X-Men (6th series) #35

First story:

in Xavier's memories:

Once upon a time, there was a mutant telepath named Charles Xavier. He started a school for gifted youngsters and dreamed of peace – his students became a team. The team became super heroes. These super heroes changed this world – and the next. The mutant nation of Krakoa was born, and when the war came, Charles Xavier finally broke – and like all broken men at war, he did very bad things.

(Now)

Charles Xavier must pay for those bad things. He has surrendered to human justice, and is being transported by soldiers through a backwoods road. But, perhaps he won't live to face it – because on a lonely road...the Wolverine strikes! A row of spikes suddenly appears on the road, knocking soldiers on motorcycles into the air, before Wolverine lunges onto a tank. 'Mayday! Mayday! The X-Men are trying to free the prisoner!' a soldier radios, before Wolverine shoves his claws through the window and snarls 'Not quite, bub. Lemme take the wheel'. He slices the wheel apart then leaps off of the tank and onto the next truck, a larger one with a compartment where Xavier is likely being held. 'If yer listening – I'll see you in a minute, Chuck' Wolverine a.k.a. Logan calls out.

Inside the compartment, Professor Charles Xavier is restrained in a chair, a helmet over his head connected to several cables. Several gunshots, screams and claw-popping noises can be heard. 'Tsk' Xavier mutters. There is a screeching as the truck comes to a halt, and adamantium claws suddenly tear through the compartment. 'Hello, Chuck!' Wolverine calls out as he pokes his head through the cut in the outer wall, and claws his way into the compartment where Xavier is being held. 'You got anything to say to me? Anything to make me retract these claws and walk away?' Wolverine asks as he holds his claws towards Xavier. But Xavier offers no response, so Wolverine moves closer, his claws ready to strike – when suddenly, he finds himself unable to move, his claws merely an inch from Xavier's body. 'Dammit, let me do what I gotta do!' Logan snarls.

'No' Magneto responds as he descends into the compartment by easily breaking away the metal wall. 'No more martyrs, Logan' Magneto declares, to which Wolverine responds 'Let me end this, Magneto!' But Magneto points out that Xavier's life is not Wolverine's to end. Xavier frowns as he stares at Logan and asks him to excuse them, as he would like to speak to his old friend. Magneto casually waves his hand, and Wolverine is hurled out into the forest nearby. 'Aw, cripes!' Logan mutters. Magneto suggests to Xavier that they adjourn this somewhere more private, and uses his powers to levitate the compartment into the air, where it hovers under the night sky.

'Charles, Charles, Charles... how did we get here?' Magneto asks as he sits down opposite Xavier. 'You quit. You died. I made choices' Xavier scowls. 'People died, and the rest live. Now I pay the price. What happened to you, Max?' Xavier asks. 'Hmm. For once the name sounds natural' Magneto decides, to which Xavier tells him that he knew Erik all those years, but now, he is definitely Max. 'I think I'm happy for you' Xavier comments, before asking again 'What happened?' 'As you say, Charles. I quit. I died. And then? I saw what my choices had made. At the beginning, I asked if what we had made was enough. And I was right to. We were not enough, Charles'. Magneto remembers Toad being sent to the Pit within Krakoa and tells Xavier that they could not even imagine their paradise, not without a corresponding Pit, for Toad and so many others. 'And as that flaw in our design yawned wide to swallow mutant after mutant... the dream died in me. For I found I could no longer sleep'.

Magneto states that he played this brutal game of laws, of nations, of hard and soft power – to ensure mutant safety. 'It didn't work. In embracing the world's power, I turned my back on the world. I won't again' Magneto announces. Magneto declares that he will not appease, nor will he assimilate, and that he is not ashamed – not of what he is. 'But when people are oppressed by power simply because of who they are – be they human or mutant – we face the same enemy. And we must destroy that enemy together'. 'All of the hated. All of the feared. All of us. The next Krakoan Age will not be built by my hand. But it will be built by my friend. And it will be everywhere' Magneto exclaims.

Xavier smirks: 'Even now, you don't say it. After all those years of arguments until the dawn. After I compromise and we forge a nation born of your mutant essentialism. After I sacrifice all the best parts of myself to ensure anyone survived our hubris. Now you turn to me and say... “Xavier was right”!' Magneto looks unimpressed and asks Charles if that truly is all he has left. 'It seems so' Charles responds, hanging his head. '“I told you so” and noting ironies from atop my mound of corpses' he adds. Xavier turns to Magneto and tells him that he is happy for him, that he has chosen a good fight, and that he hopes he will win. 'It would be a better world' Xavier decides, before instructing Magneto to take him to his cell. But, 'Oh my!' Xavier gasps. 'I can't believe it' he utters. 'What?' Magneto asks, turning to look at what Xavier is staring at, but he sees nothing. 'Something's happening... something wonderful' Xavier exclaims.

Indeed, on Pacific Krakoa, energies glow as the island arrives in the present day, and Doug Ramsey a.k.a. Cypher stands in a clearing, waving at someone. 'This is a relief. I felt a distant call for weeks, so I came. I was worried I was losing it... but I'm not' Cypher remarks, before asking the mutant who approaches him 'Who are you?' The mutant is winged and has antenna protruding from his forehead. He introduces himself as Kafka, from the Quiet Council. 'You're the leader?' Cypher enquires. Kafka smiles and explains that this Quiet Council does not give orders – not like that. 'The Quiet Council listens. That's why we're quiet'. Cypher tells Kafka that he thought all of the mutants were lost when they were left in the White Hot Room. 'Everyone's going to be glad that you're alive' he adds. 'Us too. It was touch and go for a while. It was a lot easier when we got past what I call the “Tubers for Ever Meal” era' he jokes.

