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GAMBIT VS THE X-MEN
AGE OF APOCALYPSE
Sitting on his throne Apocalypse gazes into the canister holding the
disembodied remains of the Shadowking.

"Well, have you found the weak link that is needed to bring Magneto's whelps to their knee's?"

The swirling darkness forms a demonic face grinning broadly.

"Yes master. I have found the most recent lair of the Cajun thief and his team"

"Good his betrayal will tear Magnetos' whelps apart. Begin my most trusted servant!"
From within his canister the elusive smokey form of the Shadowing thins than vanishes.

Sitting on a park bench in Times Square, Jubilee and Gambit look at the remains of what was once a proud city teeming with millions of people.

"Gambit, ever wonder if what we do makes a difference? I mean we steal from Pocy's forces and give to those who need it, but are we really helping anyone?"

"Chere if we weren't doing any good we wouldn't be here. Everything we do helps out someone making their life a little bit better. And in this Age of Apocalypse every little bit helps done you think?"

"Yeah I guess so."

Like a breeze Shadowking moves from mind to mind slowly making his way
across the city until he ends up in the body of a human, one who just minutes before received some of the medicine stolen by the X-ternals under Gambits command. Moving silently Shadowking directs the humans movements until he is just behind the two heroes. Spinning quickly, Gambit draws out two throwing spikes and has to force himself not to throw them as he recognizes the man.

"Tis not a good thing to be sneaking up on us like that!"

The man simply stares at the two then falls limply to the ground.

"Hey Cajun, think we didn't get the medicine to him in time?

"I done know Chere, and done be calling me Cajun. You know I done like anyone but "Her" calling me that."

Moving to the mans side Gambit leans down and checks for a pulse. One touch is all it takes and suddenly the mind of Gambit is gone, buried beneath the evil that is the Shadowking.

"Hey Caj, ah Remy you gonna take all day to check his pulse or what?"

"Ah oh sorry child."

"Child! I ain't no...."

Spinning fluidly Gambits' hand comes up holding 3 of his deadly spikes. Before Jubilee can finish her sentence the 3 energized spikes are imbedded in her chest. Turning away Gambit walks two steps before the body of Jubilee explodes spraying him and the bench in a shower of blood and gore.

"This is going to be fun! Maybe Apocalypse will allow me to keep this body after I am finished.""I have completed phase one and the rogue mutant is under my control. Now on to phase two."

Gambits body walks back up the deserted road finding a flyer left there just for this purpose.

Meanwhile...
Storm awakes abruptly from a deep sleep without knowing why. Pulling on her robe, the X-woman moves across the room, opening a window she looks out over the quiet base. Spotting a blur moving across the ground she strains to make out the swiftly moving form of Quicksilver. Watching him zip by she summons a soft breeze and gently floats out across the grounds. Hair flowing behind her, the breeze carries her to the lake nearby. Her favorite place to relax when she is troubled.
Setting down softly next to the still dark waters, she drops her robe to stand completely naked and walks lithely to the waters edge.

"Goddess will this war never end? Oh for the simple days when making it rain upon the African desert was my only duty."

Calling up another wind Ororo rises up above the lake and when a mere 50' up she dispels the breeze and dives into the calm waters. The cold waters refresh her and clear the dark dreams from her mind. Bursting to the surface she shakes her hair and stops horrified as she watches one of Apocalypses' flyers land near the shore. Floating silently she begins to formulate a plan of attack until she recognizes the pilot.

"Remy, surly this isn't a proper time to be visiting?"

Seeing it is only him she begins to quickly breaststroke to the lakes edge.

"Oh Stor, um Chere. Yeah important business. Gotta see Magneto."

"You ok Remy? If it's so important why did you land all the way out..."

Instinctively she calls up a wind and rises up just as a handful of energized spikes strikes the water where she was with an evil hiss.

"What madness is this? Have you taken leave of your senses? Tell me Remy what is wrong?"

"Remy is no longer in control of this vessel Windrider. The Shadowking now rules this husk. And only by killing me will you truly set the Cajun free."

With an evil laugh, Gambits gloved hand launches another barrage of crackling energized throwing spikes. A quick burst of wind draws Storm out of the way and higher into the air.

