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Angel In The Attic	By : fusedtwilight Category: X-men Comics > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 5328 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own X-men, it is the property of marvel comics and in no way do i make a profit from this fic.

Chapter List
- 44
- 45
Angel In The Attic
Chapter45
Fusedtwilight: Hey guys, sorry for the crazy wait. Life has been a bit hectic lately but here we are. Thank you all for being patient. Thanks to my beta Richard for getting this done so quick. This chapter we learn what Michael's favor was and the Champions meet some new, yet familiar faces.
Anna listened as Michael told her all about the Champions latest adventure with Thor and their trip to Asgard.
"You actually met Thor and went to Asgard?" she asked for what must have been the hundredth time since Michael arrived to tell her the story.
"Yeah, it was all amazing! And Angie and Jericho got to help deliver a couple of babies, and Loki is now stuck as a mortal and is now engaged to his baby ma ma/fiance."
"Man, that is so amazing!" she said.
"Yeah, and since we helped stop Loki and stopped the Asgardian's from making a terrible mistake Odin did me a favor."
"A favor?" she asked.
He smiled. "Close your eyes."
"Why?" she asked.
"So I can show you the favor I asked the king of Asgard."
Anna closed her eyes and waited.
"Okay, open them."
She opened her eyes and gasped. Michael was holding an oblong shapped blue stone with runes carved on the edges and a triquetra symbol in the center, it was attached to a gold chain.
"What is it?" she asked.
"A protective charm made from Uru. The same metal that Thor's hammer is made from," Michael explained.
"This looks like stone," she said.
She traced her finger along the charm. It was cool against her skin and the texture was more like metal than stone.
"That's how it appears. It's one of the strongest metals in all nine worlds and perfect for channeling magical energies. I asked him to make it for you."
"For me!"
He nodded. "After what happened with Abreal I realized how dangerous being my girlfriend is going to be for you. There may come a time when you are in danger and I want to make sure you are safe. Here, turn around so I can put it on."
Anna turned her back to him, moving her hair aside for him. Michael placed it over her head. It rested just above her breasts, it didn't weigh much at all. Michael connected the gold chain.
Anna shivered at the feel of his warm breath against her neck. Once he let the chain fall he surprised her by kissing her between her shoulder and throat.
"How is it?" he asked with a gentle whisper.
She grabbed the mirror by her bed and looked at her reflection.
"I love it," she said.
She looked at him from her mirror. His eyes sparkled with love.
"So this will protect me from anything?" she asked.
"It should. Odin himself enchanted it."
Anna turned around to face him. "Thank you Michael. I'll never take it off."
She pushed him back and they both fell on her bed. They both laughed and he spooned her. His wing moved to cover them both.
Wrapped in his arms and covered by his wing Anna let out a sigh of both happiness and relief. Michael was a wonderful cuddler. Unlike her other boyfriends who always tried to move the cuddles to something more sexual Michael was always happy to just hold her.
Michael was not very sexual, unlike most young men his age. Anna ran her thumb over his fingers. She felt the silver ring he wore. A sign of his purity and promise to wait until marriage.
Their relationship was unconventional. They met under terrible circumstances, and despite her families opinion of him Michael was still willing to keep their relationship going.
And when offered a favor from the king of the gods what does Michael do?
He asks for an amulet that would keep her safe when he could not.
He could have asked for anything, when a god offers you a wish the possibilities are endless.
It made the stone all the more precious to Anna. Because Michael had what could be a once in a lifetime opportunity and he used it for her.
She really was lucky to have him for a boyfriend.
Franziska was in the Cerebro room of the Ark.
She had the helmet on and was focusing on trying to find Abyss or Azazel.
-Franziska?-
-Ms. Frost?-
Franziska felt the touch of her former teacher. Felt the familiar tenor of her mind as it reached over hundreds of miles to connect with her.
Physically she was still in the Cerebro chamber at the Ark. Mentally she was on the astral plane, hovering over a projection of the Earth with Emma standing next to her.
-I thought I sensed you. What are you doing?- Emma asked.
-I suspect the same thing you are. Trying to find Azazel.-
-For what purpose?-
-Devin and Angie told us what Doctor Strange told them about Azazel breaking into the Vatican. Last time Azazel altered time and if Strange is right is serving another for some devious reasons. I don't know who or what could get someone like Azazel to work for them but I have a bad feeling they are going to do something horrific.-
-Naturally, people like him have a tendency to cause a massive amount of collateral damage in pursuit of petty desires.-
Franziska continued to scan the world. If she was familiar with Azazel or his sons brain patterns the scan would be easier.
-Have you tried using Kurt's neural patterns?- Emma asked.
Franziska nodded. -Of course, those who share a close blood connection can have similar psychic signatures. That was one of the first things you taught me when I came to Xaviers.-
Emma sighed. Franziska could feel the longing coming from her mind as she remembered the not so distant past.
-Seems like I barely had time to teach you anything. When you arrived you were already rather skilled. You showed great potential to go further with your abilities. I was hoping I would have more time to school you. But then young Mr. Bronson snatched you away.-
-I do not regret my decision to leave the X-Men. I enjoy being a Champion,- Franziska stated.
-You enjoy the freedom of not being told what to do,- Emma pointed out.
Franziska just smiled. -A freedom you have enjoyed for a long time I imagine.-
It was Emma's turn to grin. "True. It would seem I taught you well.-
-Forgive me Ms. Frost, but if anyone taught me on such a subject it was my father.-
Emma nodded. -Too true, at least he gave you one decent lesson.-
-I take it you are having no more success then I?- Franziska asked.