Kafka explains that they got the basics, and then the more than basics, and eventually worked out how to return. 'Our Krakoa insisted' Kafka adds, motioning to where a manifestation of Krakoa walks through some water towards the clearing. 'They weren't going to leave your Krakoa behind' Kafka adds, before noting that there is a problem – it's been fifteen years for everyone on Krakoa, and a lot has changed, including Krakoa. 'The two parts aren't speaking the same language' Kakfa explains. Cypher looks up at the transformed Krakoa who stands over him, and they touch hands. 'You're going to have to explain how you actually speak to him, but... yeah. I can hear. Their language has moved. Like continental drift' Cypher remarks. Another manifestation of Krakoa appears and approaches the other. 'They need to be reintroduced. Could you do the honors?' Kafka asks. 'I'd love to' Cypher smiles, before the two Krakoa touch each other.

Hours later, a jet arrives above Krakoa, and Emma Frost can be heard telepathically communicating with Cypher, informing him that they have arrived, and that Jean is trying to calm Exodus down, who is terribly excited. 'I'm talking to world leaders to stop them launching an offensive, so... if you could give us an update of what's going on, we can avoid war...' Emma begins, before she sees part of the Krakoan island lifted above the rest of the island, connected by large vines that writhe about. 'Are we watching island sex?' Emma asks. 'Definitely not' Cypher assures her, before suggesting that when it has settled down, everyone should come down and explore. 'But if you want to talk... you know where to come'.

Shortly: 'Kafka! Little Kafka!' Exodus calls out as he arrives at the Quiet Council chamber with Emma Frost, Scott Summers a.k.a. Cyclops and Jean Grey a.k.a. Phoenix. 'You've grown! It's so good to see you!' Exodus exclaims as he and Kafka embrace. “Kafka”? Cyclops asks. Jean informs Cyclops that she observed Kafka in the White Hot Room in exile, when she was fractured. 'And now he is... “Speaker”?' Jean adds. Kafka turns to Cyclops and asks him not to make a Kafka-esque dystopian joke. 'That isn't really Krakoan style' he explains. 'Dystopias, not jokes. We still do jokes' he adds. 'Hmmm. Weeks for us, but for you... what happened?' Emma asks. 'Fifteen years happened. Fifteen years of work and peace' Kafka responds. 'You stayed in the White Hot Room? Was it hard?' Cyclops enquires. 'Yeah, but it was also perfect' Kafka smiles. He states that they had the Four, and a cradle, so they had both databases – and they had hope. 'Most of all, we had time. So...' he begins, to which Emma gasps 'Oh my... they did it'.

'What happened?' Cyclops enquires. 'Oh... she's right. She's right!' Jean exclaims, as they look out over Krakoa and see a countless number of mutants below. 'All fifteen million. All the Genoshan dead. The children. They brought them all back' Emma smiles. 'All we needed was to be left alone' Kafka explains. 'At least we got that. And now? One last flowering of the gates... so people can go where they need to go... and tell the people they love they're well' Kafka remarks as dozens of the mutants rush through a Krakoan gateway and arrive back on Earth where they rush about, and a pink-skinned mutant goes to an older woman, possibly their mother. 'You started it. We finished it. A mutant circuit. Krakoa' Kafka remarks.

Phoenix approaches Kafka and reminds him that he said they have hope. 'Literally, or...?' Jean asks. 'A bit of both' Kafka responds. He states that the White Hot Room is the home of the Phoenix, and, while they don't really understand, but resurrection works there, and they can feel Hope. 'Hope lives in Krakoa now. Metaphor and truth and everything in between' he states, before remarking that it is hard being away from that presence though, and that it will be good to get back. 'What?' Exodus asks. Kafka explains that they came here to merge the two Krakoas, and drop off the people who want to leave. 'Earth isn't ready for us' he notes. 'This is an abomination. We need Krakoa!' Exodus declares. Kafka tells Exodus that he is sorry, but that it is what they want. 'Krakoa is getting ready to leave. Twenty-four hour clock will start counting until -' Kafka begins, before a furious Exodus booms 'NO!' and releases a furious surge of power.

'You know... this is kind of thing is exactly why we're leaving!' Kafka exclaims as he runs from the Quiet Council chamber and Exodus' explosion. Suddenly, 'Oh' Kafka utters as he sees Apocalypse step through a Krakoan portal. 'Speak, brother mutant' Apocalypse, addressing himself by his Krakoan name, and asking Kafka to tell him what occurs. Kafka informs Apocalypse that Exodus has holed up in the Council room, where you can influence Krakoa. 'I was going to start the process to send us back... but he stopped me. He's not going to let Krakoa leave' Kafka exclaims.

Indeed, inside the Council chamber, Cyclops, Phoenix and Emma Frost have been joined by others to combat Exodus. Storm, Archangel, Iceman, Colossus, Wolverine, Rogue, Magik, Forge, Polaris, Nightcrawler, Monet, Firestar, Shadowkat, Iceman and another Wolverine, Laura, ready themselves against Exodus.

'We can talk him down in time, but staying here is hurting Krakoa. They're struggling between dimensions and -' Kafka tells Apocalypse, who responds 'Perhaps you could talk him down...but the time for talk has passed. He can think through the errors of passion if he lives' Apocalypse suggests as he enters the Council chamber. 'Stand down, acolyte!' Apocalypse exclaims as he looks up at Exodus. 'I was only yours for minutes!' Exodus retorts as he fires powerful eye-beams towards Apocalypse, who is barely phased and charges forward. 'Once mine...you are always mine!' he booms as he leaps up towards Exodus. 'There is nothing that I have given you that I cannot tear from you!' Apocalypse warns Exodus, who continues to fire his eye-beams at the uber mutant. Apocalypse grabs Exodus by his face and slams him into the ground. The mutants watch on, shocked, as Apocalypse punches Exodus over and over. 'NOTHING!' he booms. Apocalypse stands up over Exodus' bloody body, and turns to Kafka. 'So, speaker of Krakoa. Show me what my children have built' Apocalypse demands.

