It was time again for another training session at the Xavier Institute. What could the students and some of the junior members of the X-Men learn from this session? They could learn teamwork, they would need it. Some individuals could learn how to come up with strategies. The teams would need a good plan if they wanted to win ( Read more... )

Rachel Summers is not a lady who lunches. She's not even a lady who does tea. So while Jean, her mother-but-not-quite-mom, is having tea with the bitchiest cow that ever did cow and the clone of her mother-but-quite-mom, Rachel is doing what a Summers does best ( Read more... )

In Uatu's citadel, the Mad Titan stands triumphant over Uatu's semi-conscious form. The Phoenix Force flares around him like a cloak, augmenting the powers of the Mind Gem as Thanos sifts through the memories of the being who sees all worlds ( Read more... )

The door to Uatu's citadel explodes in shards, the flaming remnants raining down nearby. Thanos lowers his hands - still glowing from the discharge of energy, and steps inside, still wreathed in the flames of the Phoenix Force.

"Uatu. Come out here and save me the twenty seconds it will take to find you. I promise the pain will be brief."

A sleek silver craft streaks through the inky blackness of space - appearing from hyperspace near Earth's moon, and proceeding towards it at roughly half of light speed ( Read more... )

"You know what you're fighting for."

"Jim?"

"Honey, stay away! I don't know--what's happening to--to--Transformation complete. Mission parameters received."

"Daddy?"

"...Mutant life sign detected."

( You know what the stakes are. )

Every TV station is taken over and a live broadcast takes place. Everyone must see this, everyone must hear it. A new age dawns today, an age where mankind finally takes control of its own destiny. Reverend William Stryker speaks to humanity.

( 'Good afternoon, America.' )

They made reservations. They confirmed the reservations.

Yet, when they arrived at the restaurant, those reservations seemed to have gotten lost. Somehow, Scott couldn't shake the feeling Nathan was involved in that. They were told it would be a fifteen minute wait for a table. Forty-three minutes and twenty-seven seconds later, the group of all ( Read more... )

Cyclops was still leery about letting anyone out of the Institute with the Purifiers still out there, but he knew he had a riot on his hands if he didn't give everyone a chance to get out and breathe. As such, he arranged for a trip into the city, a chance for everyone to get out, go Christmas shopping, take in the sights, and stretch their legs a ( Read more... )

( Put under a cut to provide a warning. Given this is the Shadow King we're dealing with here, things are going to get very dark and possibly disturbing. Likely not work safe. You've been warned. Now that's over with... on to the action! )