-Yes, Azazel has somehow kept himself hidden. We are sure he is using magic and have been consulting with Illyana to try different location spells. None of them have worked so far which means the magic he is using are very powerful, no surprise giving he is thousands of years old. We have talked about combining Cerebro with her magic but combining sorcery and technology is very dangerous.-
-What was stolen from the Vatican?- Franziska asked.
-We are still looking into it. They are keeping the theft secret. We have been in contact with Vatican officials but they have not been very forthcoming.-
-You'd think with the new pope being pro-mutant they would be more willing to cooperate with us.-
Just then Franziska noticed familiar energy signatures where the Xavier School had been.
Emma saw Franziska looking at the location on the globe.
-Yes, I was wondering how long before you would notice that.-
-Why are some of the X-Men at the school?-
-There has been talk about re-opening the school. Utopia has been doing rather well but we only have so much room and with the recent influx of students it is getting rather cramped. Some of us have reservations about opening Xaver's given the number of times it has been attacked. Some think we should open in a new location.-
A part of Franziska understood their reasoning. Even before she came to America the school had been destroyed several times, but on the other Xavier's was where it all began. Where Professor X grew up and where he assembled the original X-Men.
It was the beginning of the X-Men. It should be the center of their group. The heart of them all.
-I see you have mixed feelings as well?-
-Indeed. I can understand both sides. But in the end I think it best for Xaver's to be reopened.-
-Even with all the blood shed on it's grounds?- Emma asked curiously.
-As morbid as it sounds, there are few places on this planet where blood has not been shed. If we allow the school to remain abandoned than we let the likes of the Purifiers win. Xavier's was not just a place where we learned to be heroes. It was a safe haven for those who only wanted to be normal kids. There we were not mutants. We were just ordinary people.-
Franziska could feel Emma's approval. -Well said. But you may be surprised to know you and the other Champions have been mentioned several times during the meetings we had.-
-Let me guess, many are not happy about us keeping the Ark a secret?-
-Others have applauded your decision to reform in secret with your own base. Scott obviously was not of the latter. It took some convincing to not force you to hand the Ark over to us.-
Franziska stared at Emma in shock. -Scott was considering...attacking us?!-
-Scott is under a lot of pressure. Some in the caped community are questioning his ability to lead the X-Men and be the headmaster to a school when one group of children have managed to splinter off and form their own vigilante team.-
-We are many things Miss, but children is not one of them. We may have a ways to go before we can truly be considered grown up but never mistake us for younglings.-
Emma sighed. -I know dear, like all of us your innocence was stripped from you. But you had to understand that your actions would have consequences.-
"We did. And though I am sorry our decision has caused you or anyone grief I will say this only once and I trust you will convey the message to anyone who dares to think they can challenge us.-
Franziska opened her mind to Emma to show her all the images of the Champions and their missions.
-We are not X-Men. We are Champions. Though our methods differ we seek peace between humans and mutants. Though I do believe many can boast of exploits more grand and legendary do not think we are something to be trifled with. We are a family. And if anyone dares to lay a finger on my family, then I swear to holy God I will reign such hell on our attacker that no one will dare come at us again.-
Emma gave gave her a cold look. -Those are big words young lady. I wonder if your conviction is strong enough to back it up?-
-I turned my father into a catatonic zombie. And I loved him with all my heart even though he was my tormentor. He thought he could control me and he paid the price. So what do you suppose will happen when someone comes barging into my home to try and take it from me?-
For a moment neither spoke. Then Emma smiled. -I think you would have made an excellent Hellion my dear.-
Before Emma could say anything Franziska noticed something.
-Are you sensing this?- she asked.
-Yes. The sudden emergence of two powerful mutant signatures at the same time,- Emma said.
They both mentally examined the location.
-Odd. One seems to be...Michael. But he is still at Anna's. I am not sure who the other is.-
-Indeed. Unless he has developed the power to clone himself or time travel.-
-You never know, he is a bit of an deus ex machina,- Franziska said.
They continued to examine the mutant signatures.
-I am getting a lot of psycho-chaff. It could be their mutant energy levels or whoever the other mutant is he is skilled enough to block us from scanning.-
-I am more concerned with what I am sensing from the two. Bloodlust, anger and some other negative emotions. If I wasn't seeing the readings myself I wouldn't think Michael was there,- Emma said.
Franziska knew what she meant, though she could not make direct mental contact she could sense the psychic emanations. One was burning with anger but didn't have a taste of something malicious.
But the other one?
Franziska shuddered. She had met her fair share of villains. Felt the dark minds of some twisted individuals like a cold breath on your bones.
But this was something truly wicked.
-There is something...disturbingly familiar about this new signature,- Emma commented.
-Yes. I believe we may be looking at a relative of someone we know. If we reset the sensors I believe we can identify the lineage of our mystery mutant.-
-Once again another good idea Franziska.-
In the real world they typed on their respective Cerebros keyboards.
-Between the two of us it shouldn't take so long.-
Just Michael's energy signature vanished.
-What in the world?- Franziska asked.
-Gone. Not dead, even if he was killed his corpse would still have some leftover spark to be detected.-
-Yet all this time he has shown to remain at Anna's. What on Earth is going on?-
-The mutant is traveling at high-speeds. Heading towards Michael.-
-I better alert him. He is at Anna's and I doubt he will want a confrontation there.-
Just then Franziska sensed Emma's shock.