'Wonder. You'll get a better sense of what it's like when people are here, but it's quiet while everyone is off seeing folks' Kafka remarks as he leads Cyclops, Phoenix, Emma and Apocalypse around. He adds that they have been saving for years to reopen their gates for a day, so people were excited to look around. 'I'm sorry?' Cyclops asks, confused. Wolverine, Nightcrawler and Iceman can be seen walking together, while Colossus is up ahead, and Angel flies above. 'Oh, your hyper-charged Krakoa was unsustainable. It's probably taken a couple hundred thousand years off Krakoa's present life cycle' Kafka announces. 'What?' Phoenix asks. 'We don't blame you – you weren't to know. You had bigger problems to worry about' Kafka responds. He adds that it is hard to think of even ten thousand years in the future when you've got Sentinels.

The group continues walks through the area, as Kafka explains that so much of what they created here is about creating a world with a sustainable footprint. 'Everyone does their bit. We're in this together for the long haul. It's hard work, but we like it' he adds. 'All huge fans... except, presumably, those who are planning to stay behind' Emma responds. 'Most people like it. Some people really can't get over Earth culture's ambient dopamine poisoning, I guess. That's their choice. People getting to make their own choice is part of what we do too' Kafka replies, before explaining that they are less about being new gods and more about being new kinds of humans. He states that they need to stay grounded, which is part of their plans for Old Krakoa. 'We're going to sort of turn it into a museum and a reminder...' his voice trails off as the group approach a series of wooden statues.

'You walk, see all this and think. We've had wood shapers working on creating statutes to add to it. We know how much mutant history was wiped away, so we need to hold on to what we have' Kafka remarks. 'All the good things... and the bad. Everything we've moved past' Kafka adds as he looks at a statue of Apocalypse. Apocalypse sees it, too. 'But I am the past – your bloody history. Am I so easily reduced to sculpted wood?' he asks. 'Do my hard lessons no longer apply in your white-hot-heaven?' Kafka looks up at Apocalypse and tells him 'Not the way you taught them here. Survival of the fittest isn't “who's strongest” but “survival of the best fit”, as in the best to fit the context one finds themselves in... and we can change the context we find ourselves in... to choose what attributes are the best fit'.

Kafka continues, noting that, in terms of efficiency, altruism is best. Violent competition is a distraction from survival in the long term. But Kafka tells Apocalypse not to take it wrong, he can see why he felt like that – all of them lived in this hell world. 'I remember it' he remarks, before telling Apocalypse that he, most of all, grew up in the Bronze Age. 'We don't think you did badly, but the gravity of what you called “human thinking” was impossible to escape. You gave us the space to become this' Kafka announces, before telling Apocalypse that they are eternally thankful. 'Our children will thank you, and our children's children'.

'You reject our most radical ideas and say this?' Apocalypse asks, finally speaking after listening to Kafka, who extends a hand towards Apocalypse. The ancient mutant puts a finger to Kafka's hand, as Kafka tells him 'Absolutely not. We respect everything you did as steps along the way. We just didn't think they were radical enough'. Apocalypse then grabs Kafka's hand and throws him up into the air – and slams him into the ground. 'You were right' Apocalypse utters. 'Oh dear' Emma remarks as she, Cyclops and Phoenix look on. 'My ideas were not radical enough. I was far too lenient. So there will now be pain' Apocalypse smirks.

'He's been compromised -' Armor exclaims as she suddenly appears and rushes towards Apocalypse, with Frenzy, Iceman and Rictor following her. 'No. There is no possession, no telepathic attack. I am as I am – as I have always been – only for your good' Apocalypse responds while Cyclops, Phoenix and Emma attend to Kafka. 'Who saved Arakko? I did' Apocalypse declares as he knocks Armor aside with ease. 'Who saved Krakoa? I did' he claims as he transforms his hand into a large hammer and knocks Frenzy backwards. 'Who rekindled the flame of mutant magic? Who gave you your future?' Apocalypse shouts as Iceman begins to freeze him. 'I did!' Apocalypse roars as he breathes energy which breaks through the ice and knocks Nightcrawler aside. Apocalypse continues: 'Yet when I let you seek it alone – did you bring the fire back from heaven? Or dull metal and cheap coin? Were you reforged in white-hot flame as philosopher-kings, bearing swords of alchemical gold? Or as farmers with plowshares?'

'I gave you everything! And you -' Apocalypse begins, before a burst of earth rises up from the ground and covers Apocalypse's fist, courtesy of his one-time protege, Julio Richter a.k.a. Rictor. 'Stop! You don't have to do this! We won – we survived! You don't have to be this again!' Rictor exclaims. 'Et tu, Julio...? All to the good. Each student must betray his master – betray all but the task. All but the art itself' Apocalypse states. Apocalypse then breaks through the rock keeping his fist at bay, and tells Rictor that he can rebel against him as he wishes, but that in time, he will understand him, and thank him. Apocalypse slams his fist into the ground and knocks Rictor into the air, while Kafka gets to his feet and tells Apocalypse that he needs to calm down. Apocalypse looks at Kafka and tells him that he isn't angry, he simply is. 'And mere survival was never enough' he adds.

Apocalypse's eyes flash red as he claims that mutantkind was meant for greater things. 'Krakoa wishes to rotate back into the White Hot Room – to journey deeper into the mystery. Perhaps to return again... bearing the True Mysterium, the Aurichaicum Mutantis... but you are not ready for the quest. You do not have the proper leadership'. He boasts that, once more, he must bear the load, for he is Apocalypse – the Revelation unending. 'And if you hate me for what I must reveal? Know that I love you, as I always have... even as I break you to the work!' Apocalypse exclaims as Kafka is joined by Cyclops, Iceman, Colossus, Storm, Nightcrawler, Wolverine, Phoenix, Deadpool, Armor, Beast, Exodus, Frenzy, Gambit, Archangel and Rictor as they all move towards the uber mutant.