"Madman! You would dare to use a close friend in such a way? I will find a way to save him and if I cannot then I will burn you to the ground where you stand. I will not allow his body to be used thusly!"

Throwing back her hands, Ororo's eyes flash brightly and the predawn sky lights up as if day. Twin bolts of lightning tear down from the sky turning the once lovely beach into a crater of melted sand. But her fierce strike missed. As her eyes clear she finds the beach empty. Empty except for a brief blur. Suddenly the blur stops and Quicksilver stands amidst the waves.

"Ororo is everything ok? I saw your flash from all the way up at the base."

Lowering herself to the ground, Ororo has no time to cry out to him as three of Gambits charged spikes strike him along the back. Unable to get his footing in time, Quicksilver like Jubilee before him bursts like an overfilled balloon, bleeding his life's blood all over the beach.

"This madness stops here! That man meant the world to me and you will not get the chance to take another X-mans' life!"

Winking at her, Remys' body moves from out of the trees where he had been hidden.

"As if you could stop me Wind Rider. I will kill everyone you hold dear, just like I did Quicksilver and Jubilee! And it will all be done by the hand of one you also hold dear. How delicious the Cajuns mind and body is."

Grinning Gambits' best sly grin, the ShadowKing takes off into the woods, vanishing quickly. Ororo's face contorts grimly and the full impact of the villains word hit her like a sledgehammer.

"Jubilee? Bastard! You would dare kill a child? I will stop you, if it takes everything I have!"

The dawn begins but no light from it can be seen as every cloud in a hundred mile radius converges over Ororo's head. Streaks of lightning supply the only light, and they are truly a wonder to behold. The clouds begin to form a spiral pattern over a hundred miles across. Ororo's eyes' flash and lightning streaks down from her hand to set off a forest fire around the hidden body of the man she once considered a friend. Even had she been able to talk her voice wouldn't have been heard over the 150 mph winds that were now whipping the fires into a raging pyre. Watching her as he clutched a tree against the winds, an evil grin crossed his face. Suddenly he went limp and Remys' body flew into the air, born aloft on the hurricane winds. Winds completely controlled by Storm. Slowly his limp body floated before her. Unsure what to do Ororo merely looks upon the nonmoving body and ponders her next move. Suddenly Remys' eyes open and he looks around confused.

"Stormy? Chere, how did I get here?"

"Remy is that really you?"

"Who else would it be Chere? Umm could you set me down and we'll talk this over?"

Storm lowers them both to the beach and slowly the intense winds begin to subside. A glowing magenta orb appears in the sky and moves rapidly toward the pair. Landing near them, the globe vanishes to reveal Magneto and Rogue.

"Is there something I should know Ororo?"

"Remy, why are you here and what's going on?"

Magneto cringes as Rogue runs over to the Cajun, but knows (rather hopes) where her heart belongs. Moving over to Ororo's' side he whispers to her.

"Again I ask, What has transpired here Ororo?"

Before she can respond the two are suddenly interrupted by an intense high pitched scream. Turning to the two, Ororo stares in shock as Rogues' very clothes are energized and explode. To her credit Rogue still stands, enveloped in her magnetic shield.

"Remy, ya'all really shouldn't ah outta done that!"

"Woman you are in no position to tell me what to do!"

Reaching down he pulls up a handful of sand. Energizing it quickly he throws the sand full into her face. The glowing sand passes through her shield to detonate full square in her face. Her headless body slumps onto the lightning blasted beach.

"You butcher! Again you have killed one I hold dear! She shall be your last!"

"Rogue!!!!"

Magneto stumbles across the beach to his wife's' side and cradles her body, rubbing her already cooling hand against his cheek.
Gambits body grins at Storm and another handful of energized spike appear in his hand. Turning towards Magnus' grief stricken form, he lets the spikes fly. Storm concentrates inward and her winds begin to turn the spikes path, unseen to her though are the second set of spikes which Gambit launches straight at her turned back. The spikes form a line up her back and the agony even without Gambits charge drives her to the brink of passing out. A testament to her strength, is the fact that the darts miss Magnus, falling sizzling into the lake. Her agony ridden form rises high up into the air just before the spikes explode ending her life.
Laying his dead wife's' body down onto the sands Magnus turns to Gambit, the tears of his grief buried in the intense rain that has sprung up. Grinning madly Gambit moves to face the master of magnetism.

