Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2010 07:54:07 +0100
From: Adam McDonald <ender2155@gmail.com>
Subject: Phoenix Reborn part 25

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

Liz hovered above the carnage below her, but nothing brought her more joy
than seeing the lifeless body of Ryan crumbled before her.  Her hated enemy
has been vanquished.  All that brought her misery has been destroyed.

Dark Phoenix thrills through her, and their victory cry rents the galaxy.

Miles away, the psychic shock hit Cyclops like a blow to the head.

"No," he murmured, "Not him too."

Cyclops raced along the path Ryan and Liz followed hoping not to find what
he feared he would.

<run, my love, before it's too late>

"What?!" Cyclops asked, as this strange voice permeated his thoughts.

<you are the catalyst, you must get there in time.  i will help you>

With that, the world seemed to slow, yet he continued towards his goal at
the same speed.  Within moments, Cyclops stood over Ryan's dead body.

"No ...no!" he gasped, as he knelt to cradle Ryan in his arms, "You can't be
dead, you were supposed to help us!"

"FAMILIAR WORDS, EH, SCOTT?" a voice asked.

So lost in the passing of Ryan, Cyclops had not noticed Dark Phoenix above
them.  He looked up.

"YES, YES, ALWAYS A MOMENT TOO LATE, AS ALWAYS," she mocked, "DO YOU NOT
GROW TIRED OF YOUR CONTINUAL FAILURE?  YOU COULDN'T SAVE HIM, YOU COULDN''T
SAVE YOUR BELOVED PROFESSOR, AND YOU COULDN'T SAVE HER!  THE WOMAN YOU
LOVED!"

"ENOUGH!" yelled Cyclops, standing, "You have no idea the sacrifice she
made!  She gave everything she had to ensure a MONSTER like you could never
survive!"

"YET SHE FAILED, DIDN'T SHE?  HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL, THAT THE ONE
PERSON YOU TRULY LOVED KILLED HERSELF FOR NO REASON?  THAT HER DEATH ONLY
FACILITATED WHAT SHE TRIED TO STOP?  HOW MUCH DO YOU HATE ME?"

Cyclops was about to respond when a small, quiet, familiar and
beloved voice, spoke in his ear, <it's what she wants, my love.  don't give
it to her.>

"NO!" he yelled in his mind, "I must destroy this ... THING!"

<did you destroy me, when you had the chance?>

"J ... J ... Jean?" Cyclops asked, in a strangled voice.

<can you see me?> the voice came again.

"JEAN!" yelled Cyclops, in agony, "Where are you?"

<over here>

Cyclops turned to his feet, and saw a shining mist begin to hover over, and
through, the body of Ryan.  Within moments, it grew in intensity and
overwhelmed him to the point where he had to look away.

With a flash, it was over, and before him stood Jean Grey.

"JEAN!" he yelled.

The entity in front of him did not move, just merely floated, but her words
pierced his mind, <yes, scott, it is i.  do you understand why you are
here?>

"No,"

Jean smiled, <you are the one person ryan knew he could put his trust in to
undertake this. the final moves in our war comes down to you>

"I ... I don't understand," Cyclops managed as tears tried to form in his
eyes.

<ryan had to make this sacrifice with a pure heart; he needed to know he was
forgiven before he gave his life.  do not blame him for failing, for it is
through his death the world will be saved, but it is through your love the
world will prosper.>

"I ... I don't understand."

<and you can't, at the moment.  all i can do is ask you to do one last thing
for me.  can you do that, my love?>

"Anything, Jean, you know that!"

<then forgive me when i ask it of you>

"Forgive you for WHAT?"

<promise me, please, my love>

"I ... I ... I promise."

<thank you>

With those words, the spirit of Jean leaned over and kissed Scott with the
passion of the ages.

<i love you, scott, and always will>

Jean smiled sadly and turned to face Liz.

<so we face each other once again>

WHAT DO YOU SPEAK OF?  YOU ARE SIMPLY THE LESSER PART OF MY BEING!  I HAVE
BESTED YOU BEFORE AND WILL DO IT AGAIN!

