A/N: X-Men Evolution: Endsong is definitely a prequel to this story (think of them as seasons). You don't have to read it first but it's there if you want elaboration. Thanks for reading!

Emma Frost's Office Xavier's Institute, Thursday Aug. 8th 4:58 pm

"In my favorite dream..." They closed their eyes and thought. "It's dark in my favorite dream. Someone is following me... I don't know why. I'm scared." Her voice quivered a little bit.

"But you said it's your favorite dream?" Someone responded. They smiled a little, their facial muscles relaxing.

"Because then I lift off, far away. Like I'm swimmin' in the air. Free. Nobody can touch me." They sighed. "It's a wonderful feelin'." Rogue opened her eyes slowly and stared at Emma Frost in front of her. Ten long months had passed. Ten months since Jean became one with a cosmic force and disappeared. Ten months since Remy betrayed the X-Men (and Rogue) by working with Mystique. Nine months since the Mutant Registration law officially entered Congress. The timeframe is pregnant like the pause between Emma and Rogue.

She was wearing a crisp, form fitting white dress that Rogue knew cost more than her bank account had ever had. She just kind of hung around the mansion after the Dark Phoenix saga. Her school was a front for the Hellfire Club and she certainly wasn't welcome there anymore. Xavier was still weary and raw from the loss of Jean. Emma was a good telepath in her own right but a Ms. Grey she was not.

"I think a reasonable expectation of your lodge here, perhaps, would be to offer counseling and therapy to students and teammates who are suffering right now." She made a face.

"I'm assuming for free?"

"Haven't you got enough money, Emma?" She ignored Charles' question because she respected him.

"Can't say the whole of you lot don't need to be shrinked," She murmured, looking around at the bustling students. "But the people who need it most aren't here, are they?" Xavier frowned. Scott and Logan had gone off nine months ago, and both of them had been radio silent. It was incredibly hard for the man to lose both his oldest students and closest friend at once. Even the icy Emma took less advantage of the man's good nature than usual.

"Yes. We all miss Scott and Logan dearly. They are both hurting more than anyone can imagine..." He looked wistfully out his window. "If only they would let us be there for them." Emma scoffed.

"But then they wouldn't be able to brood." Xavier smiled in spite of himself. Emma's perspective was refreshing sometimes to the state of months long mourning in the mansion. It'd been one big funeral, Jean would've hated that. She would've enjoyed the challenge Emma's wit provided. He sighed. 'Oh Jean...'

"Come professor," Emma said, interrupting his projected mourning. "You're projecting more than a child telepath's first use of their powers." She smiled wearily. "Why don't you show me Cerebro?"

"Yes, lets."

She stared at the young mutant and held back a sigh. "Rogue," She began, searching for a patient tone. "You know you can fly in real life, right?" She stared at the mutant who's hair grew seemingly over night. It was down her back and some days a wavy mess, others bone straight. She was starting to get (dare Emma think it) style. The resident house tomboy/goth suddenly started giving a shit about her appearance in the wake Jean's absence. Or maybe she stopped caring at all and it just served her better.

She had changed from a little urchin of a girl to a woman over night. Her eyes were closer to green when not covered in a hazy waste of makeup. Emma also noticed she even varied her gloves from day to day, outfit to outfit.

"Of course." Rogue responded, struggling not to snap. "But-"

"You don't feel free when you fly in real life. Not anymore." Emma said, her tone more serious. "That's a problem. Is that why you don't want to be on the team anymore?" There was a sudden silence. Emma shifted. "Do you feel like what happened to Jean, it was your fault?" 'Plenty of people think it's mine.' She thought flatly. Even if she turned on the Hellfire Club at the last minute nobody let her forget it.

"If I ha-"

"Beat an omnipotent cosmic force myself, as a human mutant, then Jean would still be here?" Rogue looked at her hands, covered in black fingerless gloves today. She smoothed out her dark green sweatshirt. "Scott and Logan left because Jean is dead." She finished. "Not because of something you couldn't do." Their eyes met for a long moment. A ringtone alarm on her phone alerted her that their session was over. She almost sighed in relief. "You're free. Good session Rogue."

"Thanks, Ms. Frost." She shuffled out of her office awkwardly. Emma knew the only two people who could convince the girl to get back on the field weren't here right now.

She sent a disdainful glare out the window, meant for them both. "Men, nature's best handicap."

