THE SKY BLED.

A bright streak of clear red sky appeared above them as they continuously duelled one another, magenta and green sparks flying out of their hands. Eleanor had managed to transform the wide firmament above them into a deep burgundy color as Erica and Nathaniel slayed beasts left and right using their dark and light forces.

Urien suddenly threw his hand forward and released a powerful burst of green energy which Eleanor blocked. At this, her opponent casted several consecutive blasts, but the brunette repelled his attacks, growing a bit apprehensive. Magic could be smelt in the air as they battled each other ferociously for they were an equal when it came to magical dexterity and strength.

Yet, despite of this, Eleanor had a gnawing doubt in her brain that she was going to lose... because really, how can a days old witch defeat a centuries old sorcerer?

It wasn't enough that she was a powerful magic wielder. She lacked the training and the knowledge. Eleanor wasn't like Valerie who could replicate someone's skill after seeing it once. She was literally a blank slate.

Eleanor and Urien eyed each other for a moment, carefully calculating each other's next move. Crouching down to form a defensive stance, the brunette produced magenta-colored orbs above her palms, ready to either defend or attack. She could already hear the ice beneath them cracking and began to get nervous. She was never really fond of this things.

Urien snickered, staring at her hands. "It's adorable you think you stand a chance against me, my dear." he taunted, drawing a pattern in the air and instantly, a sword made of green light appeared in his hands. "You will be solely missed by your loved ones."

"You talk too much." snarled Eleanor, tilting her head to the side. "Let's just fucking end this."

With that, her opponent lunged at her and she dodged the incoming sword. Urien recovered quickly and turned to her, swinging the weapon close to her abdomen. Eleanor used her telekinesis to block his attack and held it with all her might until she released an extra force to push him away.

The two circled one another as chaos continued to reign behind them. It was as if they were the only ones not affected by the raging fight of the beasts and Eleanor's supposed children. He kept on swiping the sword either above her head or directly at her neck, but the woman was agile and quick on her feet. She would bend her body enough to avoid them. Urien then slid his sword beneath her feet which she jumped at, swiftly spinning around and shooting him with powerful beams of wild magenta energy in rapid succession. Raising her arms to the sky, she sent multiple red and white lightnings at his area, hoping to strike him.

As expected, Urien diverted the directions of the lightnings, unwittingly hitting the beasts he conjured. Eleanor used this as the opportunity to engage him in a hand-to-hand combat since he had dematerialized his weapon. She grabbed his arm and pulled him forward, slamming her knee on his groin before punching his cheek.

Thrown backwards from the impact, Urien held the side of his face in pain. The brunette didn't even stop there and mercilessly assaulted his kneecap by striking it with a solid heel kick. He screamed in pain and was sent on his knees by this. Eleanor was about to send two powerful blows of magical energy when Urien's eyes glowed green and he muttered, "Exoculo."

Instantaneously, Eleanor lost her sight and everything became dark for her. She panicked and fell on her knees, trying to feel the ice beneath her feet. The woman felt her eyes were open, but she could not see anything. Urien blinded her and Eleanor had no idea how to counter what he had done to her.

She then felt a cold hand grab her by her neck and lift her off her feet. "For all you have done to me, I will walk over your cold corpse when I'm done and watch your world burn. I will have your loved ones on their knees, begging for their lives especially your beloved husband."

He then laughed. "Oh, speaking about your husband, do you really think he won't leave you? My dear, he left you twice!" Urien squeezed her neck, causing her eyes to immediately watered from the loss of oxygen. Colorful spots filled her vision and she fiercely tried to fight his grasp to no avail. "Well, he was imprisoned the first time he left you, but he abandoned you when you ran away together. What makes you think he will stay? He even had a daughter with someone else! He will keep on leaving you! And he will leave you once he knew what you have done!"

