Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2010 08:05:50 +0100
From: Adam McDonald <ender2155@gmail.com>
Subject: phoenix reborn part 27

All the disclaimers and warnings from my last stories are in effect.


The long walk home ...

Scott nearly laughed to himself as that cliche rocked through his head.  Not
only had he lost pretty much everything he held dear, he was finally
separate from his love, Jean.

See, despite the fact she sacrificed herself on the moon years ago, he had
always held some hope, some connection, SOMETHING with her.  He couldn't
explain it, but there was always her voice echoing in his head.

Now, that voice was gone, and the emptiness rocked him harder than her
actual death years before and what seemed to be now.

He lost track of the time it took to wander back to the mansion, but he
didn't care.  He was empty now, why did it matter?

Whether months, weeks, or days later, he finally arrived at Charles' School
for Gifted Youngsters and was almost taken aback to see it was completely
restored and functioning as it was before the Phoenix laid waste to it.
Surprise lasted for a mere moment before he remembered his love's last words
'the tears of the phoenix will avail much'

Of course, Jean's death had restored what she, the Phoenix, had destroyed.

Scott nearly cracked a smile as he saw the young mutants bustling around the
campus either heading to class or enjoying some free time to play a game of
pick up basketball or, for the mentally powered mutants, a nasty game of
chess.

He DID smile as he saw two young mental mutants try to cheat each other at
chess.

It was almost back to normal, except for the man who was missing ... the man
who built this house.

"Scott?" a familiar voice asked.

Scott turned to his left, jaw dropped, as a very living Charles Xavier
WALKED over to him.

"Pr ...Pro ... Professor?!"

Charles smiled slightly and said, "Yes, it is me, Cyclops.  What's wrong?
You look troubled."

"Indeed," another voice joined in as Erik Lenshire joined Charles, "what
seems to be bothering you, Scott?"

Scott immediately backed up and raised his hand to his visor to unleash his
power to attack Magneto, "STAY BACK, PROFESSOR!  HOW DID MAGNETO GET HERE?!"

Charles and Erik looked at each other with a confused look.

"Scott," began Charles, "You're confused.  I know you've been through a lot
lately, but how can you forget that Erik has been my ally since you've known
me?  He was the one who found you at the orphanage.  Do you remember?"

"Yes, Scott," continued Erik, "We've been like father and son for ten
years.  What is wrong, my boy?"

Scott shook his head in disbelief, "I ... I don't know.  It feels like I'm
coming out of a horrible dream.  Something I've been living for years but is
finally over.  OH GOD!  What happend to Jean and Ryan?!"

"What's wrong, babe?" a familiar voice asked.

Scott turned and saw the most beautiful thing he had ever seen walking
towards him; Jean Grey, as herself as he had always remembered her.

"Jean?"

"Yes, Scott, of course, why wouldn't it be?  What's wrong?" she asked as she
embraced him.

"I ... I ... don't know, it's just that ... well ... you... the Phoenix ...
you ..."

"The Phoenix?" Jean asked, "what are you talking about?  The Phoenix fought
against the Shi'Ar empire and it's corrupt prince and defeated them.  She
has been off protecting us for years."

Scott had no clue what to say, or how to react.

<say thank you>

The voice, familiar resonated in his head.

"To whom?" he asked silently.

<to ryan, he sacrificed his all for you>

"What do you mean?"

<we gave him his utmost wish, and it was for you, charles, erik the xmen,
and especially for you and jean to live long and happily>

"He sacrificed his love for Tim for us?"

<he knew what mattered most.  the continuation of what xavier started and
his mission for all mankind.  he asked for the war between mutants and
humans to end, for the battle between xavier and erik to have never existed,
but most of all, he wanted you and jean to always be together.  that was the
most important thing to him>

"Why?"

<you and jean have what he always wished he could have had with tim.  he
wanted you two to have it while you yet lived.>

"How can I thank him?"

The Phoenix almost seemed to smile in his head <you already have. you
accepted his gift and he is now free to roam the cosmos with me.  free of
fear, hate, guilt or persecution>

"Is he happy?"

Phoenix laughed and as she spoke, it transformed into Ryan's voice <i'm
happy, scott.  tim's here, and we can never be parted.  we have been granted
eternal life with the phoenix.  we'll always be together, as we were meant
to be, and as you and jean shall be.  best of luck to you, scott.  be as
happy as we are>

With a cry, the voice of the Phoenix left Scott in the arms of Jean.

"What is it, my love?" she asked, worried.

Scott shook his head free of the cobwebs that had filled it, and looking at
Jean, smiled and said, "Nothing.  Just glad to be home."

Jean smiled, and taking his hand, began to walk back to the mansion.

Scott looked back and locked eyes with Xavier.

"I know" his mind projected.

Scott smiled, "Me too," he thought back, "he was the greatest of us."

"Yes," Xavier replied, "Yes ... he was."

END


And that's my story.  I hope you all liked it.  It wasn't perfect, and I
apologize for the plot holes or grammar issues, but I hope you enjoyed the
thought behind it.  Final feedback at ender2155@gmail.com as always.