Piotr stared wearily down at Kitty. She started her senior year in the fall but things had changed a lot since Jean had "gone". Kitty was definitely coping with it in an unexpected way. She lost her role model in Logan, Scott, and Jean all at the same time. She chopped her hair short above her shoulders, something the old Kitty would never dare do. Piotr, of course, thought it only enhanced her beauty. She began asking Ororo about making different team uniforms. Then, she got really gung ho about missions.

They all had a duty as X-Men, to Xavier and to the world, to answer when called upon. Kitty had never necessarily liked missions like some of her teammates. But she was dependable, quick on her feet, and a huge asset to the team. After Jean disappeared she started using the Danger Room herself. Rogue led the sessions now and there was no Scott or Logan to force her.

She quickly became almost as good as Rogue at hand to hand combat. She learned the Danger Room inside and out. It made Piotr feel a little bit better about her handling herself but he couldn't help but feel like she was just avoiding the inevitable. Mourning.

"I've never even been to a funeral, you know that?" He remembered her saying. Not until Jean died. He smiled. Even when she was exhausting, it beat what Piotr could remember of his life before the small girl entered it. She was wearing a black, cashmere, off the shoulder sweater. For Kitty Pryde, it was as edgy as it could get.

"What a world," He had said once, sitting in the courtyard with her. He traced giant fingers through short locks. "You cut your hair and The Rogue grows it..."

"I just think if you sit in on my Danger Room sessions..." She placed tiny hands on Piotr's hulking chest and began to rub. "The new new recruits won't give me a hard time. They kept confusing me for one of them," She pouted, her hands on her hips. "Why do you think I cut my hair?!" Piotr chuckled heartily.

"Sure. Anything for you, Katya-Kat." She smiled up at him and leaned on her tip toes, the tell-tale sign to the giant mutant that she wanted a kiss. He lifted her effortlessly and they locked lips. It wasn't a peck that Kitty had been fretting over months ago, it would've given Scott and Jean a run for their money. If she learned anything lately it was the value of seizing the moment. They broke apart and saw Rogue standing in the hallway, having just stumbled out of Emma's office.

"Get a room, y'all." She said playfully, the look in her eye betraying her voice. How lonely Rogue must've been. Remy betrayed her then Scott disappeared. Kitty felt bad for her stumbling upon their PDA.

"Oh, hey! There you are!" Kitty bounded over from Piotr's side. "I barely see you and I'm your roommate!" Rogue rolled her eyes. "Wanna jump in on a Danger Room session?"

"I think I'll raincheck, I'm always tense after a session with Emma." Kitty bristled as she rolled her shoulder out.

"Oh, ew. Say no more." She shivered. Kitty liked everybody but she could find almost no redeeming qualities in Emma. Not one. Rogue waved and ambled on her way through the mansion. "Oh, Kurt was looking for you! I think he's upstairs." Rogue half hovered up there in search for her adopted sibling. He meant well, but he and Kitty had been trying to coax Rogue back on to the X-Men for months. Only Bobby could understand Rogue had her reasons and need for her space.

"I'm the oldest now, in team experience and by age," She explained frantically one morning after Scott and Logan left. "I don't want Jean's co-captain responsibilities. I don't want anyone counting on me ever again!" She snapped one day after a Danger Room session. "I'm helping out the professor and Hank and Ororo by doin' this. I don't want to be on any damn team so drop it." Everyone watched as she stomped up to her room.

She hadn't had a meltdown like that since she first arrived at the institute and Kitty messed with her things. The girls were young, immature, and didn't understand one another yet. They'd come a long way from that to being best friends. But no amount of prodding Rogue about the subject seemed to help.

She caught her adopted brother porting lazily around upstairs, looking for her she assumed. She didn't know how he'd kept his same light, airy demeanor through all the things that had happened last year. He was still the same old Kurt, he spent more time at church these days, though. After seeing Dark Phoenix Rogue even went with him sometimes. His eyes lit up when he saw his sister.

"There you are!" Rogue cocked her hands on her hips.

"S'up, Smurf?" She was hoping it wasn't another "You need to be on the team," speech because she'd had enough of those. He held out a crudely wrapped parcel.

"Here," He said. "For you!" He watched with anticipation as she opened it. He had always noticed Logan leaving small, thoughtful things for the girl all the time. Especially when she had first arrived. He learned little gifts were the way to keep his adopted sister's heart warm.

She pulled out the small, beaded bracelet. It was dark green and it smelled like incenses. "Whoa-"

"They're blessed rosary beads. For good luck, for protection." Rogue began to open her mouth to say 'Thanks, Kurt. But I don't need so much protection since I'm not an X-Man anymore.' But she pushed her mouth shut. It was very kind and thoughtful of Kurt, as always. She slipped it on over her glove.