At that moment, a wooden ship hovers above Krakoa – and on it is Doctor Doom, along with one of his own mutants, Volta. 'A much larger island has arrived, and I should like to add its secrets to my own garden' Doom declares. There is an explosion on the island as Doom tells Volta that he needs a Krakoan seed. 'Behold the most unserious superpower on this world and beyond, Volta. Let none see you' Doom declares. 'Then... it shall be so' Volta responds as she drops off the side of the floating ship.

Within the lush landscape of Krakoa, the young green-skinned mutant called Fauna walks beside a stream, and can see a Krakoan seed hanging from a tree ahead. Suddenly, there is a surge of energy, as Volta materializes. She plucks the seed from the tree, and looks over to Fauna, who is now crouched behind a rock. 'Hello, young one. I was not here. Do you understand?' Volta asks, but gets no response.

There is another surge of energy, and Volta returns to Doom's ship. 'And you were not seen?' Doom asks as Volta unclenches her fist, revealing the Krakoan seed, which she drops into Doom's hand. 'Not even by the island' Volta lies.

Back at the battleground, it had been a while since the original X-Men were in class together – but Apocalypse has put school back in session, as Iceman encases Apocalypse's legs in ice, while Cyclops fires an optic beam at Apocalypse, who blocks it with a shield, while the Beast tries to restrain Apocalypse, and Archangel swoops down from above.

Sunfire moves in now, and blasts Apocalypse with a powerful surge of flame and tells him that hev can only lead if the new mutants wish to follow. 'A betrayal from Sunfire is no surprise, but you lack the strength to -' Apocalypse begins, before Colossus slams his fist into Apocalypse's jaw, knocking him backwards as he tells Apocalypse to worry not of their strength. They trade blows until every ear on Krakoa is ringing. Colossus fights heroically, but the final punch is delivered by the ancient mutant, who slams Colossus into a large tree within Arbor Magna. Arbor Magna had been the scene of many joyful mutant triumphs, but in the end, it too has become blighted, as Apocalypse fires eye-beams at Colossus, who is slumped against the large tree within Arbor Magna.

Apocalypse approaches Colossus and tells him not to rise again, unless it is to his banner. He then begins to speak to various mutants who have gathered: 'Mutants of the world. If you ever believed in me – if you ever took strength from me – hear me now. Who will enter the gate, one final time? Who will make the journey? Who will join my cause?' he asks, before shouting 'Who will shape mutantdom for the next generation?' Rictor frowns as he listens, while Exodus peers at Apocalypse through one eye. 'Ask yourselves... I have been hard on you, yes... but have I ever lied to you?' he enquires. Among the gathered mutants, Husk, Fabian Cortez, the Fenris Twins, Forearm, Ruckus, Mentallo, Vanisher and the Arakkii mutant Solemn all listen intently to Apocalypse's words. Before anyone can respond to Apocalypse, though, there is a surge of lighting which causes the mutants to scatter. 'Apocalypse will speak... not you!' Storm tells the mutants as she drops down among them.

Fabian Cortez and Mentallo look at Storm as she reminds the mutants that the era of resurrection has ended. Storm stares at Apocalypse as she tells him that she cannot dissuade him with words, and suggests he closes his argument against the X-Men. 'Of course' Apocalypse grins.

A short time later, 'You oppose me?' Apocalypse asks as Wolverine appears before him. Logan sighs and pops his claws. 'The kids have spoken, old man. The kids don't want what you're selling anymore' Wolverine informs Apocalypse as he rushes towards him, while Deadpool appears behind apocalypse and grabs him by his head. 'That's what I'm here for – sales' Deadpool jokes. 'We gotta put him down – fast!' Wolverine tells Deadpool as he shoves his claws through Apocalypse's head. 'Have you tried just letting Apocalypse have his own school? How bad could it be?' Deadpool asks.

Apocalypse shakes Deadpool off of him, while thrashing his head about, causing Wolverine to flail about in the air. 'These loathsome metal claws. So... human' Apocalypse remarks. With the claws sticking through his head, Apocalypse warns Wolverine that his claws cannot kill him. 'Might not be able to kill you, but you'll feel the pain' Logan snarls. Apocalypse laughs as he asks Wolverine what he could possibly teach him. 'Aw, crud' Logan mutters as Apocalypse grabs his free wrist, and forces Wolverine's claws into his own side. Wolverine cries out in pain, as Apocalypse then pulls the claws out of Wolverine's side and shoves them into his neck. 'I will teach you of pain, child' Apocalypse utters, when suddenly, he coughs, as Nightcrawler teleports in and pulls Wolverine out of Apocalypse's grasp.

'Do not impede me, Nightcrawler' Apocalypse warns the teleporter, while wiping blood from his mouth. Nightcrawler re-appears behind Apocalypse and tells him that this is madness, and asks him if he intends to rule a dead species. 'It's your softness that led us to this ruin' Apocalypse responds. Nightcrawler presses his fingers into Apocalypse's eyes and responds 'You think I am weak because I choose not to causally maim or kill. It's folly to look at reticence as a weakness...especially when I can plunge you into darkness with but a thought'. Apocalypse roars as Nightcrawler draws blood and teleports away. His eyes hollowed out, blood pours down from his eye-sockets as he declares 'I have fought in darkness for longer than you could imagine'.

Nightcrawler re-appears at Wolverine's side, as Logan tells his friend that he has “cojones”. 'Logan...these are his eyeballs' Nightcrawler responds as he holds up Apocalypse's eyeballs. 'Oh' Logan utters as he continues to press his fingers to his wounded neck. 'I like my idea better' Lohan remarks, before Nightcrawler helps him to stand and tells him that they need to bring this to an end. 'This can't be what Krakoa was about' he adds.

Blood continues to trickle from his eye-sockets as a voice enters his mind – it's Emma Frost, who tells Apocalypse that he is the father of mutantdom on Earth, but that those he are dictating the terms of Pax Krakoa to are not children. 'Ah. The day's indignities are far from over as the party hostess of the island seeks to share her wisdom' Apocalypse grins. Emma switches to her diamond form – and just in time, as Apocalypse slams a fist into her, knocking her off the island, where she skims several times across the surface of the surrounding ocean.