-Mrs. Frost?-
-No! It can't be!- she yelled.
Just then Cerebro alerted Franziska that it found a match for their mystery mutants parents. As Franziska looked at the results her shock matched her former teachers.
-That's not possible!-
Michael was getting ready to leave.
"Do you have to go?" Anna asked.
"Yeah its getting late, we got school tomorrow."
"How do you do it?" she asked.
"Do what?"
"Go to school, do homework and then go to your secret base to fight crime. Act like your just a normal guy."
He shrugged. "It's my life now. I'm too deep into this world to give it up."
"Have you ever thought about just giving it all up?" she asked.
He was quiet for a moment. "I used to imagine a life that didn't involve heroics. But now...after my family was killed and all the terrible things that have happened?"
He stretched his wings.
"I am a mutant. People want me dead because I am different and they will come after me no matter where I go. I have great power and if I can help save people from suffering the same pain I have felt than I want to do something about it."
He took Anna's hands in his and kissed each knuckle.
"I love you Anna...but this is me. I will always be a fighter. I will always be going off on crazy mission to find evil people. I am sorry about Abreal- Anna flinched at the name-but I won't stop being a hero. I can't."
"I don't want you too...it's just." she took a deep breath. "I had a friend, her name was Valerie. Her mom did some tours over in the Middle East and her dad was an FBI agent. Her parents were great and they loved her but...they split. Her mom got PTSD and her dad...well he was nice...but closed off and distant. He saw things working with the FBI. I don't know what but it made him cold and hard. Then he went AWOL. He had been undercover, trying to get in with some criminal organization."
"A mole," Michael said.
Anna nodded. "Yeah. He got in and was able to get them some good info...but at some point he lost himself. I don't know what he had to do to prove himself to those creeps. But somehow along the way...he stopped being a man of the law and became just another monster. He turned traitor and when they realized what he did he went underground and vanished. Her mom became super-paranoid that he would come back or his new co-workers would come for them and they moved out of state."
"That's terrible."
"Yeah. I was there for her through every step of the way until they moved. I don't know where she is now. Her mom didn't even tell her where they were going. I hope to see her again one day."
"And are you worried that I am going to turn bad?" Michael asked. He could feel his heart, it felt like something was tightening around it.
But Anna merely laughed and the tension eased up. "God no, of course not...but...you've seen some terrible things already. Lost a lot of people. And the thing about being a hero is...it's just like being a soldier. If your going to fight bad guys than you need to be ready to see some bad things. And sometimes all that pain and darkness can leave a mark on you. Change you. Val's parents did good. They were good but at some point, they lost themselves."
It was Anna's turn to kiss Michael's knuckles.
"I just don't want that to happen to you Michael. I'm afraid one day you'll give some much of yourself to the world but you'll lose yourself along the way."
Michael could sense her anxiety. Since she was still touching him he could feel it even stronger. Since unlocking his telepathy he had been taking lessons with Franziska on how to keep the thoughts and emotions of others from overwhelming him.
No telepath, no matter their skill or power-level could hope to fully shut down their ability. Even if you were shielding your mind tighter than Fort Knox but you would always get some kind of psychic residue, or some silent thought would find some unknown crack in your defenses and slither in.
Being so close to Anna and holding her hand gave him a stronger link to her feelings and he could feel her fears coursing through him.
He could even see images from her mind. Of her friend Valarie and her mother and father. Images of them happy, images of the parents slowly becoming more cold and distant. Memories of holding her friend while she cried about her mom having an episode or her father spending less and less time at home.
Then to his shock he saw memories about him. How he was so bright and cheery. Then his parents died and the Purifiers attacked the school and Michael lost some of his shine. He still smiled, still laughed, but there was a harshness to him now, a dark look that marred his normally bright face when he got ready for a fight.
His look reminded her of the same look Val's dad got after a time.
Suddenly he remembered the dreams he had been having. About a darker version of himself.
He hadn't told her or any of his friends about that.
Maybe the dream was a warning. Of what could be if he wasn't careful.
"As long as I have you and my friends I can't go dark. If we shut out the ones we love then darkness will be the only thing we know. And you are the light of my life."
He kissed her.
He pulled away and she watched as he flew out her window.
She traced her fingers along the talisman he gave her. She had been worried to voice her fears, afraid that he might take it the wrong way. But one of the good things about Michael, he always listened.
Michael could have had Eve transport him to the Ark.
But he had not gone for a good flight in a while. And it felt good to get out and stretch his wings for a while. It helped him think.
Michael had a lot of things to worry about.
Azazel was running around doing God knows what and may be working with someone for some nefarious scheme.
He wasn't a hundred percent sure if Abreal was dead or not and despite his best attempts Adonai had not returned any of his calls.
Maybe if he told him Azazel was running around again then he would get back to Michael. Adonai was one of those people who could hold a grudge and Michael was sure his age old vendetta with the demon-mutant would get his attention.
-MICHAEL!-
The voice in his head was so loud and unexpected that Michael yelled in fright and grabbed his head in pain.
"Franziska!" he spoke outloud.
-Oh thank the Lord! Listen we have a problem!-
"Your damn right we do! I got a nosebleed now!" he said wiping his nose.
He could already feel a migraine starting.
