The rolling thunder and flashes of lightning that danced across the sky was the first indication that Apocalypse had that he was no longer alone here.
He watched as the aircraft carrying several members of the X-Men came into view, followed by its members who had the ability of flight.
He knew why they had come. Surely they knew that the time was drawing near.
He smiled, and stood with his arms open, the moment he had been waiting thousands of years for upon them.
The atmosphere amongst the X-Men had been tense to say the least. No one really spoke much, but it was clear that they were all hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. Pietro was more irritable, and Lorna was unusually quiet. Storm kept her eye on Magneto, who she could see was trying to mask the fear of what lay ahead, the idea that the person who stepped through the Siege may not be the same person that went into it a month ago.
She knew he didn't dare hope, for fear of that hope being crushed. But she hoped, for his sake, that the odds were in Rogue's favor.
Magneto led the army of mutants to the ground, trying to separate the task at hand from the emotions as he stepped foot on Genosha, on the ruins of what should have been a prosperous safe haven for mutantkind.
The last time he stood here, it was as a last stand against the Master Mold, protecting the Morlocks who had been trying to escape.
Trying to protect Rogue, and Gambit.
The memory of her eyes as she watched from the metal dome he had constructed around her as words failed him, his eyes conveying his sorrow and regret.
If I am granted the chance to see those eyes once more, then all of this will not be in vain.
His focus shifted to Apocalypse, standing amongst the rubble, his arms outstretched as he grinned.
"Welcome. The time is nearly upon us!"
Storm spoke from Magneto's right, her back straight as she faced the man who had enslaved her. "Your waiting will be in vain, Apocalypse! Your prophecy spoke of an equal, but you are mistaken if you think Rogue will ever agree to this madness!"
Apocalypse wore a small smirk as he regarded Storm and the entire assembly of the X-Men before him.
"I am certain that I can….persuade her."
There was a collection of gasps as the Horseman of Death, known to all in attendance as Gambit, stepped forth, his skin dark and his hair white, the red eyes void of emotion as he stepped forward.
"You intend to use a dead man as leverage?" Magneto seethed. "Let him go, Apocalypse. End this now."
"Turning back now is not an option. Not when the time draws near for her rebirth." Apocalypse proclaimed.
"Guys?" Jubilee pointed into the sky, where a familiar portal was growing larger and larger.
The Siege Perilous.
There were several reactions. Apocalypse grinned in excitement. Pietro tensed, Polaris seemed nervous, and Magneto's heart was pounding as Storm took his hand, a silent show of camaraderie.
The portal glowed white, and Apocalypse stretched out his hand. "Come forth, my equal!" He commanded.
His face fell as he was suddenly attacked by a large jungle cat, throwing him to the ground and growling.
The sound of a war cry filled the air, and Ka-Zar, swinging from a vine that disappeared back into the portal as he let go, led the charge of an army of mutates making their way through the portal, just as Apocalypse threw Zabu to the side, who was baring his teeth and growling.
"Good boy, Zabu." Storm encouraged the animal as he guarded his allies.
"Ka-Zar!" Magneto called out to the protector of the Savage Lands, who grinned as he landed on the ground.
"Ah! Magneto. Good, we ended up in the right place. I must warn you, she is, as the Americans say, 'pissed off'."
Before any of them could make sense of Ka-Zar's words, they heard a very distinct Southern twang bellow out a name.
"En Sabah Nur!"
Magneto knew that voice. They all did. It was as if they were all holding their breath, waiting for her to emerge.
A white blast, similar to the red blast from Cyclops' visor, shot out from the portal straight at Apocalypse, who managed to dodge it just barely. There were gasps of shock as everyone took a step back, unsure of the origin of the blast, shielding their faces out of instinct.
Apocalypse looked up at the portal, confused.
"Why do you attack me? Is this how you greet your equal? Your destiny?" He questioned.
"My destiny? My destiny ain't this, sugah, ah can tell ya that." A figure wearing a green and white cape emerged from the portal, levitating above the ground, her face hidden from view.
"No. This is how ah greet someone trespassin' on my land. See, you're standin' on Genosha, En Sabah Nur. And last time ah checked…."
She reached up her hand, ungloved, and pulled back her hood, her face covered by a red and purple helmet that they knew well, her green eyes a burning fire as she regarded Apocalypse.
"...ah'm still Genosha's queen. Which means this is my turf. And your little hissy fit that you've been carryin' on? Ah'm gonna put an end to it."