<bested me?  had that been the case we would have ceased to exist long ago.
you know i am the yin to your yang, the counter balance to your wrath.
without me, you would be destroyed yourself many times over>

THE POOR WIMPERING CHILD LONGS TO BE FORGIVEN!  NEITHER HELL NOR HEAVEN HAS
A PLACE FOR YOU, PITIFUL WEAKLING!  APPROACH ME AND SEE HOW LONG YOU CAN
SURVIVE MY WRATH!

Jean rose into the air and summoned the strength and majesty of the Phoenix
around her.  At the almighty power in front of him, Cyclops fell to his
kness and looked up, transfixed by the sight before his eyes.

<you know what to do, my love, just wait for it>

The voice rings in his head, and he can but nod in acquiesance.

The dual Phoenix's began to circle each other and trade attacks.

The strength and power with which each attacked each other branched off and
destroyed the nearby towns and cities.  The war between the gods rents
heaven and hell.

Cyclops is stuck, kneeled in his spot as the Eternities raged before him.

Suddenly, Jean launches a blow, <if you are so made of hate, then why does
the loss of your son affect you so?>

Liz gasped as if impaled by a sword, and Jean used the moment to launch a
blast of power at her chest.

Liz tumbled, end over end and crashed into the ground, leaving a sizeable
crater.

Jean looked sadly down at the hole made, when suddenly, Liz shot up even
higher into the air as the Phoenix Force around her grew brighter still.

FOOLISH WOMAN!  HOW CAN YOU BELIEVE LOVE WILL EVER CONQUER DEATH?!  AFTER
ALL, WASN'T IT YOUR LOVE THAT LED TO ALL OF THIS HAPPENING?!

Jean is at a loss for a moment, <no, that's impossible ... i only wanted to
protect ...>

Smiling, as if in victory, YES, YOU ONLY WANTED TO PROTECT!  BUT THAT HAS
LED TO THIS MOMENT!  YOUR 'LOVE' FOR FRIENDS HAS KILLED COUNTLESS OF THEM AS
WELL AS THOSE OF THE HUMANS YOU HOLD DEAR!  YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR
DEATHS!  ADMIT IT!

Jean began to waver ... <i did it to help them>

Liz laughs YET YOU KILLED THEM!

<noooooo!>

Jean cringed as the guilt of their deeds fell upon her.

With not a moment's notice, Liz unleashed the same fury of the Phoenix on
her as she did Ryan, and Jean was blasted out of the sky.

"JEAAAAAAN!" yelled Scott, as he ran to where she fell.

Cupping her smoking body in his arms, he cried, "No, no, NO!  I lost you
once, I can't do this again!"

Jean looked over and smiled at him, "You haven't, my love, but you must do
one last thing ... hard as it will be.  You need to forgive."

"Forgive WHO?!" he yelled, "That, that, CREATURE!  How can I!?  It's killed
you twice!"

"Y... yes ...." nods Jean, "and you will, I can sense it".

"I ... I love you, Scott ..."

"I know," he cried silently.

"And ...and Ryan was right to trust you."

"Huh?" he asked, surprised.

Jean smiled, "Phoenix ... told .. him ..."

Wit that, Jean collapsed in his arms.

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" Scott yelled.

As he laid, for the second time, over  the body of the woman he loved, he
felt a wind begin to surround him.  As he looked at Jean, it encircled her
and began to glow, softly at first, but it grew in intensity until it was
nearly too painful to look at.

The light suddenly coalesced into a spirit that continually changed between
a visiage of Jean and Ryan.

The person made of light smiled and said in a voice that seemed to combine
the two different people, "Thanks, Scott.  We're free!  You have one last
test to pass.  Good luck, my love/friend."

The entity kissed him before it headed up, towards Liz.

<we are here, liz, and we are ready>

Liz' countenance turned to pure terror, NO, NO, NO!!!! HOW ARE YOU DOING
THIS?!  HOW DID YOU SURVIVE?!  I WON'T LET YOU!!!

With that, Liz unleashed all her powers on who was floating up next to her,
but all her best attempts merely passed through it with no effect.

<you can't escape, liz.  we are part of you>

NEVER!!!!

Jean/Ryan reached out and touched Liz' face.

Liz screamed.

The light of the reaction dropped Cyclops to his knees and blinded him

<it's nearly finished>


Ok, so I TOTALLY thought I could finish it up with this chapter, but I had
1, or maybe 2 more to end the story.  Feedback, as always, at
ender2155@gmail.com