-That is about to be the least of your problems! There is a mutant heading your way and if Cerebro is right he-
"BRONSON!" a new voice yelled.
Michael looked up and saw what appeared to be a giant flaming claw heading right for him, Michael quickly dodged it and looked up.
He saw a winged figure flying above him, he couldn't see him too clearly because the fiery light coming from him was so bright that Michael's eyes couldn't see his attacker to clearly.
"Hold on Franziska, I need to take care of this!" he said.
-Verdammt noch mal!- Franziska responded.
"Look pal I don't know who the hell you are but you better have a damn good excuse for attacking me!" Michael yelled at his attacker.
"Son of a bitch!" the guy (because he sounded like a guy) yelled. "Like you don't know why!"
"No, seriously I don't!" Michael yelled back.
Suddenly several more fiery claws shot out. Michael tried to dodge them but they were fast and were quick to follow him. He summoned his angel fire and began to blast them back. But every time he blasted every claw it quickly reformed.
"It ends here Michael! I won't let you kill anyone else!" the man said.
"I have never killed anyone!" Michael yelled. "I mean...I killed some Purifiers, but they really had it coming. Oh and I vaporized a clone of Mr. Sinister."
The claws grew in massive size, they reminded Michael of the talons of some fiery bird.
He created a shield of angel fire, the claws tried to crush him but Michael was able to maintain the shield. He activated his soul-vision to get a better understanding of his opponent.
His aura showed an immense amount of rage, pain, grief. And he was powerful. Very powerful. From what Michael could see he was similar to Warren. Almost exactly alike in fact. But he had immense psychic powers. Michael recognized telepathy and telekinesis. But he was shocked to see that his potential was limitless.
Who the hell is this guy?
"Stop playing dumb, you know who I am!" the guy yelled and continued to try and crush Michael.
Wait, he's telepathic. Duh.
Using his telepathy was like relaxing a muscle. It wasn't about activating his power. It wasn't something that could be turned on or off. It was always there; Michael was simply letting it go.
He felt his attackers mind connect with his. Michael knew he was taking a risk. He didn't have his psychic defenses up. (even if he did Michael knew his shields were average at best) and if this guy had the skill to backup power than Michael could be turned into a vegetable.
-What do you think your doing! You know you can't control my mind!-
-I'm not trying to control you! I am trying to communicate with you! Please, I don't know who you are or why you are attacking me!-
-This...wait...why...you're...Michael. But your not…-
The claws vanished, but Michael kept his shield up.
-My barriers are down. If you wanted to you could scan my mind. I know you know this. I know if you wanted to you could attack me psychically. I think there has been some kind of mistake.-
-I'm having trouble trying to read you. Someone is trying to invade my mind, I thought it was you.-
-That's probably my friend Franziska.-
The mutant began to fly down, the aura of fire surrounding him was still too bright for Michael to make out his features. Michael saw he had a pair of wings like his own.
Michael knew the fire that surrounded him wasn't regular flame. But pure psionic energy manifested into raw power. They were fifteen feet apart but Michael could feel the burn from his aura.
Not like the heat from a bonfire. It did not warm his skin, but rather it was his mind that felt the intense heat from his aura.
Michael wondered why they hadn't found this guy sooner.
He felt two new minds touch his.
-Michael!- a familiar voice boomed in his head.
-Franziska?-
-Mr. Bronson!- Emma's voice chimed in.
-Emma?- the mutant asked confused.
-Miss Frost?- Michael said.
-Michael?- Franziska repeated.
-Franziska?- the mutant asked sounding shocked.
-Mr. Bronson!-
-Emma!- Franziska said.
-Franziska!- Michael said.
-Emma!- the mutant said.
-Miss Frost! Franziska!- Michael said.
-Michael!- they both yelled.
-Emma! Franziska!- the mutant said.
-Who the hell are you!- they both yelled.
The fire around the mutant died down and Michael stared at him in shock. The most noticeable thing about him was the pair of snow-white wings that grew from his back. He wore a suite similar to Warren's (whom he physically resembled) except the color scheme was gold and green.
His hair was cut short and a dark red color and his eyes were a deep green.
"My name is-
"Warren Worthington the IV."
They were on Utopia. Michael brought him there to meet the X-Men. It seemed appropriate seeing how they had experience with beings from parallel worlds.
Warren (older Warren) was there with Betsy. He was staring at his alleged son with pure shock.
"My parents are Warren the III and Jean Grey. Or at least they are in my universe," Warren Jr said.
"Me and Jean have a kid!" Warren yelled.
"Alternate reality dear, remember," Betsy said.
"Not like we haven't met our kids from alternate realities before," Logan said.
"In my world my parents were members of the original X-Men and that was how they met."
"So, she never dated Scott?" Warren asked.
Scott had so far been quiet, he merely stared at the mutant with a stoic expression.
"Oh, you guys told me how you both had a thing for mom but in the end she chose you," Warren Jr said.
Warren looked over to Scott. He remembered in their youth how he tried to court Jean, but although there was some mild flirtation between the two, eventually she settled for the more down-to-earth Scott.
"You said you were a child of the Phoenix. Explain," Scott said rather courtly.
"Well...this is where it gets weird and confusing," Warren Jr said.
"Two words often associated with Jean," Emma said dryly.
"See, in my world Steven Lang kidnapped the X-Men and brought them to his space station."
"Let me guess, you were escaping but an incoming solar radiation storm was on it's way and Jean sacrificed herself to save everyone," Hank said.
