"Have you spotted her yet?" the Professor asked in my mind as I flew toward the center of town.

"There are blazing fires in multiple places around Bayville, but I haven't spotted- WOAH!"

I spotted flying just in time as a car went flying past me. Looking down, I spotted flaming red hair.

"Nevermind, I found her. She'd just south of City Hall."

"We're arriving now."

I heard the Velocity before I saw it. The aircraft landed in the park just outside of City Hall and all of the X-men filed out. Beast and Angel had agreed to help us as well as the Morlocks. Pedestrians were running and screaming as objects swirled around Phoenix's body in a protective shield. Flying around, I landed between Kurt and Angel.

"Are you prepared to execute the plan, Ava?" the Professor asked.

His voice as very grave. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought that he was worried about our chances.

"Completely."

I flapped my crimson red wings and shot into the air as Scott sent a warning laser shot at a car hovering near Phoenix. The X-men dispersed into their fighting formation.

"Jean!" he shouted," It's Scott. We're here to help you."

Phoenix sent the objects flying toward him. Scott blasted them away while Bobby froze them in mid-air. In a quick dive, I picked up Cannonball and sent him sailing toward Jean. He crashed into her, sending her into the side of a building. Kurt quickly teleported to her and held her down. Rogue came running toward her with her hand outstretched.

"Time for bed, Jean," she said.

Suddenly, Phoenix's eyes began to glow red. I stopped flying and shouted. The shout went unheard as the area exploded. Rogue was sent flying backward into a car and Kurt hit the side of a building. Phoenix flew up into the air and went toward City Hall, the other X-men followed. I flew down to my best friend and my boyfriend.

"Rogue? Kurt!"

Rogue groaned, rubbing her head. I sighed with relief and went over to Kurt. I shook him.

"Kurt. C'mon, wake up."

Fear gripped my chest as he didn't move at all. Rogue crawled over to us.

"Kurt?" she asked, shaking him with me," This isn't funny fur ball, wake up!"

I grabbed his wrist as Rogue leaned her hear down to his mouth. There wasn't a pulse. Why wasn't there a pulse? A tear fell down my cheek as Rogue rubbed at her eyes.

"No, don't tell me," I said as she looked at me," He's alive."

"Ava…"

"He's alive!" I screamed.

Rogue grabbed my shoulders as I cried hysterically.

"Ava…"

I clenched my fists and turned toward City Hall. I could see Phoenix in the distance. Rogue ran in front of me to say something, but the words died in her throat.

"I'm going to kill her…"

"Ava, you can't fight when you're angry like this. AVA!"

She could do nothing as I took off like a bullet. A huge crack rang through the air as I slammed straight into Phoenix, sending us both to the ground. My arms were around her throat and tightening. I could feel her power pushing against me with all her might, but with a single burst, I unleashed all of my powers. All of my body was on fire as if all the powers were burning me out alive. Lightening struck the ground around us, setting it on fire from my anger. I felt my eyes light up with Scott's power as I prepared to kill her.

"AVA! You can't! It's Jean," Scott shouted, trying to get near us, but finding it impossible with the erratic lightening.

"NO, SHE'S NOT! SHE KILLED HIM!" I screamed before lowering my voice till only Phoenix could hear," This bitch is going to pay."

Suddenly, I felt a tug at the back of my mind. There was a part of me screaming that it was Jean, that I was a monster if I killed her. Tears streamed from my eyes. I heard shouts and the Professor's voice trying to reach me, but I couldn't hear anything. It was just me and Phoenix.

"You're…just…like me," she gasped," Kill me. You're more powerful than I. I concede."

Suddenly, the voice changed. It was Jean. Tears fell from her eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Ava. Kill me. I deserve it."

I screamed and it felt as if my mind exploded and my body screamed in fiery pain. Somehow, I managed to focus all of the mental control I had toward Phoenix. She began to scream as well and I could read from her mind that she felt the same pain as I did. It was doubled as we felt each other's pain as well as our own. And then it suddenly stopped. My mind let go and I fell to the ground beside her. I was shaking. The world was suddenly colder than it should be for a summer's day. I looked over and saw that Jean was unconscious with bruises shaped like my fingers wrapped around her neck. Getting up in a zombie like trance, I saw everyone standing outside a huge area of scorched grass. I stumbled to the edge of the circle to where Angel stood holding Kurt. I reached out and put a hand on his chest before kissing him. I willed him to be alive again. I felt something leave from inside of me, as if my own heart had abandoned me, and I fell to the ground into a world of black.

When I woke up again, I was back at the Institute. I looked around at the familiar recovery ward, but to my surprise, Kurt was sitting at the end of my bed with a bright smile on his face. We stared at each other for a moment before I sat up in bed and practically started to strangle him as I screamed.

"You're supposed to be dead! What the hell are you doing alive? You were stone cold, no pulse, no breath. How dare you scare me like that! You're a jerk, Kurt Wagner! A blue and fuzzy asshole!"

Kurt pried my hands off in desperation as I began crying and fell back against my pillow.

"I'm dead. I've gone to heaven. Oh my God…"

Kurt slid up the bed till he was closer to me so he could take my hands in his.

"No, Ava, you're alive. And yes, I'm alive. And…yes, I actually was dead. Not a fun time, I might add. But you saved me. Heck, you saved Jean and everybody in Bayville."

"Heh?"

I heard the Professor's wheelchair roll into the room and I looked over to see him with a relaxed smile on his face.

"Well done, Ava."

"But…I didn't…what did I…huh?"

"You sealed away Phoenix so deeply into Jean's mind, it is highly unlikely she'll come back. You did what I couldn't do and it was all because of your anger and sadness. You projected your mental powers straight into the depths of Jean's mind and created a prison for Phoenix, because you couldn't bring yourself to kill her. All those powers you had within you made you ten times more powerful that I can ever be though I've tried so hard with Jean. And somehow…you were able to give Kurt his life back. How…I'm not actually sure…"

I felt my chest. I felt somewhat different. I somehow expended Phoenix's power in sealing her, but Kurt's power was gone as well. I tried to teleport to the other side of the room, but I only accomplished squeezing my eyes shut very tightly. I stared down at my lap.

"It's gone," I muttered.

"What is?" Kurt frowned at me.

I looked up at him.

"Your power…it's gone. I don't have it anymore. I can't teleport or turn blue and fuzzy."

We both looked at the Professor who gave us both a thoughtful look.

"Maybe you gave him back his life by giving him his powers back. I have to admit I…don't understand this completely, however I am very happy at this unique event. There are probably things about your powers, Ava, that neither you nor I will ever fully understand."

Kurt looked at me in awe.

"Wow…I really am dating the most awesome girl ever!"

The Professor and I laughed as Kurt gave me a huge hug. Professor Xavier turned to leave.

"I shall let the others know you are well. I will tell them in person that that the two of you can have a few moments of peace before they all charge down here."

With a smile he left. Kurt leaned his forehead against mine.

"Might as well make the most of these "few moments", hm?"

I laughed before Kurt kissed me. I wrapped my arms around him, happy to have my boyfriend be alive again. We had been kissing for about three minutes when Kitty suddenly came through the ceiling. She laughed.

"Kurt! Let the girl breathe!"

We pulled away from each other and laughed, too. Not too long after Kitty's arrival, the other X-men crowded into the room. The love in the room was a lot to handle, but I never felt more like I had found a true home and family.

-The End-