A small bird perches itself on Apocalypse's shoulder, and, with blood stains around his eyes he turns to the bird. 'I wondered how you would enter the fray' he remarks. Phoenix drops down beside Apocalypse and tells him that before she gathers Emma, she will admit to him that Emma is right. 'All of the mutants of Genosha have returned. Fifteen years have passed for Krakoa. They haven't had to live with a Sentinel for a long time. Or Reverend Stryker. Or Orchis' Phoenix reminds Apocalypse as she casually telekinetically lifts Emma from the ocean back to the shore. 'They don't know who the X-Men are -' Phoenix remarks, '- or have a need for them' Emma frowns as she pulls some seaweed off her shoulder.

Emma suggests to Apocalypse that he touch their minds, and witness them. 'They are Krakoan. They are everything you could have wished mutantdom to become, but you're too busy fighting to see trem as they are' Phoenix utters as she connects Apocalypse's mind to the Krakoans. Shocked, Apocalypse announces that he sees millions of mutant minds. 'I see...that my magic has brought us to this very moment...' he boasts as he drops to his knees, before announcing that he sees it holds no sway over this undiscovered country. As Cyclops, Wolverine and Nightcrawler join Phoenix and Emma on the beach, Apocalypse teleports away. 'He's gone' Cyclops tells Wolverine, who responds 'Honestly? I wasn't looking forward to round two'.

The next 24 hours are less eventful, as Kafka and Nightcrawler walk among the Krakoans in their wondrous landscape. 'And that's the head count. Everyone's back who wants to be' Kafka announces, before asking Nightcrawler if he will take care of those staying behind. 'Even for the ones who missed the old chaotic world... well, there might be some culture shock' he notes. 'We'll do our best' Nightcrawler responds, before adding 'And for the record – before I go? I am so sorry about En Sabah Nur's reaction. He could have killed you' Nightcrawler states. 'Not in a way that matters' Kafka smiles, before informing Nightcrawler that he is fine, that the healers know how to heal. Kafka adds that it isn't Apocalypse's fault. 'When you spend millennia fighting, fighting is what you know. It's the tool you reach for. But for most of us... the dream of Krakoa was a dream of never having to fight again'. He tells Nightcrawler that that is the dream they are going back to, and that it isn't too late for them all to join with them here.

Nightcrawler looks out over the wondrous landscape and tells Kafka that he takes joy in his peace, but that for the X-Men, for now at least, for the mutants yet to come, for all those hated and feared – the fight goes on. Nightcrawler informs Kafka that one day, they will return to these green fields – and with all their friends with them. 'And we'll be waiting. Radiant with open arms' Kafka smiles.

And, out on the Pacific, the X-Men and other mutants begin to gather. 'It's the last time I'll ask, Kurt, but... how stands Krakoa?' Cyclops asks as Nightcrawler teleports in and reports that Krakoa is ready for the next adventure, wherever it may lead. Storm, Phoenix, Iceman, Wolverine, Bishop, Kwannon, Colossus and Magik group together. Others join them – Shatterstar and Rictor, Thunderbird, Cannonball, Mirage, Cypher, Shadowkat and Lockheed. Forge is there, Exodus returns and stands with Emma while Archangel and Firestar hover above them. Wolverine is joined by Laura and Scout. Synch stands with Jubilee and Monet, while Frenzy, Prodigy, Dazzler and Juggernaut can be seen together. Even Omega Sentinel can be seen standing behind Cyclops. Polaris is further back, as is Iceman, while Rogue and Gambit can be seen behind Iceman.

As the last rays of the setting sun touch the living island, it shimmers, as if in a heat haze, and begins to rotate. Like some vast, glittering jewel. Moving, facet by facet, through a direction that cannot be expressed or pointed to. Tears stream down Exodus' face, and even Emma, her eyes shielded by sunglasses, has tears. Storm, Phoenix, Rogue, Iceman and nightcrawler all cry, too. To this day, those who saw it cannot describe it. Only that it was beautiful – the most beautiful dream. A dream that was, for the moment, real – and shone, with infinite love and care, as it shifted beyond dreams – into higher reality. And what does it look like? What does it look like when a dream moves on without you? Cyclops sheds a tear. A ultra-brilliance of colours and lights shimmers around the wondrous island which vanishes – and so ends the First Krakoan Age.

Meanwhile, Apocalypse has returned to Arakko. 'Hey, hey! The Big A!' the Amenthi daemon Orc calls out, waving to Apocalypse. 'Pull up a rock, buddy. You look beat' Orc remarks. 'I look beaten' Apocalypse frowns, correcting the daemon. He announces that he saw the future – and saw that he was not required by it. 'Krakoa now belongs to the new – and our days are old, my friend. I thought – I hoped – that they would need me for the next stage of their enlightenment. So I made the offer... it was rejected' he scowls. 'Ouch. So what now, big man?' Orc asks. Apocalypse runs his fingers through some sand and lets it fall from his grasp. 'What to do when the future slips from your fingers? What is left to be done here in the now?' he remarks, before deciding that it may be time to pass such questions to another – perhaps he should choose an heir.

In an abandoned Orchis base, Mother Righteous sits inside her cell, which suddenly opens, and Doctor Stasis appears. 'I'm sorry for the delay, beloved' he tells her. 'Super heroes and their incessant meddling. You know how it is' he remarks. 'You!' Mother Righteous gasps. 'I'm the man who loves you, and – I dare say – there's still a ghost of affection in you too' he smiles, before asking her if she thought he would leave her rotting here. 'I did... but you didn't. Thank you, hon' Mother Righteous responds as she stands up. As she follows Doctor Stasis from the cell, she suggests to him that maybe he is right – maybe they can be together now. 'Build something from this big pile of -' Mother Righteous begins, before Doctor Stasis interrupts her and tells her that there was one thing he was wondering: '... do you recognize this?' Doctor Stasis grins as his arm transforms into a blade.