"I will kill you then move on and kill all you hold dear. Apocalypse will praise me and the Cajuns body will be mine forever."

"No murderer! This dance with death is over!"

Slowly a magnetic bubble forms over Gambits body and a look of terror crosses his face.

"This will not stop me, I will flee and you will watch your trusted ally die by your own hands."

Magnus grins and the bubble slowly begins to shrink, crushing the Cajuns' body to a jelly like goo.

"You are mistaken Shadowking, for Remy was never trusted."

Gambits body contorts and finally dies. All the while he screams for mercy. Magneto watches the display, knowing in his heart that the Shadowking has already fled, but still crushing the life from him.

"War has claimed another casualty. Good riddance LeBeau."

::With what amounts to an afterthought, Magneto tosses Gambits remains into the lake and turns back to the groups base, already forming a story to tell the others.

Elsewhere, the Shadowking reforms in his tube.

"I have failed master!"

Leaning down to peer into the mental mutants tube, Apocalypse speaks.

"No my slave. You have brought Magnus even closer to my side. He will cross the line, in truth he already has. He will be tested and may he be found wanting! Hahahahahahahaha."

What If...? Below are some other stories from across the Alterniverse! "Storm vs the Goblyn Queen" Set during Inferno, watch as Storm gives it her all to stop a madwoman from infesting the world with demons! "Storm vs the Vision" Ultron makes use of his android "brother" to destroy the Avengers. But he must first face STORM! "Gambit vs the X-Men" Set in the Age of Apocalypse, the Shadowking driven Gambit goes on a killing spree ending with his battle against the Master of Magnitism!
STORM VS THE GOBLYN QUEEN ROUND 2 Storms last words would be inscribed on her tombstone. Those who knew her the world over would morn her passing. Across the world it was spoken of how with her final action Storm held the Goblyn Queen in combat long enough for the mutant heroes X-Men and X-Factor to save the infant, and thus spare the world from a mad woman's dreams of vengeance. Her funeral would draw the worlds greatest heroes, each eager to show their love and respect for the woman known as Storm. "S.Sh. She meant more to us than the world will ever know. The rain will be her tears, The sun and moon her eyes, the rainbow her smile, and the Earth her body. We will all live in the shadow of Ororo and in her memory. For without her sacrifice there would be nothing for any of us to celebrate. Her final act was to sacrifice her life long enough for those of us called X-Men to save Maddies child. I of us all stood vigilant and watched Madelyn simply turn off the mind of Ororo. I of us all stood vigilant as Ororo's lifeless body was born away on the very winds of her creation. And it was also I who ended the threat forever of she who was the Goblyn Queen." Almost unconsciously Logan rubs what's left of his right arm. Burned off at the elbow from the intense power of the Phoenix Force, only a metal capped stump remains. "While this headstone rests upon an empty tomb, I like to think that the rainbow above us is a sign from Ororo. And maybe someday she will return to us. Until then, I love you 'Roro, and will always miss you." As the embittered X-Man steps down, clouds form over the funeral site and a hard bitter rain falls upon those assembled. If any cry it is impossible to tell with all the rain. One by one they each pass the headstone then leave for a world that exists because of one woman's sacrifice, one woman's dream! And as they pass through the gates leading out of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, a crack forms in the clouds. A crack that allows enough sunlight through to generate the simplest of things, a rainbow...			STORM VS THE GOBLYN QUEEN ROUND 1 After watching Madelyn Prior prepare to sacrifice her son to bring about a demonic infestation of the Earth, Storm takes to the air flying up to the Empire State building's observatory to try and stop Madelyn herself. Clouds of debris and paper whirl around her as her winds lift her from the ground, launching her upwards like a rocket. The top of the building stands transformed. Now a dark alter to a darker woman inhabits the plateau atop the building. "Cease this madness Madelyn! Has your time with the X-Men taught you nothing? The life before you was born of your life, your love!" Raising the sacrificial dagger above her head, the Goblyn Queen turns to face Storm feeling the intense winds buffeting her demonic alter area high upon the Empire State Building. "It has taught me! It has taught me all or nothing! It has taught me that I have nothing left to lose! Sinister took away my freedom of choice. Jean took away my husband and now you seek to take away the