Chapter 9: Assemble Once More

Sorry, guys. I guess I'm just getting distracted from this fic because I'm so obsessed with Hetalia now. I don't believe in starting a fic without finishing, so of course I will, but I apologize for the update coming so late. I'm probably going to end this fic soon because I'm losing motivation due to another fandom calling my name.

Guardian of Winter: Those are all fantastic ideas! I'll definitely use one or two of them. I won't say which ones (insert "Spoilers!" in River Song's voice here) but I'll toss a disclaimer your way when they pop up!

Ghost Rider of the Aragon: Aw man I didn't know that.

Emeralddragon12: That's a good point, and now that you mention it, yes, I think I will use that. I read somewhere that Magneto cannot lift the hammer (Mjolnir), but he can control it once it is off the ground.

lulu2613: I'll try to bring Mystique in more. :) Phoenix probably isn't coming back, but I'll put some more focus on Mystique.

Guest: Yeah, I can see that. I'll see if I have time to implement some Rogue friendships in there.

Guest 2: Thanks! I love the flowers! ^_^

Mrs Capt Jack Sparrows: Trust me, I know. My favorite stories are Reformed Loki stories, and I know very well how much emotional pain Loki suffers. Don't worry, you won't be disappointed.

Demon Flame: Thanks! Here's an update! Hope you like!

"Rogue?"

Rogue couldn't have been happier to hear Logan's voice speaking her name. "Logan…They have the students." She was lying on the ground, surrounded by the Avengers, Scott, Logan, and Storm.

"Give her some space," Logan told the others, reaching his hand to take hers and help her up.

Rogue pulled her hand away. "No, don't touch me. My powers…they're back. Loki gave them back."

Logan's gaze turned sympathetic. "I'm sorry, kid. I know how much being a normal human meant to you."

Rogue shook her head. "No, I…I think this is for the best. The X-Men and Avengers are going to need me if we're going to get the students back and save the world."

"So you were there with them?" Storm asked. "Is there anything you can tell us?"

Rogue stood up and told them everything that had happened at the base. "Magneto and Loki aren't exactly getting along," she concluded. "When Magneto called my bluff, Loki was angry that he was willing to gamble his life. Loki is weak for now, so we might have a chance to go in there and take them down."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's suit up!" said Tony. "We don't have much time."

"Are we going for a surprise attack, or full force?" Steve asked.

"They'll be expecting a sneak attack," Scott offered.

"Then we throw everything we've got at 'em and see what happens," Clint said simply.

"Basically, yeah," Tony said. "Come on, guys, suit up! You too, Rogue."

Rogue nodded seriously, knowing they would need her in this one. She hated the idea of fighting the students, so maybe they could take Loki and Magneto down before Loki's powers restored and thus led to him taking control of the students.

Before long, everyone was suited up and ready to go. "Rogue, do you know where their secret base is?" Storm asked her.

Rogue shook her head. "I used Loki's powers to teleport here. When they took me and the rest of the students, they put us in a windowless room in the transport. We didn't get to see how to get there."

"Just in case one of you escaped," Iron Man murmured. "Good thinking. But that doesn't get us anywhere closer to their base."

"I think I know where it is," Scott said. "They didn't want me to know where it was because they knew I might not stay under their control, but I overheard them discussing it. It's a faded memory, but I'm pretty sure I can take us there."

"Let's head out, then," Iron Man said.

Mystique sat at the computer, gazing at the screen. She didn't particularly like being on security duty. She was supposed to be part of the team, but lately she felt like the third wheel. Magneto had promised her from the beginning that Loki would be overthrown and she and Magneto would be the heroes. Seeing what happened with Rogue reassured her a little bit that the plan was still in motion, but she hated how long it was taking to get rid of Loki. She didn't appreciate being replaced by an alien.

He's not replacing you, she thought to herself. Loki is temporary. Loki is a pawn. As she thought this, she almost missed the security breach on the screen, but nothing gets past Mystique. Her quick gaze found the Quinjets with the trademark Avengers symbol on them. Idiots, she thought. They were basically announcing their arrival. I guess I'd better tell Magneto. Hopefully Loki's Stick of Destiny is working again so we have a fighting chance.

"Magneto," she said, entering the main room, "we've got company."