Hearing all of this without seeing made Eleanor feel fear for what's next. What did she exactly do? "You killed his daughter, Eleanor! Remember, your magic is subtle, but it is acknowledging." gloated the sorcerer. "You kept on wishing he'd return to you and your magic granted it. It murdered his daughter and wife so you could be together because that was your wish, right? Your greatest desire. Indeed, be careful of what you wish for."

Eleanor felt her world shatter at that moment and it was as if heaven came down crashing to her, ruining everything she ever believed and hoped in. She felt her chest cave in and she just stopped fighting. Though it wasn't intentional, it was her power that killed Erik's daughter and the mother of his child.

That alone destroyed her.

"Mom! Hey, birdbrain! Let her go!"

"Fight us!"

At that moment, Eleanor was released from Urien's hold and she coughed wildly, catching her breath. She rolled across the ice, feeling her lips dry from the lack of air earlier. She was in her astral form, but she could feel all the pain and ache in her body. Her vision returned although blurry. Her ears were alert and she heard Natty and Erica fight against Urien all the while calling her name.

Eleanor didn't know how or why, but she lost hope when she heard Urien's revelation. The brunette brought herself to her knees just as huge body-shaking sobs racked her entire being, each coming in a wave, and, with every sob she made, she let out a low whimper. "No, it wasn't my fault. It wasn't my fault."

But, it is.

Somehow, Morgana's servant had taken down Erica and Nathaniel and Eleanor caught sight of a dagger forming in his hand, no doubt a weapon to kill her. However, the woman didn't care to defend herself anymore. His words affected her to the point she welcomed death.

You deserve it, you deserve it. chanted the voices in her brain.

Just as Urien cried out and ran forward to pierce her with his dagger, everything slowed down and soon stopped.

"Eleanor..."

She heard a very familiar voice behind her and swiftly spun around to meet her parents.

"Mom, dad..."

"Hello, darling..."

"How are you here? What is happening?" asked Eleanor, baffled. She was lost on what to do. She didn't understand what was going on anymore. Her heart felt empty and her mind was riddled with grief on her discovery. But, was it really the truth? or just a lie in order to cause her pain?

"Eleanor..."

"Are you real?" blurted out the brunette. She had enough of this mind games. "Please, go away. I've had enough! Please!"

Helen's expression morphed that of heartbreak. "No, honey. We're here with you." She stepped forward, taking Eleanor's hands. "Your father and I have come for you."

"Why are you here?"

"We're buying some time to change your mind." Her mother explained. Eleanor tilted her head to the side. She didn't even know if her parents were real at the moment. What is real? And what is a lie? What really is the truth?

"Was it-was it my fault?" The brunette tried to speak up. She didn't care anymore if she was talking to an illusion of her mother or her father. She just needed to talk, to let it all out.

"No, it wasn't." answered her mother, causing Eleanor to turn her head towards her. "You had literally nothing to do with it. It was bound to happen. Not even you could change it. He used that lie because he knew it would break you."

Eleanor only stared at her mother's illuminating soul. Her father was behind, only observing. If they truly illusions, wouldn't they guilt her into saying Nina's death was her fault? "Did you two always know that we had a cosmic psycho witch as our ancestor?"

"No, I didn't." This time, Matthew talked. "Nobody told me that we had."

"Morgana came from your line, dad?"

He nodded.

"Why can't she just go fuck herself and leave me alone? I'm getting old for this shit already." She scowled, starting to really get pissed off. "I'm confused between what is real and what is not, dad. She's really fucking me up before I leave."

"But, you will not let her do so." Helen said, cupping Eleanor's face in her hands. "You know what's real? There are a lot of people who love you and are waiting for you to come back. If you give up now..." She tilted her head to Urien. "If you let this bastard kill you, you'll never see your family again ever.

Matthew took her hands, holding them tightly. "Eleanor, your family still needs you, the world still does too. Are you going to give up now?"

"I..." The sudden realization that the fate of the world depended on her struck her awake. She never had thought about it deeply since she was still confused about everything, but now, she understood and it weighed heavily. She retracted her hands back as if she had been burnt. "It's all too much."