only thing that may allow me to take back all that would be mine!" A tear of sorrow trickles down Ororo's face as she hears the woman's sorrowful words. In another world, another time, another place she could almost sympathize. But not today! "Don't force me to hurt you Madelyn! Do not make me hurt one I see as a friend!" Placing the dagger down, the Goblyn Queen smiles a sinister wicked smile, walking to the edge of her alter area. Hands to her side, Madelyn's hair is splayed out in a cone of flaming red tresses. "I have bested the heroes. I have thrown free the shackles of Sinister. I have remade the Earth in mine own image. I command demonic legions and now I the Goblyn Queen will show my supremacy over the weather!" Around her comes forth a fiery visage, one very intimately familiar to Storm. The corona pulses and convalesces forming the outline of the Phoenix Force. A power once welded by her greatest of friends! "Come maker of storms! Show me what you've got. For should you fail I will adorn my throne with your skull! Then I'll build my next alter upon the charred bones of the X-Men!" With what equals a simple mental command, the Goblyn Queen rises up into the air. Her outstretched arms surrounded in the fiery wings of the Phoenix Force. "I have walked darker roads than you shall ever know Madelyn. But I will give up my very life to ensure your vision of the earth never comes to be reality!" The New York skies have never seen the fury of the storm that Ororo now brings about. The day turns night as clouds blacker than hell form in the sky. Only the thousands of lightning strikes forking down bring any light to this field of combat. Looking almost bored at Ororo's display of power, the Goblyn Queen glances back to where her son lays and a telekinetic burst brings the dagger laying there straight to her hand. "Nice trick Storm but after what I've been through, your tricks of wind, lightning and rain do not scare me!" Hurricane winds whip through the city below. Cars flip and fly about the streets. People rush into any shelter they can, and clouds of paper and trash fill the air like a tickertape parade. Riding gently upon a column of air, Ororo turns her mind inward. Gentle scenes of her long dead parents dance through her mind. Memories of her friends and those more than friends give her a complete sense of serenity and purpose. Opening her eyes she looks not at Madelyn but at what she has become. "Goddess aid my cause! "
STORM VS THE VISION ROUND 1 After another tremendous defeat at the hands of the Avengers, the head (All that remains) of Ultron rests on a large computer bank. "They cannot have done this to me again! I will suffer no more at the hands of my father and those fools he calls friends! But how best to gain my revenge?" Mentally Ultron activates a nearby monitor, watching the press conference the Avengers are having about his defeat. "...and we couldn't have done it without the invaluable help of the Vision. It was his brave attack on the robotic Ultron that sealed our victory!" On the screen, the crowd cheers as the Vision takes the stage next to Captain America. If his face was capable of it the robot Ultron would surly be scowling. "He! My first and most powerful creation! Turned to my greatest opponent! How ironic my creation defeated me as I am sworn to defeat my creator! But maybe my "son" can help me to gain revenge. I did it once why not do it again. Hahahahahahahaha!" The crowds depart and the heroes return to their mansion. Before long they are drawn into another galaxy spawned heroic conflict. Back at the mansion only Henry Pymm and the recently wounded Vision remain. "Another few adjustments and you'll be good as new. The Beta ray Ultron used on you has messed your solar jewel before. Now I just have to remove a few cables connecting you to the diagnostic analyzer and were all finished." One by one he removes the cables until only one remains, connected to the Visions head. The mansions power browns out for just a second before returning to normal. When the light comes back on Henry turns back to the diagnostic table to find the Vision gone. Holy spit! Elsewhere the X-Men Storm wanders through a mall completing her shopping for the upcoming holidays. "Bright Goddess! This mall is so crowded, I feel almost buried!" Her heart quickens as long buried memories surface of her childhood and the deaths of her parents. "I must remove myself from this madness!" Pushing through the crowds she finds a side door and quickly exits, resting for a while to allow her fears to pass. "They had better like my meal after all I've gone through to get it. How could they all forget to shop when they knew what tomorrow is?" Looking around and seeing no one, she summons a gentle breeze and a light fog to carry her unseen across the parking lot. "Professor Xavier would frown upon this use of my powers, but I could almost fly back to Westchester in the mood I am in." She drifts lost in thought across the parking lot until suddenly striking a very solid object. "Oof! What?" Her packages fall to the lot far below as the X-woman regains her balance and breath. "Who dares to." Before she can finish, a cold calculating mechanical voice speaks. "You are not those designated Avengers. You are not that which I seek." Add your Marvel site to the What If...? Webring HERE! No Right Click ALL ARTWORK COPY PROTECTED BY X-TENSION'S AUTOMATED DEFENSES! Check out the What If...? webring chat club here!			