Magneto turned abruptly. "What?"

Mystique did not like the harsh way he snapped at her. "The Avengers and X-Men are parading in like a herd of wild buffalo. I could detect them from miles away."

"We're not prepared for a fight," Magneto said, turning to Loki.

Loki shrugged. "My powers are nearly restored. I'm sure we can take them down."

Magneto sighed. "This war isn't just with the Avengers and X-Men. It's with all of humanity. If we lose this battle, we lose everything."

"Then we just need to make sure not to lose, then," Mystique said calmly.

"Do you have anything in mind?" Magneto asked wearily, massaging his temples with his pointer and middle fingers.

Mystique nodded. "Actually, I do." Right before their eyes, she morphed into one of the students. "I can distract them while you get out of here. I can even lead them in the wrong direction."

Magneto looked relieved. "Yes, please do that. Hurry." He then turned to Loki. "We need to leave."

"What's the hurry?" a new voice asked. There, blocking one of the doorways to the base, was the Wolverine. "I was hoping you'd stay long enough for a quick chat. It's called my-claws-make-social-interactions-with-your-face. Don't you want to stay for that?"

"Mystique, you said they were miles away," Magneto hissed.

"Yeah, not really," Iron Man butted in before Mystique could say anything. "Those were decoys, see. We've been here for about ten minutes now."

Loki looked around uncertainly and locked eyes with Thor. The brothers stared at each other a long time before Loki got shakily to his feet and picked up his scepter. "Magneto, the students are not under our control yet. They will likely fight us."

"Then a fight they will get," Magneto said. "I'm not giving up."

Loki didn't want to give up either, but he was growing tired of fighting and losing all the time.

"This is your last chance," Captain America announced. "Surrender or fight."

In response, Magneto used his powers to crush Iron Man's suit onto his body, lift him up, and fling him into a wall. "I choose option three: defeat all of you and destroy humanity!"

"So be it!" Thor shouted, summoning lightning with Mjolnir. Storm then took the lightning into her hands and blasted it down at the villains below, weakening them with electrocution. Both the thunder god and the mutant gazed at each other with mutual respect before leaping back into battle.

Magneto threw large metal objects at his attackers and manipulated the fight in any way he could, and Loki summoned all of his godly strength to keep the attackers at bay. Logan launched himself at Magneto, who caught him midair as he always did.

"Foolish," Magneto sneered. "Will you ever learn that I can destroy you with your own body?"

"Not today!" Rogue grabbed Magneto from the back and started absorbing his powers.

"Get off me!" he shouted.

"Surrender, and I will," Rogue offered.

"Never," Magneto said through his teeth. "You would not kill me."

"Of course I wouldn't," Rogue agreed. "But I'll bet this hurts like hell, and it will keep hurting like hell until you surrender."

"I give up…" Magneto gasped out. "I can't…I…"

Rogue let go. "Now for Loki."

Loki was in a one-on-one battle with Thor. Thor was swinging his hammer and Loki strategically using his scepter. Loki said something incoherent, and Thor responded with, "I do not want to kill you, brother!"

"I don't want to fight anymore," Loki said through his teeth.

"I don't believe you," Thor responded. "I refuse to fall for your tricks!"

"You don't believe me?" Loki dropped his scepter on the ground and ducked as Thor swung his hammer at him. "How about now?" Thor realized then and there that his brother was serious. "It is done. I tire of this. Can we go home now?"

All at once, the room was silent. "We won," Wolverine said quietly.

"That's because we had strategies on our side," Captain America said, helping Iron Man up.

The X-Men and Avengers were speechless for a while. Their time together as a team had been short, but even so, they had been through plenty. All that was left to do was give Magneto the "Cure" again, lock him up, and let Thor handle Loki's fate. The god of mischief was strangely quiet, as if many things weighed on his mind. Perhaps Thor would be able to unknot the many emotions that Loki suffered, and perhaps even Erik could be saved.

Only time could tell.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything in this fic that pertains to the Marvel Universe. I also don't own any of Guardian of Winter's ideas (aka Rogue's actions in the battle).

AN: Geez, sorry, guys! I know I ended this kind of prematurely, but I got so bored that I couldn't see myself writing it for much longer. Please don't hurt me! I hope you enjoyed the ending anyway…