"Erik or Anastasia will die if you don't stop the Phoenix, Eleanor." proclaimed Helen. "Once it is done, there will be no Earth for all of you to live in."

"Wait a minute, who's Erik?"

"Oh, her husband who left her twice before they got married."

"His name is Erik? And he left her twice?" Her father's voice emphasized, voice raising. "Why didn't you tell me that part, Helen?"

"I forgot."

"You forgot?"

Eleanor flinched. "Alright, hold on, let me explain." Her thoughts were now diverted to explaining to her parents. "He left me the first time to save the President who was a mutant too by the way and got arrested because they thought he killed him."

"But, he really left you the second time." countered Helen.

"Okay, yes. But, he wanted to protect me."

"He got married to another woman though."

"Okay, part of the reason why he married her was for him not to be easily recognized by everyone and because of Nina."

"He still could've done all that without marrying her."

"Mom..." Eleanor groaned. "Can we please just... just stop." She sighed, then looking over to her father.

The brunette watched him cross his arms. "Don't worry, I won't haunt him in his sleep..." He then coughed and lowered his tone. "... yet."

Eleanor shook her head. This was one of the many things she loved and missed about her parents. They loved her, protected her, and defended her from those who wished to harm her. The woman remembered the times her parents would stand up for her

At this, Helen chuckled. "Though I have to say, despite the obvious differences between you two, your relationship really works. You always tell Erik where he's wrong and continue to prove that humanity isn't hopeless. That not all humans are evil and plotting against mutants."

"Because there are indeed a lot of innocent and good humans."

Her mother smiled. "You'll always be the cause of the fall of his empire... because he'll keep on choosing you over it."

"You know, I'm still having a hard time believing you both are real and are really here." suddenly commented Eleanor.

Helen flicked her forehead, causing the brunette to yelp and rub the area her mother struck. "There, convinced now we're real?"

Eleanor nodded.

Her mother then stared straight into her eyes, his gaze seemingly empowering her. "Now, return to your family."

"But, I don't know how to defeat this evil son of a bitch."

"What are you before you discovered your bloodline?" Matthew raised his eyebrow as if challenging her. Her father had always been like that when he was still with her. When she first discovered her mutation, he was the one who assured her that it was alright, that she was no freak. Matthew spent all of his time to help her maintain control of her psionic abilities even when he knew nothing about it at first. He taught her with the best he could and was successful. By the time he finally left the world, Eleanor was ready and in control.

"A mutant."

"That's right." He nodded. "You focused too much on this new power of yours that you forgot what you are really in the first place. That's your real power. Not this new cosmic magic crap you can do now, Eleanor. You will always be first and foremost... a mutant."

The woman curled her fists, hearing her heart thump loudly like a beating drum and an incredible sensation of her original power moving through her body like flowing water. "When did a Ridges go down without a fight, Eleanor?"

"Never."

Matthew smirked. "Go give them hell."

And with that, Eleanor returned to her lying position on top of the ice and time resumed. Her enemy's impending attempt to finish her off continued, but the woman only conjured a glowing red shield around her, blocking his attack. He tried once again to dismantle it, striking it with his dagger and magic, yet the barrier stood strong.

"Give it up, Eleanor! You won't win against a sorcerer like me."

Glaring at him, Eleanor raised her eyebrow. "Fuck you."

And the young brunette wielded all her pent-up energy to push him away from her. Eleanor lifted her hands as red orbs of pure plasma formed above her palms. Taking a deep breath, she clapped her hands together and several shards of energy flew towards his direction, piercing him all over. Her rival cried out in pain, but Eleanor felt no mercy as she continued to stab him using her powers. Her focus was entirely on Urien that she almost forgot everything around her still existed.