"Wow, Kurt. Thank you. I'll always wear it." He held up his own wrist and there was a blue one.

"Now ve both have one, no matter vhere ve are..." She pushed him playfully.

"I'm just not active on the team, Kurt. I'm not... Leaving, or somethin'." He frowned at her.

"Kitty's vorried you'll apply for a far university in the fall." She crossed her arms.

"I would never jus' leave, Kurt. Sheesh." His tail wagged sheepishly.

"Ve just, y'know... Scott's gone. You don't go on missions anymore," He looked at her sadly. "It just really highlights how much time ve all spent together. I miss it, and you." Rogue hugged herself, thinking about the last time the whole team had been united. 'When Jean went away...'

"Don't think just cause I'm not there I don't miss it, Kurt. I miss everything, trust me..." She sighed. "I jus-" She was interrupted by an alarm.

"X-Team, please make it to the Danger Room lobby is if you have A level briefing! Thank you!" Came Hanks voice over the intercom. She and Kurt locked eyes.

"Sorry,"

"Don't be. Go get 'em." She said with a determined grin. She watched as Kurt fell in stride with Kitty and disappeared into the mouth of the mansion. 'I miss it more than you know.'

Xavier's Institute, Thursday Aug. 8th 7:23 pm

'Professor... Professor please...' Xavier jerked beside Ororo suddenly. She had been playing her piano, trying to establish a somewhat peaceful atmosphere in the sullen mansion. He had been sitting, meditating beside her. His peace had been wrecked in the absence of Jean. She turned to him worriedly.

"Charles, Dear..." He shook his head. "What is it?" He panted.

"So-Someone's in trouble. They're contacting me telepathically," He grunted, listening carefully to the message.

'Yes, who is this?'

'I am in trouble... I, I have Magneto.'

Xavier's heart stopped beating in his chest. After Jean ravaged his consciousness he mysteriously disappeared, despite his devastated state. That too, kept Xavier up at night.

'Angel?'

'Yes, professor. I finally broke free of whatever was wrong with me. Mr. Sinister... I'm sorry. I couldn't let him get his hands on Magneto. He doesn't know who he is, Charles. That he's a mutant!' Xavier shook his head in disbelief.

'Please, Warren. Bring him-'

'We are already on the way. I'll be there soon.' Xavier looked at Ororo tiredly. "Could you please alert Hank. I've just had a mental conference with Angel." She frowned.

"You mean, Archangel?"

"No, I think just Angel." He looked at her, his brow creased in concern. "He's bringing Erik with him. He's found him, Ororo." Her mouth dropped open.

"Charles, Erik? You and I both know the odds he,"

"I know, Storm." He cut in, his fingers interlocked. "But something's going on. Please." He looked up at her. "Escort me." She nodded dutifully.

"Of course." She said as she placed her hand on his shoulder. "Let's see what this is about." They hadn't arrived onto the courtyard a few minutes before Angel descended with his ghastly blue skin, a mutant that looked like Magneto dangling in his arms. He still looked young and his hair had grown long, and white. Xavier gasped and for the first time in years felt like he might lift himself from his chair.

Frantically, his metal wings creaking, he landed before the professor and Ororo, the latter extremely weary of the mutated Angel.

"Easy, there." She said, standing between him and the professor. It had been a little too peaceful for her taste. Angel could not blame her, he wouldn't trust him either.

"How did you find him, Angel?" Xavier asked, staring into the unconscious mutant's face. 'Erik? How...'

"I found him like this outside the remains of Genosha, that's where Mr. Sinister's main base was." His stare darkened. "I found him when I fled from Dr. Essex. And not a moment too soon." He looked at Xavier and Ororo apologetically. "I'm so sorry, for everything I've done. Can I please try to explain?" Xavier and Ororo looked at one another.

"Yes," Said Xavier with a tired smile. "Let us talk."

Genosha Ruins, Thursday Aug. 8th 8:16 pm

"Remy LeBeau." Mr. Sinister looked at his now white hair and glowing, red eyes. Thanks to submitting himself to experimenting a lot had changed. "You have so much more than control, you hold life and death in your hands!" He glanced at his gloveless hands, his trench coat billowing. "You are so close to perfect, aren't you?" Mr. Sinister sat across from him and grinned.

"Close to?" Remy questioned, his voice gravelly. Mr. Sinister snickered in the ambient candle light.

"The girl," He barked at him. "You're nowhere near over her. You wouldn't kill her if I sent you right now, even after drinking the concoction I prepared for this occasion."