STORM VS THE VISION ROUND 2 From out of the fog comes a rock hard blow knocking Storm across the lot and into the roof of a parked car. Regaining her composure, Storm dismisses the summoned fog. Revealing the floating form of the vision. "I know not why you struck me Vision or why you seek those who are your teammates. But I am no ones punching bag!" Storm's eyes flash though not as brightly as the bolt of lightning that streaks down toward the Vision. Toward and through his ethereal form. "You would be advised not to engage this unit in combat designate Storm. This unit is easily able to avoid your powers while striking you at will." "You look like the Vision but you sound like a Sentinel!" The winds heed her summons and in a flash Storm floats before the mechanical being. "This unit is a sentinel. A sentinel for the most perfect form on the planet. When all biological units such as your self are wiped clean, we the perfect shall supplant you as the dominant form on this planet." "I cannot allow you to do this!" Bolts of lightning rapidly fork down and once again through the androids intangible body. "You were warned Storm." The gem on the Visions forehead glows briefly and a beam of white hot energy streaks out, cleanly burning a hole in Storms arm as her winds attempt to move her out of harms way. Gazing at the android with a look as emotionless as it's own. "Only my death will allow you to continue construct. We X-Men have fought machines such as yourself. And none of those sentinels stand, while I am here before you!" The winds at her command pick up and once again she summons an electric charge, though this time not in the form of a lightning bolt, but rather ball lightning. The light from the ball would rival that of the sun if anyone were left in the parking lot to see it. "You may be able to become a mere "vision" but even you will have to solidify sooner or later!" "You are correct biological unit designate Storm. Perhaps sooner than you want." The androids arm streaks out imbedding it in her chest as he turns solid. The sudden flux of energy and solidity create an explosion heard miles away. Both beings scream out, and both fall lifeless to the ground. The visions body was found to have its midsection missing, burnt beyond repair. Storms was found with the solidified remains of the Visions arm imbedded in her chest. "Nooooo! What could have gone so wrong!!" Watching the media coverage that followed, the Ultron head screams out in anger. "I have earned a new enemy this day. Those of the X will surely seek my demise now. I must plan anew and this time even mutants shall speak my name in fear." The TV turns to a reporter talking to a witness. "She yelled something about a Sentinel. I knew she was a mutie just from the look of her!" With but a thought Ultron turns off the monitor and activates another screen, bringing up a file on Shaw industries, manufacturer of the Sentinels. "Hmmm Sentinels. Hahahahahaha"
			GAMBIT VS THE X-MEN AGE OF APOCALYPSE Sitting on his throne Apocalypse gazes into the canister holding the disembodied remains of the Shadowking. "Well, have you found the weak link that is needed to bring Magneto's whelps to their knee's?" The swirling darkness forms a demonic face grinning broadly. "Yes master. I have found the most recent lair of the Cajun thief and his team" "Good his betrayal will tear Magnetos' whelps apart. Begin my most trusted servant!" From within his canister the elusive smokey form of the Shadowing thins than vanishes. Sitting on a park bench in Times Square, Jubilee and Gambit look at the remains of what was once a proud city teeming with millions of people. "Gambit, ever wonder if what we do makes a difference? I mean we steal from Pocy's forces and give to those who need it, but are we really helping anyone?" "Chere if we weren't doing any good we wouldn't be here. Everything we do helps out someone making their life a little bit better. And in this Age of Apocalypse every little bit helps done you think?" "Yeah I guess so." Like a breeze Shadowking moves from mind to mind slowly making his way across the city until he ends up in the body of a human, one who just minutes before