Warren Jr nodded his head. "Yes. Everyone thought she died. But the Phoenix Force saved her. It put her in a healing cocoon and took her form and memories. No one knew what happened. During this time it continued it's romance with my dad and she became pregnant with me. But then she manipulated but the Hellfire Club and became the Dark Phoenix. She fell prey to her darker temptations and even absorbed a star for power, resulting in the destruction of a nearby planet. The Shi'ar wanted her dead but the X-Men challenged them to a duel and my mom was about to lose herself to her instincts so she killed herself."
"That's almost exactly what happened to us," Kurt said.
"But if she was pregnant with you then how did you survive?" Angie asked. "I mean I heard she used a giant laser to vaporize herself."
"She did. I don't know how it did it, but once it died the Phoenix remembered who it really was and somehow put me in the real Jean who was still safe in the cocoon. A few years later the cocoon was found and mom was released."
"But wait. If you were conceived by the Phoenix while it was pretending to be Jean doesn't that make it your mom and not Jean?" Angie asked.
"They did tests and genetically speaking I am the son of Jean Grey," Warren Jr said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Mom didn't care. She and dad got married and everything was fine until dad lost his wings and became Archangel...did that happen here?"
"Oh yeah," Warren answered.
"I'd like to know why you are in our universe and not your own," Scott said.
Warren Jr frowned at him. "Jeez, your more prickly here than back home." A series of chuckles filled the room. "But to answer your question I am here because of him."
Michael was startled when Warren Jr pointed his finger at him.
"Me? What did I do to you?" Michael asked.
"You tried to kill me. To kill all of us!"
"Since when!"
"He means your alternate reality counterpart," Emma said. "Franziska and I detected another mutant signature that appeared alongside this young man. The signature was an exact match for Michaels."
"Okay...so...how did you and evil me come here?" Michael asked.
"We were fighting. He was trying to open a gate to hell. The ritual started to work, I tried using my power to stop it. I think I simply changed it's course."
"Okay, here's another question. How am I evil?" Michael asked.
"It's an alternate universe, it doesn't matter," Scott snapped. "What matters is your counterpart is out there doing God only knows what and if he is as powerful as you than he needs to be found."
"I have the Cuckoo's looking for him. So far he has not appeared."
"I think I already know where he is," Warren Jr said.
"Where?" Scott asked.
"Well, in my world he was the king of Limbo. He took control of it after he killed Illyana."
"What?!" Michael yelled.
"Dude it was evil you, not you-you," Devin said.
Warren Jr gave Michael an odd look. It was a mixture of angry, hurt and wistful. No one noticed it except Angie.
"We should try and contact Illyana. Maybe she can-"
Before Scott could finish a stepping disk appeared above them. A second later Illyana, bruised and bloodied fell from the circular portal and the disk vanished.
She raised her head, half her face was a bloody mess.
"I've been...dethroned." she coughed up some blood.
In Limbo, it's new ruler sat on his throne.
"Well, that didn't take long now did it?" he asked.
He ran his finger over his cheek where a nasty cut lay. As his finger trailed over it, it vanished.
He looked upon his new servants.
"Okay, good news, there is a new ruler in Limbo. Bad news, the old one escaped. No doubt to get help."
He stretched his wings which were a thousand different shades of black, from ink to void.
"No matter. Let this worlds X-Men come. I killed them on my world, I can do the same here."
Many of the demons present looked at one another uneasily.
This newcomer had arrived out of the blue while their (former) mistress was holding court and making sure to keep the more unruly of her demonic host in check when the newcomer stormed the keep and single handedly fought Magik and came closer to killing her than any other.
Now he sat on her throne and as per tradition they waited for the new ruler of Limbo to lay down the law.
They knew the X-Men were mighty warriors. Many times they had clashed with them, and many times they had been shown the hard way the might of the mutants of Earth.
But this boy from another world not only effortlessly banished Magik, but also claimed to have killed X-Men from his world.
Some were eager to jump ship and obey his every word. Eager to be free of the leash Magik had on them. Others were more pessimistic. If Belasco couldn't bring them down what hope did their new master have?
"And to what name should we call you Lord?" one of the demons asked.
The new ruler of limbo smiled.
"Once I was a boy named Michael whom some called Seraph. Now I am-
"Samael," Illyana said. "That's what he called himself."
They were in the medbay. After she had appeared Michael had tried to heal her but she refused to let him near her. Josh had just finished fixing her injuries.
"I was in the middle of having a discussion with my subjects about their behavior. They have been getting antsy lately and I was considering letting them war against one another to appease their bloodlust when he arrived."
She gave Michael a small glare.
"It wasn't me," Michael mumbled.
"I know. I should have realized it sooner. He reeked of dark magic. I let him get too close and he attacked. Instead of using angelfire he used hellfire. And he knew such powerful dark magic. He knew every spell I had and it was like he had fought me before."
"He did," Warren Jr spoke. "He killed you in my world and took over Limbo."
"And you are?" Illyana asked with a raised brow.
"Warren Worthington the IV. The person you fought was a Michael from my world."
"I can't believe I am evil!" Michael bemoaned.
"It's just an alternate version of you," Warren Sr said, placing a comforting hand on Michael's shoulder.
"I know but I feel responsible."
"You weren't always evil," Warren Jr mumbled.
"I wasn't?" Michael asked.
"You...were once like you are now. Good, honest, loving."
"What happened?" Michael asked.
