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Where Your Children Are
Charles Xavier is at Hank McCoy’s place. Xavier looks at the mess that Hank is living in and says he has gone into hiding all the way. They are playing chess and Xavier tells Hank that his gift is telepathy. He says Hank’s powers are a gift. Hank is still upset over Ruben dying practically by his hands. Xavier says Ruben died because of his hate, and that people will keep on hating until they are shown a different way. Xavier wants Hank to join his school and makes a bet with him. If Hank wins the next game of chess he can do what he wants, but if Xavier wins he joins the school. Hank looks at Xavier and says “Telepathy huh? You go first.”
At the hidden F.B.I. facility, Arthur’s arms and legs are locked into the transformation machine. Metzger and Agent Cain are observing from an observation booth. Metzger says this is humanity’s greatest triumph. Cain tells Metzger that they got the tracking system working long enough to find one more test mutant to go with the one Chad has told them about. Metzger asks where it is. “Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.” Cain says.
At Xavier’s school, Warren is watching birds from his window. Hank is in the kitchen making breakfast when Bobby walks in. Bobby thanks Hank for protecting him at school. Hank says it was no problem and asks if Bobby wants some breakfast. Scott is in the library picking out the book “Beyond Good and Evil” by Nietzsche when Xavier mind-calls all the students to the lecture hall.
Once they have all arrived Xavier tells them that the lives they used to have are over. The world wants them dead and they are there to train their powers to defend themselves. Warren asks if they are at war. Hank asks if they are going to be able to educate people about mutants. Bobby asks if there are going to be girls in the school. Scott says people will see the school as militant. Xavier bows his head with a small smile as the students begin converse on the subjects.
Metzger is on another TV show. He is denying rumors of him being involved with federal agencies and saying that he may be thinking about a run as president.
Xavier sits at a table alone in a tavern. Magneto walks up to him. Xavier asks if they are going to fight right now. Magneto sits down and Xavier asks why he is there. Magneto says he is getting to know his enemy.
At the Grey residence, Jean is sleeping when vans pull up and soldiers break in to her house. She wakes up and goes to see what is happening. The soldiers crash into her room before she reaches the door.
Xavier asks Magneto when he is going to give his speech. Magneto says he will state the obvious, “Alliance or death.” Xavier tells him to imagine the agony of a knife being thrust into his brain and then tells Magneto to threaten him again. Magneto says the world is changing and that the humans are rising against them.
At the same time Starkey is in a night club when he is approached by Chad. Starkey says he is ready to kill some muties and asks Chad to help him up. Chad does nothing.
Magneto is losing his patience and says Xavier needs to claim his destiny and join him. Xavier tells Magneto he is going to have to accept that they are nothing alike.
Starkey says he can feel the hate off of Chad. Suddenly soldier grabs Starkey. Starkey yells at Chad “You sold me out man!”
Magneto announces the lines have been drawn. Xavier replies he knows what is coming and he will be prepared for it. Magneto warns him Xavier is not the only one who has been preparing and that there will be three parties in this war. Magneto tells Xavier “Mutants die just like the peasants do, Charles… …When your time comes, remember that,” as he leaves Xavier to sit alone.
On Who Wants to be Omnipotent, the game show host asks what William Metzger says to do if a mutant lives beside you. The contestant answers C. kill them.
The next morning, Xavier’s students are in a metal gymnasium wearing their new uniforms. Xavier tells them this is where they will train and that they will be in real danger. Xavier goes to the control room and tells Hank to jump and snatch a wire that is above the room. He does so easily. Next Xavier tells Scott to get ready to use his optic blasts.
Ball-like projectiles shoot at them from out of the walls.  Warren flies up out of the way asking where the danger is. His wing hits Hank and knocks him off the wire. Bobby cushions his fall by making a pile of snow under Hank. Xavier yells at all of them to get it together and tells Scott to shoot. He does and strafes Warren’s wing. Hank catches Warren and yells at Xavier to stop the program. Scott reiterates the command to shut it down. Xavier does so and then he hears the security alarm.