Mother Righteous looks shocked, and goes wide-eyed, before “Doctor Stasis” lunges forward to shoves the blade through Mother Righteous' stomach. 'You made Mystique stab Destiny with it. The woman she loved' “Doctor Stasis” grins as he retracts his blade-arm, dripping in blood. 'That was a mistake' Mystique declares as she reveals herself.

Elsewhere, Charles Xavier sits in a chair which floats within a strange chamber. He is strapped to the chair, a restraint around his chest, and a helmet covers most of his head. When he was led in, he forced a smile. “You can cage my body, but my mind is free” he quotes. He remembers Reed looking embarrassed, and Tony barrelled in, with his thin coating of charm. 'Well, we've got several tons of anti-psychic hardware that say otherwise...' Xavier remembers Tony smiling, and he smiled back. No hard feelings – they're all adults. Everyone does the reasonable thing. None of them being so crass to stage the subtext – they had planned how to cage him if they had to. Xavier knows that they were right to do so, but it makes the pill no less bitter.

Xavier knows that outside the world continues, same as it ever was – as if Krakoa never happened. And there's nothing he can do...unless.

Elsewhere, a young woman with horns wears a t-shirt that says “Krakoa was for lovers” and glances sideways as she walks through a pub, where several men look at her. She leaves the pub and other people on the street turn and look at her, too. Among them is a man with “Mankind” tattooed on his forehead. He seems to have some sort of metal enhancements on the side of his head, too. The woman continues on down the street, she appears happy. The man is following her, and reaches into his jacket – and pulls out a large knife. But suddenly, the man's eyes glaze over. He holds the knife up, but doesn't move. The girl runs from him, and the man turns and walks down an alleyway.

Xavier has possessed the man, and thinks to himself that perhaps he was as suspicious of his friends as they were of him. Perhaps, long ago, he left a simple compulsion in the minds of all the world's greatest geniuses... “If you make a cage for Charles Xavier? You will leave a loophole”.

'No more' Xavier's voice echoes in the man's mind. The man finds himself standing on the edge of a high-rise rooftop. Xavier decides that people always incorrectly paraphrase Machiavelli. 'He said was best to be loved and feared... but if you have to choose, choose being feared. It's more reliable' Xavier reminds himself. The man drops the knife and looks shocked, while Xavier almost smiles. He never had that choice, he only had one option: To be hated and feared in a world he loves that does not love him back. 'We'll make the best of it' Xavier decides.

Second story:

In a grassy field, Raven Darkholme a.k.a. Mystique and her daughter Anna Marie LeBeau a.k.a. Rogue spar with swords. Nearby, on a picnic blanket, Irene Adler a.k.a. Destiny holds a bowl of grapes, while Kurt Wagner a.k.a. Nightcrawler sits near her, hanging his head. Kurt thinks to himself that, as far back as he can remember, he has been called “Nightcrawler”. He remembers being raised in a circus where that was his stage name. But his real name is Kurt Wagner – the name he prefers. The one he rarely hears. Because he is a mutant, because of how he looks. It also has nothing to do with either of his true parents – his mother, Irene Adler, and his other mother, Raven Darkholme. They are also mutants, one sees the future and the other can morph into anyone. Rogue is his adopted sister, more importantly, like him, she is a super hero and a member of the X-Men. 'One would think it's a good thing to discover their true family. For me, anything but' Kurt decides.

Rogue tells Mystique that she enjoys a good sparring session as much as the next mutant, but thinks Mystique has to talk to Kurt. 'It isn't like both Irene and I haven't tried, Rogue' Mystique responds as she raises her swords. 'Try harder, then. He's hurting. Down to the core' Rogue declares. 'You think I don't know that?' Mystique asks. 'Nope, not really. Not in the ways that matter to him' Rogue tells her. Mystique smirks as she transforms into Rogue, who rolls her eyes. 'Gimme a break!' Rogue exclaims, before reminding Mystique that the two of them and Irene have been hiding for so long, keeping things secret is second nature. Rogue adds that even though she is a hero, there is a lot she still keeps to himself. 'Always have – likely always will' Rogue remarks, to which Mystique shifts into Kurt. 'Would you prefer I look like this?' she asks. 'Actually – yeah' Rogue tells her, before pointing out that if Kurt means anything, then Mystique should at least try. 'It isn't that simple' Mystique responds. 'Wanna bet?' Rogue asks her.

Back on the picnic blanket, Kurt reminds Destiny that she had Charles Xavier erase her memories of him. 'How could you do that?' he asks. 'It was for the best' Irene claims. 'Your precognitive powers tell you that?' Kurt asks. 'Actually, yes' Irene confirms. Kurt is visibly upset as he asks his mother if she has any idea how much that hurts. 'It's like you just threw me away' he utters. 'It was to protect you' Irene assures him. 'Our world is challenging. Our future – dangerous' Irene remarks. 'Not to me' Kurt responds, deciding that, actually, it is quite simple, and that families are the core of their being. 'Especially among people like us' Kurt declares. 'If we can't hold on to that, what's the point?' he asks. 'Why bother having children at all?'

'Love' Irene responds, reaching out to Kurt, who pulls away. 'For you and Mystique, perhaps. Not for me' he tells her. Kurt grits his teeth and declares that he doesn't know which betrayal hurts more – Irene's or Charles Xavier's. 'At least your memory was erased. He knew everything. Yet from the moment he recruited me to join the X-Men – he never said a word' Kurt remarks. 'Because he erased his own memories as well' Irene explains. 'Of course he did' Kurt snaps. 'All I knew was how deeply it hurt to be abandoned. Like a knife to my own heart' he tells Irene, asking her if she did not see that in any future, before pointing out that now, here they are, together at last – a happy family. 'The future, my son -' Irene begins. '- is complicated? That's too easy' Kurt interrupts her.