"The Purifiers. They killed many of the students. You were the only member of the Champion's who survived. The loss of all your friends plus your family caused you to go into a deep depression. Then you disappeared for a long time. When you returned you were different. At first we thought it was because you were going through PTSD. But we would later find out you had made a deal with the demon Mephisto. In return for your soul you wanted him to bring back your family and team. But Mephisto being a devil and all twisted your wish and brought them back as zombies."
"Good Lord," Michael said.
"Something went wrong though. We never did find out what but Michael somehow escaped Mephisto's control. He kept his soul but...something changed him. Maybe it was all the pain or the trauma of seeing his loved ones come back as walking corpses but he became colder, more cynical. Even his powers changed. By the time we realized how far gone he really was he had killed Magik and taken control of Limbo. A group of us went there to try and stop him…he killed them all."
Michael didn't need his soul-vision to see Warren Jr's pain. It was clear in his eyes and heavy in his voice. And when he looked at Michael, there was a hint of betrayal.
"You said he was trying to open a portal to hell. Any hell in particular?" Scott asked.
"Yes, as we have learned there are several places that claim that title," Emma said with a dry tone.
"He was convinced he was opening a portal to the home of Satan himself."
"Tell me again how many demons have we met who claimed to be Satan?" Emma asked with an even dryer tone.
"How did he plan to open such a portal?" Illyana asked. "A ritual I suppose."
"Yes. He had to kill a whole bunch of people to do it. He had brought an army from Limbo and we went to fight him...he...he killed many of the X-Men...I...I'm sorry excuse me."
Warren Jr left the room.
"I'll go talk to him," Angie said and followed after him.
"Maybe I should go as well," Warren said.
"Give the poor dear a moment. Cross-dimensional travels can be so tedious," Emma said.
"And we need to get ready. Gods only know what that usurper is doing with my kingdom!" Illyana said.
"We'll come with you!" Michael said.
"No you won't," Scott said coldly. "I think it's time you and your team left."
"My evil doppelganger is on the loose Scott, I don't think I can just sit this out."
Scott crossed his arms. Once there was a time when such a pose would have made Michael feel like he was about to be punished by his father.
But Michael was too old and too hardened to be intimidated.
"This is well beyond your capability."
Michael mirrored his pose and crossed his arms.
"Were the Purifiers? Was Quire? Was Stryker? What about Abreal or Azazel? What about Apocalypse? I seem to recall you were more than happy to have me and my team help you then."
"Those were special circumstances. We have dealt with threats like this before."
"I seem to recall Warren Jr saying other me killed X-Men. And who better to help fight him than me?"
Warren stepped in between Scott and Michael.
"Come on guys, there is a real threat out there that needs our attention. Come on Mich, lets go for a walk."
Warren put his arm around Micheal's shoulder and led him out of the room.
"Seriously what the hell is Scott's problem!" Michael asked.
"It's tough filling Xavier's shoes. Add that to his natural tight assed attitude and it can make him a bit of a dick, believe me," Warren said.
"Warren, your not angry I broke away from the X-Men are you?" Michael asked.
"I am one of the founding members of the X-Men kid. Be a bit hypocritical of me if I shamed you for doing the same thing I did when I was your age. Listen, between you and me I think it best if you take...Little Warren to the Ark."
"Why?"
"Kid is too emotional. This thing with Evil You is personal. He needs time to cool his head. If he goes to Limbo I bet both my wings he will jump the gun and get himself hurt or worse: Killed."
Michael smiled. "Showing some fatherly concern for your alternate reality baby boy?"
Warren grinned. "Maybe I see a glimpse of my soon-to-be-future when I look at him."
"Wait...is Betsy pregnant?"
Warren laughed. "No. But we have been talking about it. It would mean we would have to focus less on our duties as X-Men and more on our personal lives. I can't go on missions and run my company and be a dad at the same time."
Warren was startled when Michael gave him a sudden hug. "I think you would make a great father Warren."
Warren hugged him back. "Thanks kid."
While Warren Sr was talking with Michael, Warren Jr stood outside on a balcony overlooking the island.
It was all so surreal for him. He had met people from alternate worlds and heard tales from his mother and father and many others about going to other Earths.
But this was the first time he hopped from one Earth to another.
"Hey Angie," he said.
Angie walked to stand next to him. "How did you know I was here?"
He tapped his temple. "Psychic remember."
"So you know what I am going to ask you?" she asked.
"I sensed your mind, but I am not hearing your thoughts. I have had years of training from some of the best psychics in the world," Warren said.
"So, can I ask what your codename is?" Angie asked.
"Phoenix. After my mom. I took her name after she died."
"I didn't know she was dead in your world."
"Is she...alive in this world? Dad...your Warren mentioned her."
Angie shook her head. "She died earlier this year. She sacrificed her life to save her team."
Warren laughed but it was dry. "Figures."
"You must have been really close with her. Your uniform has her colors and you took her codename."
"I used to go by Angel, after my dad. In my world he still goes by Archangel. When my mom died I wanted to honor her."
"How did she die?"
"Would you believe it was cancer."
Angie gave him a horrified look.
"Yeah, of all the things to do her in that never crossed anyones mind. We tried chemo and healers. But no one could help her. After she died...I would sleep next to her grave. I know that sounds morbid but I knew she had died a few times but always came back. I was afraid she would come back stuck in her coffin and I wanted to be there for her. So I would always bring a shovel with me."
"How old were you when she died?"