When Xavier goes to see who is in the mansion he finds Agent Duncan bursting in. Duncan says that he saw a mission report he wasn’t supposed to and tells Xavier something has happened to Jean Grey.
The students are still in the gym. Hank says they need to practice more and work as a team. Warren tells him to spare him to football talk. Scott says Hank is right. Scott starts to tell them how he has never had anybody when Xavier mind-calls them to his office.
Xavier tells them he is leaving. Warren says the he is not going to go save the world without them. Scott tells Warren to calm down and tells the professor that they want to help. Xavier explains that they can’t. It’s personal and they are too inexperienced. Warren retorts it is personal to all of them. Xavier points out he is the teacher and they are the students and that are to do what he says, and then he leaves.
Jean wakes up in a dark room. A voice asks who is there. The voice asks if she is a mutant. It says they hate mutants and will kill her. Jean asks the voice to show her how. The voice says he can feel her fear. Jean asks if he is a mutant and what his name is. Starkey steps from the shadows and says “Ain’t got one anymore… … I’m just a scab… …and we’re both dead.”
The students watch Agent Duncan and Charles Xavier leave. Hank says that they are stuck on the bench. Warren says they are all thinking the same thing. They are not helpless and this is what they were brought to the school for. They shouldn’t sit this one out just because Xavier says so. Scott stands up and says “Alright, then… …Let’s go.”


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[Assistant]
The Great Cathedral Space
Scott and Hank are in a lab in one of the lower levels of the mansion. Scott says the place scares because it reminds him of the basement at the orphanage. He says there was a story of a deranged freak that lived in the basement. Hank finishes working on Scott’s new visor that Xavier was working on to help Scott control his optic blasts. Hank hands the visor to Scott and calls him ‘Cyclops’ for the first time.
Warren comes in wearing a mask and asks if they are ready. He thinks they should wear masks to hide their identity and asks if they know where Xavier went. Scott says no but he might know a way to find out. Scott leads them to the tracker Xavier was working on. Hank begins to inspect the machine to see if he can get it to work. “Awww yeah! Now this is what I’m talkin’ about! Teamwork baby –- “Warren says. Scott tells Warren that this is not a game and they are going to do it right.
Warren leaves to check on Bobby whois sitting in his room. Warren asks Bobby if he is okay. Bobby admits he is nervous. Warren tells him that is the best part. Bobby says Warren may be right and then asks why he is wearing a mask.
Hank is able to get the tracker working and finds out that it is a mutant tracker. Xavier’s signature is saved in the machine and they are able to track them. Scott says he is starting to see the potential of the school. He says that if there are others out there that need help they may be their only hope.
Bobby is outside working under the hood of Xavier’s Rolls Royce. The others come up and ask what he is doing. He says they will need a ride so he is hotwiring the car. Hank says “I think these’ll work, too.” and holds up a pair of keys.
At the secret F.B. I. facility, Jean and Scab are thrown into a tunnel and told to walk down to the end of it. Jeans says Scab hasn’t said two words in the last few hours. Scab tells her that her anger is giving him a headache and then gives her two words “We’re dead.”
In the observation room, Metzger announces the world will soon be pure once again. Agent Cain tells him that they will be monitoring their test subject every possible way. Cain says they will learn a lot from the tests and adds are rumors of a military build-up in Trenton, New Jersey. Cain asks Metzger if he is building a private army since his headquarters are there. Metzger says if that were true he wouldn’t be there.
In an empty hangar in Trenton, New Jersey, new recruits are being inducted into the A.M.M. The speaker tells them Arthur is taking part of a bold experiment today. He says they will be Metzger’s elite guard. He says their genetic bind them and they will forge their hate to retribution. Chad is in the crowd and he looks up at the ceiling. Suddenly a hole is ripped out of the roof of the hangar and Magneto comes through, looking down on them.
A news reporter covers the story about the hangar suddenly collapsing and catching on fire. He interviews one of the firemen who says that the hangar was supposed to be empty but they are finding many bodies and none of them are alive.
