Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:25:01 -0800 (PST) From: Jason Decade <femtoka2@yahoo.com> Subject: X-Men Legacy 43 Legend: Thoughts = <> Stray thoughts = () Flashback ** Com links [] Ok, guys, All the disclaimers apply, that means all thanks goes to Marvel for the X-Men, I'm just making the story. And I do read all the other stories, and they're great, keep up the good work. They inspire me! Chapter 43: Day of the Dead. "Hey, Pane! Wake up!" a voice said, brining me back into the world. I slowly opened my eyes and found Johnny studying my face. I shook my head and heard a loud rumbled and dust fell off the sides of the giant cave. I looked at the top of the cave and saw the crack through which I fell, " I figured we need to fly out of here." "Sorry, I can't." I said, standing, " Besides, this place looks like big fun." "Your sarcasm is refreshing." Johnny smiled. "Where's a bong when you need one." I said, still looking around, " Sorry, I just...How long was I out?" "Not long, I caught you." he smiled. I stopped and looked at him, " Thanks for that. Once this is over, I'm going to give you a big kiss." I smirked, " I think I'm bleeding." "Yeah, but something is down here." Johnny said, " I just got finished taking out some aliens and I really don't need this." "Well, go up and help the fight. I'll be alright." I said, walking forward. "Like I'm really going to do that. You're such a drama queen." he laughed. "You like it, besides." I stopped when I felt something ahead, " Light please." I asked quickly. Johnny threw a round ball of fire into the air and it illuminated the area around us. I looked forward to see robed figures like the ones who had been chasing the girl a while ago, " Nice to see you guys again too." "Your friends?" Johnny asked. "Our guides." I said slowly, " When I get out, Sinister's going to die." "We can fight." Johnny whispered. "We hear you." they said in unison. "Now that's creepy." Johnny said, hurling fire balls at the robed men, who quickly dodged his attacks. "And efficient." I said, kicking one of them to the ground. I immediately gasped when I saw his appearance, " Roscar?" He laughed maniacally, " I serve a higher power." he said. I kicked him again, this time knocking him out, " I'm already tired of hearing him." I said, noticing that the others had disappeared. "Why'd you do that? Now we don't know who's behind this." Johnny said. "I know who's behind this...can't you see me shaking." I angrily. "Care ta let me in on the secret?" he asked. I sighed and walked on. There was an immediate rumble and rocks fell from above, blocking the way! At first, I tried to dig out the rocks and I stopped. "Pane! Move the rocks!" Johnny shouted. "No! Johnny, go back to the X-Men and help fight! I'm safe." I shouted through the cave. "No! Move the fuckin rocks!" he shouted. "Johnny." I said, causing a small rumbled throughout the cave, but I grabbed myself and closed my eyes, taking a deep breath, " I need you to make sure the X-Men are alright." "Fine, but be careful." Johnny yelled, " Flame on!" I turned and walked farther into the cavernous sewers. I felt eerie, like I was being watched. I stopped halfway through when I saw something walking towards me. "Pane?" a voice echoed through the cavern. "Sira?" I asked. Sira stepped into a lighter area, " Pane, it's so nice to see you again." she smiled, " I think I died." "Sira, how are you standing there?" I asked, creeped out. "He helped, brought me back. He's a miracle worker." she said. "Who? Who did this?" I asked. "Sinister and Apocalypse. They have this machine...it's wonderful. All those people who died here, they're alive again." she said. "All those people?! Sira, my mother died!" I said, realizing what that meant. "I know." Sira smiled, " She says hi." I was speechless. I couldn't form thoughts! The idea of my mother being alive made me want to smile, but I thought about the conditions. The machine, it had to be stopped. Once it was gone, this would stop. She won't die, surely the machine won't kill them once it's gone. "Earth to Pane." Sira snapped, " I'm guessing now we have to fight." "It's the way of the world." I said quietly, " I'm sorry." "You're sorry? You're going to die and you're sorry?" Sira asked. "I know how this ends." I said slowly, " Doesn't look good for you." Sira waved her hand and I flew backwards against the cave wall. She laughed as she raised her hand and caused me to rise against the wall, " You're not so mighty." she said. "I'm holding back." I said sadly. "Don't." she said. I nodded and gazed her in the eye. She put her hand down and stepped back, " Move the rock." I said, causing her to move away from me and start telekinetically moving the rocks that blocked the path. I sighed and moved ahead down the tunnel. I stopped at the end of the tunnel, where a large canyon blocked my progress. I looked around and a path formed in front of me. I hesitantly moved across it and stopped halfway across. I had seen the things moving below, but I figured that it was water or something. I almost fell when I noticed that it was people. The long canyon was filled with people. Mutants that died only months before. There was a point of silence, then they noticed me. I immediately began to run to the other side and slid in before a large door could close. I sighed as I heard the pounding on the door. I turned to walk, but stopped, coming face to face with Jean Grey! "Pane." she whispered. "Jean." I said quickly, " Jean...I..." She illuminated the hallway. Her light was so organic and pure. The flames...they entranced me, " Pane?" she said, touching my face, " The light was so bright." "I remember." I said softly. "How is everyone...Scott. Is he..." "Jean, are you alive or resurrected?" I asked. Jean looked at me curiously. Her flames seemed to flare and burn brighter and I took a step backwards, looking away from the light. Suddenly, a burst of light shot out at me and stopped right in front of my face. Jean looked intense, as if she was trying to move something telekinetically. I brought my hands to my waist, trying to keep the light at bay. "Jean," I strained, " You have to stop!" "You want me to be dead, you're not my friend! You're the enemy!" Jean said intensely. Jean and I both concentrated intensely on each other, fighting silently. Jean <You cannot win against the Phoenix!> Pane <I can be the Phoenix.> I concentrated on what it was like to be the Phoenix. The power. The feeling of unlimited power and my hands flared with a black flame. Jean rose into the air and I felt myself rise, neither of us taking our eye off the other. Jean < The Phoenix exists in both of us!?> Pane <Mine is called the Hollow.> Jean brought her arms around in a circle and I mirrored her action, causing bot, a light and a dark burst of energy to crash through the cave ceiling and we rose up through the hole and above the street where a fight between the mutants of Apocalypse and the Fantastic Four and X-Men! The fight temporarily stopped so they could watch Jean and I above the city. Jean stopped and looked at the ground, at the X-Men. "You all came." Jean said, her smile going from sinister to bright and warm, then she looked at me, " I'm so sorry." "Fight it." I said softly. "I can't." she said, getting lost again. Her eyes had flames in them and I could see myself. She swung her hand and I flew backwards, but before I hit anything, I got caught by something. I looked back to see Johnny. "Thanks." I smiled. "It's my job." he smirked. I flew out of his hands and back to Jean. I raised my hand raised my hands, causing a blast to go through my hands and Jean flew back and scraped against the ground! I was about to move in, but I stopped. Images flew through my head. Jean <You're just a copycat. A telepathic, telekinetic copycat.> I flashed back into now and sent a wave of black energy toward her and it ripped the ground from beneath her! I floated back through the hole and landed. I walked further into the cavern and stopped when I found a dead end, but there was someone laying farther down. I hurried over to see the naked body of a guy. He quickly opened his eyes and looked at me. "Who are you?" I asked. "I don't know." he said, looking around. - - - - - - - - Well, if you liked it please tell me so I can start work on the next one. I really need feedback, especially if you like it. If you don't, I need advice and suggestions, please.