"Twelve. After she died I began to exhibit phoenix powers. Hank said it was a secondary mutation. But I always felt like it was a part of her that was with me."
"How did your dad take it?"
"Oh he was super worried. Everyone was. I was younger than mom was when she started manifesting a raptor aura. Dad had Xavier place psychic-blocks in my mind to block me from accessing my full potential."
"Bet you were angry," Angie said.
"Oh I was furious. It took me a long time to realize they didn't want all that power to go to my head. But at the time I felt like they were cutting me off from my last connection to my mom. So I acted like a total brat. I would sneak out to go to clubs and party, using my telepathy to get in even though I was underage. Dad was actually considering having Xavier block all my powers, but than I met Michael."
"Oh?"
Warren smiled and his whole face lit up as he recalled memories from a better time.
"Yeah. I was jealous of him at first. Dad took an interest in him, took him under his wing so to speak. I was an idiot and thought he was trying to replace me with Michael. So I was a dick to him at first."
"What changed?" Angie asked.
Warren shrugged. "He grew on me. He was so...honest. His freaking family kept him locked up in a damn attack and cut off from the world. I insulted the hell out of him but he thought I was just kidding."
Angie knew all to well what he was talking about. She remembered what Michael was like when he first came to the mansion. So afraid of himself and of the world. Yet so curious, like a kid.
"Yeah. Our Michael was like that too. Still is in a way I guess but he's more mature now. More sure of himself and more self-confident."
"I noticed that," Warren said.
"Can I ask you one more question?"
"Shoot."
"When did you fall in love with Michael?"
The air was silent. Neither one spoke. Angie waited for one of three things to happen.
A.) He'd answer her, B.) He would not answer, or C.) He would use his immeasurable psychic powers to shred her atoms.
A and C were the preferred choices.
"How did you know?" Warren asked.
"I had a friend once. Her boyfriend took her virginity and a week later dumped her and got a new girlfriend all in the same day. The look of...hate I saw in her eyes. The look of betrayal and pain. My grandmother once told me the most terrible hate if born from love. When I saw you look at my Michael with that hate in your eyes I knew you weren't looking at him. But the other one."
"I don't remember you being this perceptive," Warren said.
"You didn't know me," Angie grinned.
Warren rubbed his face. "After I finally stopped being a dick I opened up to him. We became friends. He...changed me. Every time I screwed up and acted like an ass he never judged me or expected me to be a better person. I scanned his mind once...just to see what it was like to see why he was always forgiving me. I saw...beauty and love and mercy. I saw a heart that shine like the sun. I think that was the moment I fell in love with him."
He took a deep breath. His eyes became glossy from unshed tears.
"We became best friends and I started to get my shit together. Michael made me realize holding onto the pain of my mom's loss was selfish. Because I wasn't the only one hurting. So was dad and uncle Scott and uncle Xavier and everyone else who loved mom. He got me to open up to my dad and we actually had a talk that didn't involve me flying off or him grounding me."
He let out a humorless laugh. "After the Purifiers attacked and Michael disappeared I tried to find him. When he came back I told him I loved him. And...I thought he felt the same way about me. He told me he loved me too. Only now I realize it was all just a trick. He used me to get what he wanted."
"Which was?"
"Power. He wanted to warp me. Turn me into his soldier. His most powerful weapon. He tried to do a ritual...he told me it would help bring back our friends...my mom. Told me I wasn't like other mutants, I was a child of the Phoenix Force and had godlike powers waiting to be unleashed. He told me we could tap into that power and take back the ones we loved."
A look a pure shame crossed his face.
"I believed him. I...loved him. Dad and the others arrived to stop us. Michael fought them off and when I saw he wasn't using his angel fire but hellfire...which he used to burn off my dads wings I knew...I had lost him. The stress must have messed with the psychic inhibitors because I unleashed my power and I stopped Michael before he could kill anyone. I had him...I had him right in my grasp...all I had to do was will it and his brains would be nothing but soup!"
His eyes glowed with a fiery light. Psychic flames danced around his body and Angie had to take a step back from him.
"But when I looked at him all I saw was that boy with the beautiful mind and the shining heart...I let him go and he escaped. Because of me he was able to kill Magik and take over Limbo. He killed the X-Men! Our family! Our friends! Because I was too damn weak too-"
The words died in his mouth. Angie had flung herself and wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. Even though he was covered in a flaming aura Angie could not bare to hear anymore.
She had to offer him comfort.
"It is never weakness to spare the ones we love," she told him.
The flames did not burn her, but she could still feel them.
"I am so sorry for your loss. I can't begin to imagine your pain so I wont dare try and say I understand."
She pulled away and looked at him.
"We will stop your Michael. This Samael. We'll send you both back to your universe. And he will face justice for what he has done."
"How can I still love him after everything he has done? How can I still be willing to give up everything just to make him good again."
"Because, only the ones we truly love have the power to destroy us. Because nothing can kill the soul like love."
She hugged him again. His flames vanished and he hugged her back.
"Don't tell Michael...I don't want him to know," Warren said.
"I won't say anything...I promise," Angie said.
Back in Limbo the being once known as Michael Bronson toiled around the achieves of Limbo.
"I tell you what, the Illyana of this world is just like the Illyana from mine. It's been easy to undo all the spells and enchantments she had placed here."
At first you would assume he was speaking to himself. He was all alone after all.