When Jean and Scab reach the end of the tunnel they are in a large room with Arthur. Arthur’s transformation left his body crackling  with electricity. Arthur attacks Scab, who realizes who Arthur is, with an electric blast. Jean runs to Scab’s side but is knocked out by an electric blast from Arthur. Metzger notices something happening with Scab and commands Arthur to hold back.
Scab’s body is becoming more deformed as he crawls to Jean. Cain asks about Jean in the observation room and the scientist says her vitals are low. Scab pulls Jean in and holds her. The scientist says her vitals are becoming normal while Scab’s are dropping. Cain tells Metzger that Scab is an empath, someone who can feel pain and disease in others and absorb it out of them and into himself.
Outside the facility Warren is flying over-head. Xavier and Duncan are making their way through tunnels underneath the room where Jean is. Xavier says he can’t sense Jean and tells Duncan they must hurry. Duncan says they have to do it his way, if they rush in Jean could be killed. Xavier agrees and tells Duncan he should be able to reach the room jean is in through a vent shaft above them.
Scab has absorbed all of Jean’s injuries. Arthur says he don’t know what Scab just did “…but it don’t matter. You just copped your last feel.  Mr. Metzger?” Metzger tells Arthur to finish them. Right before Arthur attacks a hole is blown through the wall. Cain initiates a security alert. Suddenly snow is filling the room. Duncan comes in through the vent and grabs Jean.
Arthur sees Cyclops and Hank. Hank says he can take Arthur and make an attempt. Arthur knocks him back. Cyclops opens his visor and blasts Arthur through a wall. When Cain is told there are fires in the facility and no guards are responding he sounds the general alarm. Metzger runs out of the observation room.
Duncan brings Jean to Xavier. Jean is in shock. Duncan says it is like a blizzard in the room. Xavier tells Duncan to get Jean to safety. Duncan asks where Xavier is going. Xavier tells him he is going to get his students. Xavier thanks Duncan for what he has done but says it is not over and Duncan does not want to be there when it ends.
Magneto has arrived and is walking towards Arthur, saying how pathetic it is that he has tried to become like a mutant. “The unworthy aspires to godhood… …when gods already walk the earth.” Magneto announces. He will show Arthur what true power is. Arthur tells him to bring it on and they begin to fight.
Warren grabs Scab and they all leave unable to see Magneto due to the snow. Magneto and Arthur trade power blows and then lock up with each other. In a battle of will and strength Magneto wins forcing Arthur back into a fire leaving him to burn. “That is true power, peasant. Would that all of humanity burn as you have… someday.”
The students are running for the exit when they run into Xavier. Xavier says he is disappointed and asks what they are doing there. Warren says they saved Scab. The others talk about how ugly he is. Xavier jumps them for judging him when that is what they are supposed to be fighting. Xavier tells them that Scab is dying and there is nothing he can do.
Scab tells them he is right. He says he saved the chick and that was something he wouldn’t have done before. He tells Xavier that he and Magneto are a lot alike. They both have a lot of hate in them. He tells Xavier to let it go before he becomes like Magneto or himself. He tells them hate is not worth dying for.
Xavier takes in what Scab said and looks at his students. Scott tells Xavier that it is not just his dream anymore, it is all of theirs. Scott says it may not be what Xavier first planned but he will have to get used to it. Scott says Xavier needs them as they need him. So that together they can change the world. Xavier says “All right, Scott… …Let’s go home.”
Metzger runs to Arthur’s side. Magneto tells Metzger he is not unique, that there have been like him before and there will be after. He says Metzger is right, there is a war coming. But Magneto’s existence is proof that it is already won. Magneto grabs Metzger and says Xavier does not have it in him to get rid of humans like Metzger. “…Judgment is at hand.” Magneto tells Metzger. Magneto flies up and tosses Metzger into space.
The news talks about Metzger’s disappearance and says he is presumed dead. The reporter says Metzger’s Anti-Mutant Militia is falling without him there to lead it. Metzger’s ideas still exist in Washington as senator candidate Robert Kelly plans on installing mutant registration.