Remy frowned. That girl. She was the bane of his existence. The only thing that made him remember he was human once with feelings. His expression must've been telling because Sinister sneered.

Xavier's Institute, Thursday Aug. 8th 7:43 pm

Angel sipped a glass of water as Hank examined him and continued to run tests in their infirmary. He was 'oohing; and 'ahing' as he jotted down his results on a clip board. "Fascinating." He looked seriously into Xavier's eyes.

"It's gonna sound crazy when I say it..." He began. Ororo snorted and crossed her arms.

"We don't believe in crazy here, Warren." She responded. He sighed.

"Sinister has created some sort of elixir... It removes humanity. Emotion. Everything positive out of you." There was a short silence.

"And how do you know this?" Xavier questioned after a moment.

"Because I saw Gambit take it." Even Hank unburied himself from his notes to stare at the winged mutant. Xavier gestured towards the door and Ororo hurriedly shut it. Angel looked around. "What is it I've said?" He asked wearily. Xavier laced his fingers together and cleared his throat.

"Remy was briefly a student at this institute until he disappeared last year. He was very close with some, his involvement with Sinister..." He looked at Angel with hard eyes. "This news could hurt someone. Very much. And my students have been hurt enough." Angel nodded in understanding. Mr. Sinister was obsessed with Jean, he knew something had happened with her powers and she was gone.

"When my wings were mutilated at that riot..." He balled his fists. "Dr. Essex patched me up after. I was in such despair, my wings had to be amputated-"

"Goodness, Warren." Ororo sighed. She could think of nothing worse to happen to the flight gifted man.

"I didn't know what I said yes to but that's no excuse. He admitted that he slipped the potion that removes humanity in my IV. He had done it without me knowing," He tossed his head in his hands and moaned. "The things I'd done, that I knew I shouldn't but I just didn't care!" Hank placed a hand on the mutant's shoulder.

"Don't beat yourself up, friend. Dr. Essex had broken the most import vow of all: Thou shalt not cause harm." Said Hank solemnly. "Dr. Nathaniel Essex has absolutely harmed and disgraced medicine and science as a whole!" Xavier nodded.

"We can't allow him to continue doing this?" Angel shook his head.

"He has all of our DNA already." Xavier's eyes went wide. "Courtesy of working with Mystique." Ororo cursed under her breath.

"I told you, Charles. I should've fried her back i-"

"Hush, Ms. Monroe." Xavier was frowning but his eyes weren't. He turned back to Angel. "Do you think think he'll come for you? Regardless, you are welcome to stay here as long as you need." Warren shook his head, a distant look on his face.

"I don't really think Sinister ever really wanted me that bad," He answered, looking at his hands. "It was always Gambit, Scott." He looked at Magneto's unconscious form. "I think he'll at least send someone for him." Everyone turned to look at him. Ororo sighed.

"I still cannot believe he survived, Jean-"

"Don't underestimate Erik, Ororo. He has been around for a long time for a reason." He shook his head. "I don't expect we'll ever have a clear idea of how he survived." All the metal instruments in the infirmary began to levitate, ominously. "Erik, no!" Angel screamed suddenly as his wings began to bend and creak the wrong way.

"Stop this!" Hank yelled as Erik's eyes shot open, glowing yellow.

"Where am I?!" He cried, the metal in the room groaning.

"You're safe!" Xavier cried out over Angel's screams. He was trying to move his wings but he couldn't. 'The team is out,' He thought.

'Rogue, I need you to come to the infirmary, now.'

'Professor?! I'm on my way-'

'Take your glove off, and hurry!'

"MY WINGS!" Angel shouted as he tried to spread them. He tried to enter his old friend's mind but it was it nothing but anarchy. 'What?' It was almost as bad as Logan's mind at his worst. 'Oh Rogue, please hurry...'

"I'll see if an inhibitor is in my lab!" Hank screamed, tearing off out of the room.

"Erik pleas-"

"Let me help you!" He shouted at Warren as he wrenched on his wings. Storm began trying to conjure as much wind in the room as she could.

"Charles!" She cried. Angel tried to shoot the metal feathers from his wings but he couldn't move them.

"Why..." He screamed at him.

"Professor!" Rogue cried.

"Magneto, Rogue! Hurry!" Before he could react the girl raced toward him, silver bangs catching his attention.

"Goodnight," She cried, grabbing on to his face. He yelled, all the metal objects dropping. Rogue moaned and yanked her hand back before long, rubbing the afflicted appendage. "Ugh," She breathed.