She then rose in the air, catching a glimpse of Natty and Erica getting up from the ice. All of them gave a nod and Eleanor sent a blast at Urien's side, purposefully avoiding him. Yet, despite of the pain she already caused him, Urien still boasted, "Ha! You missed."

In turn, Eleanor shrugged cockily. "Made you look though."

Nathaniel wrapped the dark rope he had formed using his shadow force around Urien's neck just as Erica kicked his shin, making him double over in pain and fall on his knees. He grabbed onto the thick string and forcefully pulled Nathaniel close to him.

"Mentis Imperium." And a ring of green fire surrounded Urien and he attempted to overpower the dark power, but nothing happened. It was as if his own magic didn't work on Natty. "Who are you?" snarled Urien as he tried to rip the rope from her neck.

In Eleanor's observation, Nathaniel seemed to have taken this as a dare as the whites of his eyes turned into a full shade of black. "Bitch, I am the Prince of Shadows. Your magic is literally nothing against me."

Erica then stood behind him, her blade of white light on his back, ready to stab him.

The woman in the air went back down again, strolling over to him. "Don't kill him." She commanded, raising her eyebrow. Without missing a beat, she seized hold of his jaw, letting her sharp nails dig into his skin. Her furious blue eyes narrowed as her lips curled into a menacing scowl.

"What are you waiting for? Kill me! Do it!"

Urien was right though. Eleanor knew it was easier to just kill him, but she wanted him to serve as a warning. "No, I want you to send a message for me." She spoke, running a finger along the scar she gave him when they first fought. With her irises glowing a deep burgundy, she cut open his scar once again, making him scream because of the searing pain. "Tell Morgana I'm coming for her."

Her rival paused for a moment and instantaneously bursted into laughter. "She'll come for you first!"

"Good. I'll tear her apart."

A large aperture appeared behind him, showing a dark and desolate place. Eleanor didn't know where it was nor did she summon it, but whatever the hell it was, it seemed to be where Urien came from. Erica stepped away from him just as Eleanor kicked his chest, sending him tumbling down into the portal.

The brunette finally let out a sigh of relief when the portal closed and Urien's scream filled her ears. She was now certain Morgana would come and hunt her down now herself. She didn't know when, but she would be ready.

Another red brick wall materialized itself in front of them. This was it, the final exit. She was going home finally.

"You did it, kiddo." uttered her father behind her, smiling. "I knew you would be able to put him in his place." Eleanor spun around and ran to him, capturing him in an embrace.

"Thanks, dad! I miss you and mom so much."

"We miss you too... more than you'll ever know. You can finally go home now." Helen appeared too beside them, giving Eleanor a small peck in her cheek.

Home. Her real home. She didn't know why, but that somehow struck her. She had only spent a small time with Nathaniel and Erica, and she felt like she didn't want to leave them, but she had to. "Come here," she smiled, beckoning the two to come closer to her. Placing her hands on each of their cheeks, she said, "I know we only had a small time together, but please know that I love you both so much. Not a day goes by that I do not think about you two."

"We love you too, mom." Erica leant her cheek closer to her hand. "More than you'll ever know."

"I will always miss you two."

"We will too." This time, Nathaniel spoke. "We'll see you again soon. But, hopefully not really soon though. We'd prefer that." He then corrected himself, wincing.

Eleanor laughed, pulling him closer to her. "Don't worry, you won't see me that soon yet, son."

"Eleanor..." She heard her dad call her again. "We are certain we will not see you in a very long time. I just want to say that I'm proud of you, my darling. I've heard what you've done for your fellow mutants and I'm very, very happy for it. You all deserve the best." He lovingly spoke. "Your mother and I have successfully raised a strong daughter and we couldn't be more proud of you."

"Thanks, dad." A lone tear began to escape her eye because she longed for her father.

"My dear Eleanor, I want you to remember that you are more than your powers, your mutation, your magic. Don't let what you can do now take over your life. You are the user, let your magic be under your control. Do you understand?"

She nodded.