Kurt and Irene hold hands as Kurt tells his mother that Logan – Wolverine – is his best friend, that he trusts him with his life and very soul, and that he trusts Rogue. 'But not us?' Irene asks. Kurt pauses, and closing his eyes, tells her that he doesn't – as trust is earned. 'You and Raven have a long way to go' he remarks. 'We all do' he decides as he teleports away, grabs Rogue, teleports her next to Irene and tells her 'My turn' before teleporting away as Rogue turns to Irene. 'About time, big bro!' she calls out to Kurt. Irene asks Rogue what is happening, and Rogue tells her that the main event is here. 'Now we're finally gonna see some fun!' she exclaims.

Kurt returns to Mystique, and picks up Rogue's swords. 'And now, “Papa,” it's my turn' Kurt grins. Mystique asks her son if he has been looking forward to this. 'You have no idea' Kurt responds. Using his tail to control a third sword, Kurt asks Mystique why she never tried to find him. 'What makes you think we didn't?' Mystique responds, before reminding Kurt that he was in the hands of a sorceress, that they could have searched forever, but that Margali Szardos would have kept him hidden. 'What about when we first met? Didn't that at least make you curious?' Kurt enquires. 'Not at first' Mystique responds as she shifts her form to resemble Kurt's. She explains that, apparently, Charles added “safeguards” to the memory cloak he imposed on her and Irene, and it took them time to realize the truth.

'I feel like I should hate him for doing what you asked' Kurt remarks as his swords clang against Mystique's swords. 'What's the point?' Mystique replies. They both leap about with ease as they spar, and Mystique tells Kurt to look at the life he has led, compared with the one they have led. 'Who's had more fun?' she asks. 'Who's helped save the world, if not creation itself, more than once?' But Kurt counters that argument by asking 'What parents ask to be rid of the memory of their own child? You erased me like I never was born. Didn't you care?' he asks. 'More than you'll ever know' Mystique responds, before noting that she can't change the past.

'They're really having fun' Rogue tells Irene. 'You sound very sure of that' Irene replies. 'Been there, done that myself – with both of you, remember? More 'n once' Rogue reminds Irene, while Mystique knocks one of the swords out of Kurt's hands and tells him to hate if he wishes, that is his privilege, but to her, it is a waste of time. Rogue explains to Irene that when she felt betrayed, like every kid will, for the dumbest of reasons, she wanted to slam them both, but each time, she got better, because she learned her lesson – that her parents – the two of them – loved her. 'My son, in the face of the darkest adversity, you always find a way to laugh. And make others laugh with you' Mystique remarks as she knocks another of Kurt's swords away.

'Now it's Kurt's turn. Only my big bro's doing a lifetime's worth all at once' Rogue remarks as Mystique reverts to her default form and knocks the final sword away. Mystique puts one of her swords to Kurt's throat and asks him if he thinks the hole in his heart, the loss he feels, the rage, is any different from what his mother and she felt, what they still feel?' Rogue looks over to Mystique and Kurt and asks them what gives, and if everything is okay. 'They look serious' she tells Irene, to which Irene remarks that, for them, it was always serious. Mystique tells Kurt that if his rage runs so deep, that nothing else will satisfy, then he should end her now. 'I won't resist' Mystique utters. Irene is concerned, and tells Rogue that she cannot see how this will end. 'Raven! Kurt! No, please – don't! Their futures are clouded!' Irene gasps.

Mystique and Kurt continue to look at each other, before they both smile at each other. 'Too easy' Kurt tells Mystique. The thing is, he was tempted – and Mystique knew it. Shortly, the four are sitting on the picnic blanket, a fire burning next to them. Kurt decides that everything Raven told him made sense – yet all he could think of, even at the end, was the horrible reality of being abandoned. The worse terror that it might happen again. The family appear to be laughing together, while Kurt thinks to himself that, even on this best of nights, as they tell stories of their past and speak their dreams for what might lie ahead, as they all give voice to their collective hopes for “happy-ever-after”.

'That would be something – to start again with the way things were when Irene and I first met – and re-establish my life as a “consulting detective”' Mystique smiles. 'With me and Kurt as the next generation. That would be so cool!' Rogue exclaims. 'Some other time...perhaps' Mystique decides, looking over at Irene.

Rogue and Kurt eventually fall asleep and Mystique kisses Kurt's forehead. 'They'll never forgive us for leaving them' Mystique tells Destiny, adding that she will never forgive herself. 'All things are possible, Raven' Destiny responds. 'That's not encouraging' Mystique tells her wife. Destiny stands up and remarks that fate isn't fair – and that too much is at stake. 'Like it or not, we all have our separate paths to follow' Irene states. Mystique looks at her and tells her that she hates it when she is enigmatic. 'You loved it when we first met. You called it the ultimate detective's challenge' Irene recalls. 'Don't push your luck' Mystique snaps, reminding Irene that that was a long time ago, and right now, she feels like her heart is being ripped out – again. 'No less than mine. With one difference. For you, beloved, your heart, for me, my soul'. As Destiny and Mystique start to walk away, Destiny adds that she knows both children will forgive Mystique – but they will not forgive her.

Kurt opens his eyes, and a tear falls down the side of his face. It is a fear that will never leave him – but heroes don't yield to fear. Mysteries, especially in his family, are meant to be solved. He decides that it doesn't matter if his mother can read the future, they will always be family – but trust and love? They must be earned.

Third story:

In an unmarked cell in a building with no street address, sits a prisoner who only wants to be forgotten. His name is Professor Charles Xavier, and he is restrained in a chair that hovers in the middle of the strange room. He knows that they have thought of everything, a perfect cell, the perfect containment, a place for him to be alone with his thoughts, a cage – but his thoughts cannot be caged. He realizes he will never say “To me, my X-Men” ever again, because they are not his X-Men, and it is he who must go to them. Xavier's astral form breaks through the psychic restraints and sets about on a journey.