"Yes, yes I know Warren is here. I have no doubt he has attracted the attention of this worlds X-Men. Wonder how Warren and Jean will react to that! Assuming they exist in this world. I swear I wish the multiverse had some consistency."
He began to pull books and parchments from their shelves. He would look at them and than toss them over his shoulder and continue his search for what he was looking for.
"I know my plan failed okay! Don't need to remind me. I thought for sure Warren would go easy on me. Guess he finally toughened up. Good for him but bad for me...no I am not going to try and do the ritual again! If it doesn't work the first time then don't bother doing it a second!"
He grabbed a book and opened it. He scanned the images and then rolled his eyes. "Seriously, demon porn! Just like my Illyana!"
He burned the book and continued his search.
"I would have killed her but I was a bit worn out from fighting Warren, and traveling across the dimensions. That can take a toll on a guy. I have already hijacked Illyana's sensory spells so the second they pop in I will know."
He finally found what he was looking for.
"Here we go!"
He read from the book, scanning several pages.
"Lets see. I'll need five colored candles, a goat skull, some virgin blood and one hundred sacrificial offerings. Got the candles, there are goat skulls all over this place, good thing I never lost my cherry and as for the sacrifices…"
He closed the book.
"Hmm, looks like I am going to trim the ranks a little."
"Welcome to our humble abode!" Devin said.
"I've actually been to the Ark before," Warren said.
"Not our Ark. Ours is the best," Devin said.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Warren asked Michael. "If your Scott is anything like mine I highly doubt he was okay with you taking me from Utopia."
"Scott has a lot on his mind, we're just...helping to ease his mind," Michael said with a grin.
"I think Devin and Wayne are starting to rub off on you," Rickard said with a grin.
"We are a corrupting influence," Wayne nodded.
"I appreciate you guys trying to help, but I need to get to Limbo. I have to stop Samael," Warren said.
"Dude relax. We have a plan," Jericho said.
Warren have him a funny look. "And you are?"
"Jericho. I'm Michael's cousin."
"You have a cousin?" Warren asked Michael.
"Didn't the other me have one?" Michael asked.
"You didn't mean Jericho and his dad until after the Purifiers attacked the mansion. If this alternate you went down an evil path chances are he never met them," Franziska said.
"Guess angel mutations run in your family," Warren commented.
"You have no idea," Michael muttered.
"Jericho can sense, manipulate and even remove the powers of enhanced individuals," Jacob said. "If we can get him close enough to Samael he can remove his powers and than we can take him down."
Warren looked at Jericho (who was looking rather smug) with amazement.
"Can you remove any powered individuals power?"
"I haven't had the chance to use it on anyone but mutants but I am sure I could use it on someone like Spider-Man or the Hulk. I've done it to the whole team a few times on accident but I got better control of it now."
"How close do you have to be to him for it to work?"
"At least in the same room as him," Jericho replied.
Warren frowned. "Do you have any way to defend yourself?"
"I can't shoot lasers from my eyes or anything."
"So you would be defenseless."
"No, he's have us," Michael said placing a hand on his cousins shoulder.
Just than the door to the control room opened and Angie wheeled in a suit of armor. "And he's have this!"
Devin ran over to the armor and began to inspect it. "Wait, isn't this-"
"The same armor Apocalypse had Jericho strapped into. Yes."
"But it has been heavily modified," Eve spoke, her bodiless voice could be heard everywhere in the room.
"Is it...safe for him to wear," Michael asked uneasily.
"Yes Michael. I redesigned it myself with a little direction from Jericho."
"You knew about this?" Michael asked.
Jericho nodded. "I may not be much in a fight when it comes to blowing stuff up. But that doesn't mean I can't help. This suit can help me focus my power and gives me a little extra protection so you won't have to worry about me as much."
"Guess that who thing with Apocalypse had one good outcome," Rickard muttered.
"Try it on!" Devin said excitedly.
Jericho walked over to the suit. As he approached it, it opened up, allowing him to simply stand in it before it closed and covered his body.
He turned around.
"Nice," Jacob whistled.
"Looks good on you," Franziska said.
"Got that right," Warren said with a flirtatious grin.
The suit was all black. It covered every inch of Jericho's body except for his face and wings. It was black with blue lights around the hands, feet and chest.
"Shouldn't it cover your wings though?" Rickard asked.
"I need them out in the open if I am going to steal someones power. But when I am not using them."
He folded his wings and they were soon covered by a metal plate. Jericho grimaced.
"A bit tight but I can get used to it."
"This could actually work," Warren said.
"Our plan is to sneak into Limbo's fortress while the X-Men are causing a distraction. Once we get close to Samael we can nab his powers and end the battle-hopefully before someone gets hurt," Michael explained.
"Can you even get there without Illyana?" Warren asked.
"The Ark can send us there. It uses both technology and magic," Rickard said.
Warren clenched his hands. "Than lets do this."
Fusedtwilight: Lets face it, I was going to do an alternate storyline sooner or later. This is an X-Man fic after all. So For a while now I have been thinking about who should play the Champions in a movie or TV show. I have gone over this with the OC writers who helped me make the team and they chose the actors for their OC's. For Michael I have chosen Matthew Daddario and for Jacob I chose Justin Rain. For Angie, Kaitlyn Dever. For Franziska, Jayne wisener. For Wayne, Noah-Grey Cabey. For Devin, Dove Cameron and for Rickard, Bill Skarsgård. What do you guys think of these choices?
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Angel In The Attic