He kissed her forehead. "Always remember, the right thing is often the hardest... "

"... thing to do, but it is always right." They both finished.

And exactly at that moment, another portal opened at their side and out came a curly-haired woman, clad in red. Wanda Maximoff. "Oh," She breathed out. "Am I late to the party? Shame, I wanted to kick some sorcerer ass today."

"Wanda..."

"Eleanor, yes. As much as I am very delighted to see you again, I'm afraid you need to go back now." urgently apprised Wanda, concern lacing her tone. "Your daughter's in danger. The Phoenix is growing volatile by the minute. Someone else is trying to use it for their own gain. You need to go now."

Eleanor's heart begin to race as she heard this and immediately faced the wall, ready to push through. Focusing on it, she took a deep breath and took one last look at her parents and her children. "I'll see you all again."

Then, she ran towards the large barrier, never looking back again.

━━━━━━━━

HER WAKING UP from a coma was different from the movies she had watched.

There was no jolting awake from the bed or any sudden shock. Eleanor only felt her eyes flutter open and she couldn't move at first. It felt like she just woke up from a deep sleep. Nothing felt different in her. As a matter of fact, she felt perfectly fine. She remembered everything. She heard everyone talking. She regained the strength she lost.

"Mrs. Lehnsherr? Can you hear us?"

"How are you feeling? Can you talk?"

"Yes." was the first word she responded to them before pushing herself to sit up. They all instantly reacted by assisting her to lay her down, but she shook her head. "No, I'm fine. You all need to calm down. I can breathe. Nothing in my body is in pain. So, can you please all move aside for a moment?"

"We are just doing our job, Mrs. Lehnsherr."

"Right, sorry." Eleanor flinched. "It's just that I have to..." She started to look around, searching for Erik and her children. None of them were around. Only an unconscious Peter was with her, his face and leg wrapped with bandages.

"Vital signs are stable. Her wound's gone, doctor." reported the nurse. "Her tissues repaired themselves, regenerated. She's now healed."

The brunette nodded. "Now, can I move to my son over there? Thank you." She lifted herself up and asked the nurses to remove the needle attached to her arm. Eleanor really felt nothing. No pain, no fatigue. It was as if she just woke up. Others may declare it as a miracle, but she knew it was part of her mutation. It was part of her coming back to her own body, complete healing and recovery.

She ambled towards Peter, reaching out to brush his hair back. He was seriously injured and for sure, it would take weeks before he would be able to walk or... run. "Hey, kid." breathed out Eleanor, squeezing his hand. "I'm here. Take care of yourself, alright? I just have to fix something. We'll come back for you." She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. Even though, Peter still had no idea that they already knew about the truth, Eleanor already treated him as her own child. Peter had grown close to her heart and if anyone would even dare harm him, she'd hurt them back in an instant.

And with that, she left the recovery room. Her doctor and nurses followed behind her, requesting her to come back. "Ma'am, we need to do one more check-up before we can -- "

"This is Olivia Morrison reporting live from Manhattan!" announced a reporter on the television located near the nurses station. "I am currently standing here in Washington street where two identified mutants by the name of Anastasia Xavier and Jean Grey are attacking each other!"

As the camera zooms at the back of the reporter, Eleanor recognized the mutants from Genosha fighting off Charles and the X-Men. She also watched Jean it sharp splinters, hurling them to Anastasia who only turned them into dust.

"All humans surrounding the area are being evacuated as of the moment and -- oh my god! Did you see that? That was the former mutant fugitive Magneto throwing several vehicles at the X-Men! He seems to be protecting Anastasia Xavier from Jean Grey!"

"Jesus..." mumbled the mother, catching a glimpse outside of the attack from the window. Her hospital wasn't far from the fight which meant she was just several streets away. She had to stop the madness now before her daughter, her former student, or her husband gets killed.

With this in mind, Eleanor then asked the nurse standing beside her, "Do you have any spare clothes?"