Merle, Alaska, where Dr. Henry McCoy a.k.a. the Beast asks 'This is your great coup, Scott? Oh my stars and garters!' Wearing a new costume, Scott Summers a.k.a. Cyclops looks up at the partly-destroyed Orchis facility and tells the Beast that it is what they have. 'And are you really telling me that you're not itching it to make something of all this?' he asks. The Beast concedes that it may have good bones, before asking 'So, you and I and...?' his voice trails off as Cyclops smiles and reports that he has some ideas. 'To me, my X-Men!' Cyclops exclaims, while the astral projection of Charles Xavier smiles, then disappears.

Xavier's astral form sees that the X-Men are scattered and broken, but he knows that wherever they are, they will survive. The astral projection arrives in Mexico City, Mexico, where the LeBeaus, Remy a.k.a. Gambit and Anna-Marie a.k.a. Rogue are sitting at some outdoor tables, several empty beer bottles before them as Remy asks Rogue to call it a second honeymoon. 'I'm serious, Dark Eyes. Don't you feel, I don't know, scattered? Like we should be doing something?' Rogue asks, arms folded. 'Second honeymoon, Chere. Deadpool ruined the first one, and now you wanna reboot the X-Men on our second one?' Remy asks as he swigs some more beer. Rogue smiles as she tells her husband that she isn't talking about anything like that, but it just feels like they need to do something. 'But a team? You're about all I can deal with right now'. Rogue leans in to kiss Gambit, 'To me, my X-Man' Rogue jokes.

Xavier frowns and decides that the world he has left the X-Men is unkind and becoming unkinder still. 'But at least they have each other' Xavier decides, before realizing that not all are so lucky, as his astral form arrives in Chicago, Illinois, where Kate Pryde is wishing for a real life, and is currently pouring drinks behind a bar. 'Kate – thirteen across. “Man of Steel” what does that sound like to you?' a woman who wears a similar apron to Kate's asks as she sits at the bar, crossword in hand. Kate stirs a drink and pours some of it into another glass. 'To me? My ex' Kate smiles. Xavier's astral form watches Kate, notes that she is without blue, without gold, and that he envies her the most. 'Men' the other woman mutters. 'Tell me about it, Kate smiles. Xavier's astral form vanishes, deciding that he doesn't envy Kate for the freedom to walk away, but for her strength.

Xavier begins to observe more of the mutants who have scattered since the fall of Krakoa. Wolverine, a wounded animal, rages far from either human or mutant, running with the wolves in the Canadian Northwest Territories. Kamala Khan however surrounds herself with both in New York City. In Malibu, California, Havok doubts his place in the world as he slumps against a wall where a poster advertising X-FACTOR, and a photo of Angel can be seen. In Northern Montana, Forge looks in agony as he is made terribly aware of his place in the world. And, at the Headquarters of the United Nations, Storm, in Xavier's view the best of mutantkind, enters the world stage, standing at a podium. At the same time, Dazzler returns to an entirely different stage, performing at a concert.

On the edge of Shi'ar space: 'And so I must wonder... have I made the right choice? Will my people survive, thrive, excel in spite of my great sin?' Xavier asks as his astral form floats behind Jean Grey a.k.a. Phoenix, who hovers in space, brilliant energy glowing behind her. 'You're asking me?' Phoenix responds. 'You're the only one I can ask, Jean' Xavier responds. Jean's eyes are glazed over as she tells him 'I am life, Charles. I am fire. I am the Phoenix. I am not a priest. I have no absolution to offer you'. Xavier realizes that Jean is in front of a white dwarf star and asks her if she is bringing it back to life. 'Without it, this entire system will die' Jean responds. 'You are saving lives?' Xavier asks. 'Millions of them, Charles' Jean declares.

The star suddenly shines bright, and Xavier has his answers. 'They will mourn, perhaps. Some will miss me. I wish I could spare them that pain. Goodbye, my homeland. Goodbye, my dream. Goodbye, my children' Xavier thinks to himself as his astral form tumbles back through space, and into his body within the mysterious prison. 'It is time for restitution'.

'What the hell just happened?' a soldier asks as several soldiers and other personnel are in a control room, where all of the screens go blank. 'No idea. Xavier just... he just keeled over!' one of the personnel announces, reporting that they are getting nothing on his vitals. 'Open the door!' one of the soldiers exclaims. 'Are you insane? Do you have any idea who that is?' a woman responds. 'Open the damn door' the soldier tells her. The door slides open and two soldiers enter, where one checks Xavier's vitals and announces that they are not getting a pulse. 'Get a medic in here!' he exclaims. 'He's lost everything. Maybe this is what he wanted' another soldier remarks.

Two days later, in Atlanta, Georgia, on the top floor of a very tall building, several people in black suits sit around a boardroom table. A large man addresses someone as Doctor Ellis, and tells them that no one in here is questioning their credentials, but that the monetary assets they have gathered for this operation is in the ten-figure range. 'Do you understand this?' the large man asks. A woman sitting at the table notes that there are authorities higher than them who will be watching what happens here, and that to hand over their project to “Dr. Ellis”... 'I mean, she's a glorified podcaster!' the woman exclaims.

A woman wearing white pants and a matching white blazer turns and responds 'If you could accomplish this without me, I'm certain you would, honored lady. You can't. You don't have the knowledge. You don't have the will'. She gazes out the window and remarks that the key is that “school” and declares that the very idea of it has to be obliterated – it has to become something feared. 'It has to haunt the dreams of every mutant on Earth. And you need me to make the happen' she scowls. 'Because frankly, I don't think any of you have the stomach for it'.

Elsewhere, a vehicle with “Graymalkin Prison” printed on it drives down a road, and inside, a soldier remarks 'Seems kinda cruel, transferring this vegetable to a new facility like this'. The person being transported is Charles Xavier, restrained and with a oxygen mask over his face. 'Well, I mean they built this special cage thing just for him, right? He could wake up, yeah?' the soldier asks. 'Trust me. I used to work the coma wing at Mount Sinai. And that guy? He ain't never waking up' the other soldier declares – and just like that, Charles Xavier opens his eyes.