A cab driver drives Jean Grey to 1407 Graymalkin Lane. He asks her if it is a boarding school. “…Something like that,” she replies. As he leaves she looks up at the school. “In the main study of an exclusive private school in New York’s Westchester county, a strange silent man sits motionless, brooding… alone with his indescribable thoughts… Never, within the memory of man, was there a “class” such as this! Never was there a “teacher” such as Professor X! And never were there “students” such as the X-MEN”


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[Assistant]
Origins
Magneto stands on top of Wundagore Mountain and looks at the complex he has erected there. Sensing that the hatred towards mutants is growing stronger everyday, he has chosen to isolate himself from the rest of the world. Here, hidden from humanity, he can train the young group of mutants he has gathered from all around the world. Here they learn to protect themselves from a world that is not yet ready to accept them. A thunderous roar announces the arrival of one of his prize students - Quicksilver, the son of Magneto who is gifted with super speed. He tells Magneto that the X-Men are awaiting him in their training ground called Killing Zone. Magneto orders Pietro to run a Level One exercise until he joins them. Watching him depart, Magneto wonders if he is pushing his students too hard.
Somewhat later, Magneto watches his students' performance. Iceman, Storm, Quicksilver, Jean Grey, the Scarlet Witch and Colossus are fighting robots in the Killing Zone. They all have made progress in the use of their powers, and even Iceman is beginning to show signs of reaching his full potential. Magneto then joins the training session, for he thinks his place is not at the sidelines, but as part of the X-Men. He has to fight among them. Magneto reminds everyone of the importance of teamwork, and when Iceman and Colossus congratulate each other over their performance, he tells them of the danger of overconfidence.
Magneto then starts a Level Four exercise, much to Wanda's amazement, as they have never before trained under such hard conditions. Magneto says that in order to survive, they need to learn to adapt. Thinking that some of the X-men have become too lax, Magneto decides to introduce them to real danger. Magnetically raising a door at the far end of the room, he presents the team their newest and most dangerous X-Man: Weapon X. He immediately joins the battle and soon goes into a berserker rage. Pietro quickly pushes Iceman out of Logan's range and Magneto slams Logan into a wall. He then orders Jean to soothe Logan's mind with her telepathy. Although she is not very experienced with that power yet, Jean succeeds and finds a mental barrier of anger and hatred. Having calmed him down, Jean wonders aloud how anyone could stand such pain, but Logan doesn't answer. He congratulates her since more experienced telepaths have fried their brains trying around his head. Magneto orders the X-Men to show him around as he has another new arrival to tend to.
In New York City, a large ship appears in the sky, covering most of Manhattan in shadow. The people look up in fear, as a projection appears, even bigger than the ship. The image is that of Candra, who introduces herself as Herald of Apocalypse. She informs humanity that their day is over and that Homo Superior will soon rule the planet.
At Wundagore, Magneto thinks that Apocalypse is making his move sooner than he expected. All the planning and training will be put to the test now. Thinking of his friend Charles Xavier, Magneto wonders how he would have handled things differently. Magneto is interrupted by Bova, who reminds him of Mystique and a young Lady from the United States waiting in the other room. After being allowed inside, Mystique says that she has more important things to do than waiting for an audience, especially after what is happening in New York. Magneto tends to the young woman in her company, Rogue. She asks if he will help her learn to use her powers like Mystique said and he confirms it. Mystique interrupts; she has no time for all of this. Magneto already knows that Apocalypse tried to get Rogue, so he asked Mystique to find her for him, which she has done. Her task now complete, she wants to depart. Rogue panics, but Mystique says that she raised her to be stronger than that. Magneto is a good man and she will find friends among the X-Men soon. With tears in her eyes, Mystique says that she has grown quite fond of Rogue in their time together and then runs away.