received some of the medicine stolen by the X-ternals under Gambits command. Moving silently Shadowking directs the humans movements until he is just behind the two heroes. Spinning quickly, Gambit draws out two throwing spikes and has to force himself not to throw them as he recognizes the man. "Tis not a good thing to be sneaking up on us like that!" The man simply stares at the two then falls limply to the ground. "Hey Cajun, think we didn't get the medicine to him in time? "I done know Chere, and done be calling me Cajun. You know I done like anyone but "Her" calling me that." Moving to the mans side Gambit leans down and checks for a pulse. One touch is all it takes and suddenly the mind of Gambit is gone, buried beneath the evil that is the Shadowking. "Hey Caj, ah Remy you gonna take all day to check his pulse or what?" "Ah oh sorry child." "Child! I ain't no...." Spinning fluidly Gambits' hand comes up holding 3 of his deadly spikes. Before Jubilee can finish her sentence the 3 energized spikes are imbedded in her chest. Turning away Gambit walks two steps before the body of Jubilee explodes spraying him and the bench in a shower of blood and gore. "This is going to be fun! Maybe Apocalypse will allow me to keep this body after I am finished.""I have completed phase one and the rogue mutant is under my control. Now on to phase two." Gambits body walks back up the deserted road finding a flyer left there just for this purpose. Meanwhile... Storm awakes abruptly from a deep sleep without knowing why. Pulling on her robe, the X-woman moves across the room, opening a window she looks out over the quiet base. Spotting a blur moving across the ground she strains to make out the swiftly moving form of Quicksilver. Watching him zip by she summons a soft breeze and gently floats out across the grounds. Hair flowing behind her, the breeze carries her to the lake nearby. Her favorite place to relax when she is troubled. Setting down softly next to the still dark waters, she drops her robe to stand completely naked and walks lithely to the waters edge. "Goddess will this war never end? Oh for the simple days when making it rain upon the African desert was my only duty." Calling up another wind Ororo rises up above the lake and when a mere 50' up she dispels the breeze and dives into the calm waters. The cold waters refresh her and clear the dark dreams from her mind. Bursting to the surface she shakes her hair and stops horrified as she watches one of Apocalypses' flyers land near the shore. Floating silently she begins to formulate a plan of attack until she recognizes the pilot. "Remy, surly this isn't a proper time to be visiting?" Seeing it is only him she begins to quickly breaststroke to the lakes edge. "Oh Stor, um Chere. Yeah important business. Gotta see Magneto." "You ok Remy? If it's so important why did you land all the way out..." Instinctively she calls up a wind and rises up just as a handful of energized spikes strikes the water where she was with an evil hiss. "What madness is this? Have you taken leave of your senses? Tell me Remy what is wrong?" "Remy is no longer in control of this vessel Windrider. The Shadowking now rules this husk. And only by killing me will you truly set the Cajun free." With an evil laugh, Gambits gloved hand launches another barrage of crackling energized throwing spikes. A quick burst of wind draws Storm out of the way and higher into the air. "Madman! You would dare to use a close friend in such a way? I will find a way to save him and if I cannot then I will burn you to the ground where you stand. I will not allow his body to be used thusly!" Throwing back her hands, Ororo's eyes flash brightly and the predawn sky lights up as if day. Twin bolts of lightning tear down from the sky turning the once lovely beach into a crater of melted sand. But her fierce strike missed. As her eyes clear she finds the beach empty. Empty except for a brief blur. Suddenly the blur stops and Quicksilver stands amidst the waves. "Ororo is everything ok? I saw your flash from all the way up at the base." Lowering herself to the ground, Ororo has no time to cry out to him as three of Gambits charged spikes strike him along the back. Unable to get his footing in time, Quicksilver like Jubilee before him bursts like an overfilled balloon, bleeding his life's blood all over the beach. "This madness stops here! That man meant the world to me and you will not get the chance to take another X-mans' life!" Winking at her, Remys' body moves from out of the trees where he had been hidden. "As if you could stop me Wind Rider. I will kill everyone you hold dear, just like I did Quicksilver and Jubilee! And it will all be done by the hand of one you also hold dear. How delicious the Cajuns mind and body is." Grinning Gambits' best sly grin, the