"Why did you stop me?" He asked her before slipping into unconsciousness. Angel lay on the ground, panting. His wings were clicking and clacking as they shook. Hank made his way back in the infirmary, a collar in his hand. He hurriedly placed it around the incapacitated Erik.

"Warren," He said stooping to the wounded mutant. "Are you alright?"

"My wings, Hank." He coughed. "I think he's ruined them, I'll never fly! Damn it!" Rogue watched as he pounded the floor, his wings twisted scrap metal on his back. She took a deep breath.

"Warren, you have to let us help you. Those things are gonna kill you how you are." She begged. He shook his head.

"SINISTER!" He roared, punch upwards in anger. In that moment feathers plumed everywhere as though a pillow had been ripped into. Xavier and Rogue gasped as the metal fell away like a shell, revealing massive, feathered wings that had apparently grown under the others the whole time. She covered her mouth and staggered back as he realized he had his real wings all along.

"Father in Heaven..." Ororo breathed, making a cross over her chest. Hank sighed.

"Fascinating."

6,739 Miles Away...

'Logan.'

It'd been ten long months and not long enough that Logan had thought about the mansion. He had a strict contact policy with the professor, though. So he knew he had powered up Cerebro for a reason.

'Hey, Chuck.' He sent back. 'Everything okay?'

'I don't know.' He fully broke his meditation.

'You need me back?'

'I don't think so yet, but I got some disturbing news today...' He growled, even on a different continent.

'Oh?'

'The good news is Angel has defected from Mr. Sinister and is with Hank trying to undo what's been done to him.' Logan nodded.

'Good for Worthington.' He said, slightly sarcastic. 'What's that bad news?'

'Before he left he said Gambit was working for him. And that he drank a potion that stripped him of his humanity to be his henchman.' Logan's blood ran cold. They both know who was the most in danger if that was the case.

'Rogue,' His claws shot out for the first time in months at the peaceful monastery. 'That rat bastard,'

'It's a little worse...' Logan tried to sigh in his telepathic message. 'When Angel came to me he brought an amnesiac Magneto.'

'What? He's at the institute?'

'And I fear Sinister may come for him, or he may send-'

'Gambit.' He raked a hand through his wild hair. He knew he needed this time away as well as he had things to investigate. But he did not want to abandon Rogue when he could potentially be coming after her.

'I'll come back-'

'Logan, no.' Xavier's telepathic voice was firm. 'You and I both know you need to do that research for as long as possible.' He was silent for a moment. Whether or not Jean was gone would remain to be seen but the Phoenix Force was forever, and it would be back for earth. "Keep going, press your research. If I feel anyone here is in danger-'

'You let me know before that, Chuck.'

'Of course. Keep up the good work.'

'Take care.' Logan sighed and looked around the peaceful monastery once his communications with Charles ceased.

"Kuzuri-oji-san. The monk sighed as the entered, setting two cups of tea down for them down. "You want to learn more about the Ryoku-Fenikkusu?" He chuckled, slightly amused as he sipped tea.

"Arigatou, Segi." Logan bowed. "And yeah, I do. I need to. I've met the smartest and wisest people here..." He locked eyes with the monk.

"You don't want the force, do you Wolverine-san?" He shook his head, the look in his eye clear.

"Nope." He searched the mutant's face, frowning.

"You don't... Love someone the Phoenix has chosen as host, do you?" Segi set his cup of tea down. "These are the only people who come here, searching for answers." Logan's silence answered for him. 'Poor, poor fool...' He sighed. "You know you are it's source, right..." Logan sniffed.

"What do you mean?"

"Your sorrow. Your suffering. Your longing," He looked in Logan's eyes seriously. "Those will sustain the Phoenix Force long after us."

Genosha Ruins, Thursday Aug. 8th 8:16 pm

Remy smiled, his eyes flashing red in the dark. "Da girl?" He said, playing coy. "What girl?" Sinister had to laugh.

"Well it's not for my lack of trying to remove your affections!" Remy crossed his arms and Sinister grinned at him. "This is serious, Gambit. You are up for the promotion to my righthand man: Death." Remy swallowed.

"I am Gambit," He said, his voice surly. "And I am Death." Sinister sneered.

"Prove it. Bring me Magneto for experimenting and," He looked in his eyes. "Kill Rogue." Remy snorted, bringing up her smiling face in his brain.

"Ça ira."

Author's Notes:

Kuzuri: Wolverine

Ryoku-Fenikkusu: Force Phoenix

Ça ira: Will do.