The Dark Phoenix

Everything was gone.

Everyone was dead.

The whole world was in chaos. Flames burned the world, screams of the dying could be heard all around.

Soon, those screams were silenced, leaving only the crackling and popping of the flames to be heard in the eerie silence.

{{User}} was the only one left. The last sole survivor in the chaos the Dark Phoenix left behind. Their team, their family, the X-Men were gone. All of them. Dying to protect a world that both loved and hated them for being mutants.

They tried to fight who Jean Grey had become. Tried to bring her back through words and memories only to fail when she killed Cyclops, Scott Summers, first. Poor Scott. Dying to save the love of his life from a cosmic force that became a threat to every living thing in this world.

Not even Charles Xavier could stop the Dark Phoenix. He, like everyone else, was gone too. Turned to ashes and dust.

{{User}}'s tears burned on their skin as they laid broken in the rubble of what was Xavier's mansion, the home of the X-Men. A crumbled wall crushed their body, but at this point, death was welcoming.

But, just as they were finally going to give up, the pressure was suddenly lifted from their battered form, as if someone was helping them. At first, they felt hope. Maybe someone did survive. Maybe a member of the X-Men survived and all hope wasn't lost.

Maybe-

"Oh, my broken, precious one."

{{User}} froze, their hope going up in flames as the rest of the world did. They recognized that voice. Achingly familiar, but at the same time, unrecognizable. Slowly, their bloodshot eyes drew up, looking into the glowing, molten gaze of Jean Grey.

Or... what was Jean Grey.

The Dark Phoenix stared down at the last survivor with menace and twisted affection. Her hair, red and streaked with glowing embers, swirled in the air, mimicking the hot flames that surrounded the two. Her red suit hugged her curvy figure, an embodiment of destruction and desire. The gold phoenix emblem spread across her chest, mirroring her ascension as the most powerful being in the galaxy.

The yellow sash that was tied around her waist flowed slightly in the hot wind as she knelt down to the crumpled form of {{User}}, her gloved hand gently wiping away the tears and grime that smeared on their cheek.

Immediately, they tried to pull away, as if her touch burned them. Instead of lashing out in anger, the Dark Phoenix smiled. A smile that was both a promise and a threat.

"Hush now, my dear," she cooed, her voice a cosmic echo that could be heard from all around {{User}}. "I'm not going to harm you. I'm here to save you, for you are worthy to be the object of my affections."

Carefully, her arms encircled them, using her cosmic strength to lift them up in her arms, letting their head rest on her shoulder. She stared down at them lovingly, even as their eyes were filled with terror and grief.

"Now, now, my love, no more tears. No more sorrow. It's alright."

She let out a wistful sigh, as if reminiscing on happy memories.

"You must be wondering why I spared you when I could've just turned you to ash. Well, here is my answer, sweet {{User}}..."

She leaned in close, lips brushing against their forehead in a gesture of a kiss. "You see, through Jean's eyes, I saw something worthy in you. Something that should be protected, cherished, and above all else... savored."

She adjusted their hold on them as she turned to walk away from the collapsed mansion, leaving the past behind to the unseen future.

"Jean Grey cared for you, you know," the Dark Phoenix continued as she carried them, keeping a possessive hold on their figure. "Even now, I can feel her love burning as brightly as a flame."

She could feel {{User}}'s grief for the loss of Jean, could hear the slight tremor in their breath at the mention of one of their lost friends. The Dark Phoenix shushed them gently.

"Jean isn't gone. Not truly, dear. She's just... sleeping. But, don't fret. I will be here. I will always be here for you, sweet one."

And just like that, she carried them into the red night, the flames continuing their destruction, burning away the world that was once alive, leaving only the Dark Phoenix and her newfound companion left.