Memories
Claws of Silver
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She walked into the centre of the square. The long coat she was wearing slid off. She raised her hands to the heavens and the rain clouds gathered. A boy ran up to her, exclaiming "Cool!" and then he saw her face and ran. A man threw a curse at her, stating they didn't want "any no good capes around here." A glare silenced him as well. And then she rose into the air and water gathered.
She was rain, river, ocean. Glacier, tsunami, monsoon. Ice, water, steam. Silence within and without as the little people stood in curiosity. She reached deep into the wells of power.
"Children of Earth, this world is broken. Watch and rejoice, for I am you Saviour."
And the waves span out. She worked backwards and outwards, methodically returning the land to its former condition. All made, all unnatural; left. Gone. Removed. She heard voices screaming below. But she was concentrating on the bundle of sickness on the edge of town. She carefully healed them all then moved on. Lush prairie. Herds of massive buffalo. Untamed, untainted. Spread out, continue to heal this world.
Outwards and backwards. That was what she needed to do. Those moving at ridiculous speeds or hanging in the air as their car or building was unbuilt were carefully caught and set down. She healed colds and cancer, dizziness and dementia. Nothing was out of her power. She was perfect. Beautiful in her perfection. Terrible in her power. They could not match her. She was supreme in her grace, her lethal tenderness, as waves caressed and cajoled, tore and taunted. She was a refreshing summer shower. She was a tsunami smashing into the coast. She was wind and wave and water. Beauty personified. She was a child of the universe and none dared stand against her. Even the Griffin, with all its supposed might, daren't face her. And the Phoenix…
Oh, the pitiful flamebird would try. But it had always lacked true purpose, and without an avatar to stabilise it… Even when it let go of its inhibitions, it never was methodical. No, it ran off like a directionless child, destroying without thought or purpose. No, preservation had to be thought out carefully. One could not simply dash in. Fools rush in, where angels fear to tread. But then angels could be such fools. Take the pitiful Malach Hamavet…
Etana! And something deeply buried forced itself to the surface.
Phoenix raised an eyebrow.
"I feel insulted. And also slightly pleased that even when crazy, she recognised my worth."
When the rapidly encroaching waves falter, Logan allowed himself to feel a twinge of hope he swiftly pushed away. Insane or not, Tora had killed Chuck. They had all seen it, as she turned him into dust. He knew the X-Men would have trouble trusting her ever again. Pete would hate her forever, that much was certain. To Peter, Illanya was still his Little Snowflake, no matter what.
But now was not the time to be pensive as they honed right in on her and then she was in front of them, hovering almost a mile above what should be a city centre. Instead it was a huge plain. People were milling about, scared stiff, trying to cover themselves up from where their synthetic clothes had been vanished. The teleporters immediately started evac and Thor flew up to enage. Logan could see Wiccan, Cloak and Pixie working furiously; Strange casting a shielding spell that should hopefully protect civilians; Quicksilver helping the evacuation procedures; and Thor being slammed to the ground, one of Dark Dragon's hands tight around his throat.
The Scarlet Witch attacked next and this had more effect than Thor. Dark Dragon staggered back and for a moment Tora was visible; blue uniform, scarred face, golden eyes. And then the empty mask returned and Maximoff was sent flying back by a huge claw of water backhanding her. Quicksilver caught his sister and then Rachel attacked, blue firebird soaring. The huge dragon face its opponent and the two grappled.
But Logan could see Ray was faltering and resorted to Plan B. He dived straight towards Banner, barking out two words. A few seconds later he was hurtling through the air towards Dark Dragon, who was distracted by Marvel Girl and…
Claws pierced flesh and both woman and dragon gave out a horrific scream. Tora whipped around and a hand caught on his neck. Logan could feel his airway tighten as fingers coiled closer together. And then Tora's frightened eyes were fixed on his and she let him go, let him tumble through the air for Thor to catch. And that moment's reprise, where they could have won was lost and Dark Dragon was in the fore once more.
"You DARE attack me? You are naught but dust on the wind. You destroy this world. You are a blight upon it!"
She flung up a hand and waves shot towards them. Logan knew without a doubt that the incoming tsunami would kill them. But they were surrounded by a forcefield of red light and blue fire. Ray and Wanda had clasped hands and the Phoenix-shard and the Griffin were working together to hold off Dark Dragon. But it was obvious they were straining and Logan was pleased to see Steve organising their evacuation. They hadn't proved anything except that they were hopelessly outgunned but they had brought evacuation time for the settlements ahead. And Logan joined hands with some others as Kurt –the only contact-based teleporter of them all –bamfed him away.
Phoenix whistled through her teeth.
"Ouch."
"Who are you referring to?"
Tora slammed the full weight of her body against the featureless black wall. Nothing happened, just like nothing had happened the last five-hundred-and-twelve times. She had to get out!
She turned back round, towards the clear wall through which she could see what Dark Dragon was seeing. After her few semi-successful attempts to wrest control back from the occupier, Tora had been closed in this thing; an accursed trap that nevertheless taunted her with what Dark Dragon was using her body and her powers and her face to do.
When she had seen Etana prepare to face down Dark Dragon, Tora had screamed. One of Death's servants was no match for the Archivist of Reality. And as the flames of the Malach Hamavet were stripped away. Tora had slammed herself against the walls, desperate to save Etana. But she had failed and the human part of Death's Left Hand had been extinguished once more.
Was it wrong to want to kill a part of yourself? Because as Tora had seen the flames snuff out, she had wanted to torture Dark Dragon until it screamed for mercy that could only be denied.
"She's really not taking this well."
Phoenix and the masked woman stared at Death. Phoenix opened her mouth to say something then closed it in exasperation. The masked woman just rolled her eyes.