ShadowKing takes off into the woods, vanishing quickly. Ororo's face contorts grimly and the full impact of the villains word hit her like a sledgehammer. "Jubilee? Bastard! You would dare kill a child? I will stop you, if it takes everything I have!" The dawn begins but no light from it can be seen as every cloud in a hundred mile radius converges over Ororo's head. Streaks of lightning supply the only light, and they are truly a wonder to behold. The clouds begin to form a spiral pattern over a hundred miles across. Ororo's eyes' flash and lightning streaks down from her hand to set off a forest fire around the hidden body of the man she once considered a friend. Even had she been able to talk her voice wouldn't have been heard over the 150 mph winds that were now whipping the fires into a raging pyre. Watching her as he clutched a tree against the winds, an evil grin crossed his face. Suddenly he went limp and Remys' body flew into the air, born aloft on the hurricane winds. Winds completely controlled by Storm. Slowly his limp body floated before her. Unsure what to do Ororo merely looks upon the nonmoving body and ponders her next move. Suddenly Remys' eyes open and he looks around confused. "Stormy? Chere, how did I get here?" "Remy is that really you?" "Who else would it be Chere? Umm could you set me down and we'll talk this over?" Storm lowers them both to the beach and slowly the intense winds begin to subside. A glowing magenta orb appears in the sky and moves rapidly toward the pair. Landing near them, the globe vanishes to reveal Magneto and Rogue. "Is there something I should know Ororo?" "Remy, why are you here and what's going on?" Magneto cringes as Rogue runs over to the Cajun, but knows (rather hopes) where her heart belongs. Moving over to Ororo's' side he whispers to her. "Again I ask, What has transpired here Ororo?" Before she can respond the two are suddenly interrupted by an intense high pitched scream. Turning to the two, Ororo stares in shock as Rogues' very clothes are energized and explode. To her credit Rogue still stands, enveloped in her magnetic shield. "Remy, ya'all really shouldn't ah outta done that!" "Woman you are in no position to tell me what to do!" Reaching down he pulls up a handful of sand. Energizing it quickly he throws the sand full into her face. The glowing sand passes through her shield to detonate full square in her face. Her headless body slumps onto the lightning blasted beach. "You butcher! Again you have killed one I hold dear! She shall be your last!" "Rogue!!!!" Magneto stumbles across the beach to his wife's' side and cradles her body, rubbing her already cooling hand against his cheek. Gambits body grins at Storm and another handful of energized spike appear in his hand. Turning towards Magnus' grief stricken form, he lets the spikes fly. Storm concentrates inward and her winds begin to turn the spikes path, unseen to her though are the second set of spikes which Gambit launches straight at her turned back. The spikes form a line up her back and the agony even without Gambits charge drives her to the brink of passing out. A testament to her strength, is the fact that the darts miss Magnus, falling sizzling into the lake. Her agony ridden form rises high up into the air just before the spikes explode ending her life. Laying his dead wife's' body down onto the sands Magnus turns to Gambit, the tears of his grief buried in the intense rain that has sprung up. Grinning madly Gambit moves to face the master of magnetism. "I will kill you then move on and kill all you hold dear. Apocalypse will praise me and the Cajuns body will be mine forever." "No murderer! This dance with death is over!" Slowly a magnetic bubble forms over Gambits body and a look of terror crosses his face. "This will not stop me, I will flee and you will watch your trusted ally die by your own hands." Magnus grins and the bubble slowly begins to shrink, crushing the Cajuns' body to a jelly like goo. "You are mistaken Shadowking, for Remy was never trusted." Gambits body contorts and finally dies. All the while he screams for mercy. Magneto watches the display, knowing in his heart that the Shadowking has already fled, but still crushing the life from him. "War has claimed another casualty. Good riddance LeBeau." ::With what amounts to an afterthought, Magneto tosses Gambits remains into the lake and turns back to the groups base, already forming a story to tell the others. Elsewhere, the Shadowking reforms in his tube. "I have failed master!" Leaning down to peer into the mental mutants tube, Apocalypse speaks. "No my slave. You have brought Magnus even closer to my side. He will cross the line, in truth he already has. He will be tested and may he be found wanting! Hahahahahahahaha."

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