Suddenly a giant vortex of wind wrapped around her like a cocoon. Fire began to burst and wrap around her as she cried. Waves of wind and energy whipped at everything and even destroyed many of the minions attacking her friends. Rocks surrounded her and water further enveloped her. "I'm so sorry…I didn't mean…I never would've…I…I"

"Kurt." Isis said inside Psyfire's body. He turned around quickly meeting her gaze.

"Yah?" He asked warily.

"We must pierce Mystique with this blade to stop set Nicole free." She explained as she snapped it in her hand and a blade shot out of the bottom of the scepter.

Kurt looked back at the item and then at his friend. He nodded knowing what was asked of him. With that he poofed them on the back of the pyramid closest to Mystique who was now laughing in triumph at the chaos she created. That's when Psyfire jumped at her and blasted her with her powers. Crying in pain at the onslaught, Mystique doubled over and looked at Psyfire with pure venom. Suddenly Mystique was fighting with Psyfire again on the ground. Psyfire played the victim and fell on her back as Mystique hovered over her with both hand grasping her arms.

"Give up! You are defeated. If you're lucky I will not curse your spirit with the book of the dead once I rule!" Mystique gloated.

"Foolish woman." Psyfire said sadly as she grasped Mystique's wrist with her hands in a lock. "Now!"

Nightcrawler jumped out of the sky and landed on Mystique with a force as the blade met with the amulet piercing it. Suddenly everything vanished that Mystique created as her cries of anguish ripped through the area. Psyfire let go of her hands and moved away. Kurt poofed next to Psyfire's form to put some distance between her and Mystique. Jacob ran toward her as well and nuzzled her neck comforting his beast with her safety.

Gambit watched as many of his comrades were trapped or battling for their lives. He looked back at Nicole to see her completely torn. Suddenly the attack stopped and the black sky vanished. A black smoke filled the air and was immediately sucked back into Mystique's body. Everything stopped and even Nicole's attacks and her vortex gave way as well. She now hung there suspended in mid-air with her eyes closed. A giant red spirit left her body and flew at the amulet wrapped around Mystique's neck. The amulet caught it and flew off her body cracking into several pieces.

"No!" She screamed as she reached for it. All of her powers were sucked from her upon its release.

Rogue sat up from her attack and moved to stand next to Kitty and the badly wounded Brotherhood to watch. Scott protected Jeans body which now lay next to Bobby who was fully awake looking at the sky in awe. Storm managed to walk forth with the help from Wolverine who sat her on the ground softly. Gambit stood before taking off to catch Nicole's body from falling from the sky. She landed heavily in his hold and he held her close to him for a moment. He used his other hand to peel back her eyes so he could see the color. He sighed in relief to see light brown ones shine back at him. He stood looking at how everything was calm and went back to how it was before the chaos erupted. The police and SWAT were now far away from the current location. They all looked back at Mystique who was now no longer blue skinned. Her hair had changed to black and her skin was brown. Her eyes were brown as well shedding tears as she pounded the ground with her fist.

"Her mutant powers are gone." Psyfire said to Jacob softly.

Her pounds stopped as she fell finally unconscious into the sand. Everyone stood up checking for safety and looking at each other for confirmation of health. The amulet began to glow a bright red hue and then burst into thousands of fine tiny pieces. Psyfire stood up and a white light flew out of her body and stood next to her. Its light was nearly blinding but she could see a beautiful woman dressed in white robes wearing colorful jewelry with long thick black hair. The Egyptian spirited woman next to her bowed deeply and disappeared. Psyfire sighed feeling whole again. She turned to Jacob and hugged him fiercely. Everyone formed a circle around Mystique's body looking at her with disgust. The battered crew members were up rubbing sores and checking themselves for additional injuries. Jacob managed to cover himself decently before running over to the group in his humanoid form. All members were standing around the unconscious form of Mystique lying in the sand.

"This is officially the most, weirdest day of my life!" Toad said aloud.

"Yeah! After this I don't want to ever talk or hear about this for the rest of my life." Bobby said as patted his face to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

Nicole groaned and held her head. She opened her eyes to see red ones peering down at her with concern. Everyone turned to shift in Remy's hold. "Man, I have the biggest headache right now." She mumbled as she felt her head. "And I had the weirdest dream of my life!" She blinked and looked around at everyone. "Did I miss something?"

"You don't remember?" Bobby shouted in disbelief. "I got freakin' stunned in the neck!"

Jacob placed Nicole down on her own two feet and held her securely by the waist to stop her from tilting."But, look on the Brightside! At least you didn't even get to witnessed all of it. You were passed out through almost all of it."

"Are you all ok?"

Jean evaluated the group and smiled at the scene before her. Everyone was talking and laughing like a big family. Sure some had a couple of scratches, but there were no casualties. They had smiles and were laughing unlike what they could have done weeks ago. Relief flooded everyone and she could see new bonds had been forged.

"We're fine Professor!" Jean answered with relief.

"Get the family and come home, Jean." The Professor stated with more compassion then she ever heard him have.

Jean smiled and let out a fresh breath of air. "Guys, let's go home please!" With jokes and laughs they all began to turn to leave.

"Wait!" Psyfire yelled. Everyone turned to face her as she looked at Mystique's body. "What about Mystique?" And the Brotherhood?"

They all gave a questionable look. "I know just where to put Mystique. As for you guys, we'll give you a lift home…just this once." Cyclops stated before everyone's attention turned towards the badly beaten up young Brotherhood members. The group looked relieved as they didn't exactly had a ride back to the states or any passports to help them avoid prison in Egypt.

With that they all looked at Scott with confusion but shrugged knowing he would fix it. They all boarded the X-jet headed for home.