The X-Men come to Magneto's office, and are curious about the new student. Iceman is happy that it's someone around his age, but when he tries to touch her, Rogue angrily pushes him away. After Jean catches Bobby with a telekinetic bubble, Rogue states that she won't be touched by anyone, and asks to be left alone because she is dangerous. Magneto denies this request. He says that he knows of her absorption power and how she retained a portion of Polaris' powers after an unsuccessful abduction attempt. He goes on to say that powers like hers are not necessarily a curse, and that together they will find a way to control them. Rogue softens up and they hug.
Cape Citadel is the stronghold of the United States' Nuclear Defense Arsenal. It is considered an impenetrable fort, however the army will learn different tonight. Apocalypse's giant ship de-cloaks above the fort and alarms immediately go off. The five Horsemen, Gideon, Candra, Sabretooth, War and Death, look down at the gathering troops with amusement. They are no match for them.
At the Wundagore complex, the Scarlet Witch is showing Rogue around and explains her the purpose of the school. Rogue wants to know why Mystique and Magneto apparently do not like each other. Wanda explains it with her father being a loner, who is perceived as cold and arrogant. He is difficult to reach. She goes on explaining that in his youth, one of Magneto's closest friends, Charles Xavier, died saving his life, and this event shaped Magneto. Standing in front of a bust of Xavier, they fail to notice that Magneto stands behind them and has overheard their conversation. Making his presence known, Magneto says that Xavier was a mutant, a visionary and a man of peace. Quicksilver storms in to inform them of the attack on Cape Citadel. Magneto tells Wanda to have the X-Men assembled in the hangar and rushes off to prepare for the upcoming battle.
At Cape Citadel, the Horsemen have started their attack. They easily defeat the first waves of tanks and soldiers, despite there being some dissention in the ranks. Candra doesn't like to be bossed around by Sabretooth who apparently is in charge. Gideon tells her to put aside their differences, because he needs to be online in the main complex within the next three hours - otherwise they will have missed a specific window of opportunity. Having entered the building, Sabretooth says that their objective is underground, and the group moves on.
Half a world away, Magneto follows the events on the satellite-fed monitors of the Ready Room. He regrets that the X-Men will be too late to help the many soldiers, but they will be avenged. Turning to his students, Magneto says they will leave for the United States in five minutes. While the X-Men board the jet, Magneto tells the Scarlet Witch that she will stay behind to take care of the school and the younger students, just in case they don't make it back alive. As Wanda and Rogue watch the jet depart, they are unaware of another figure observing too. On a nearby mountaintop stands a handsome stranger with long blond hair. His name is Nemesis, and although he is a mutant, he does not plan to enroll at Magneto's school.
The Horsemen reach the heart of the complex at Cape Citadel. After killing the remaining soldiers, Sabretooth orders Gideon to get to work, while he signals the boss that they are on schedule.
(Two hours later)
The X-Men's jet reaches Cape Citadel. They wonder where Apocalypse's ship is, as it doesn't show on their radar. Suddenly, the cloaking field of the craft drops, and they almost hit Apocalypse's ship. The Ship's defenses charge up and prepare to shoot the X-Men. Magneto orders Quicksilver to initiate autopilot and Storm creates a diversion with her weather powers. Magneto once more reminds his students that this is not a training session, and then the team moves into action. Jean levitates Logan, Magneto lifts Colossus, and Quicksilver rides down on Iceman's ice-ramp.
At Wundagore, the school is under attack by Nemesis. He hits parts of the building with his biogenetic microwave blasts, and some of the kids staying inside get injured and others killed. Nemesis laughs at the idea of so many mutants gathered in one place, yet none fit to survive. Elsewhere in the complex, Wanda is guiding some of the scared students to the underground shelters. She asks Rogue to help her with some of the youngest, only to find that Rogue is no longer standing behind her. The young woman has had enough, and decides to take the fight to Nemesis. With the magnetic might she permanently absorbed from Polaris, she is able to defy gravity and also to increase the power behind her punches. Rogue hurls herself toward Nemesis and knocks him over. After getting up, Nemesis uses his power on Rogue and the heat places her in agony. The Scarlet Witch attacks, and with her probability altering spheres, she actually manages to hurt Nemesis. He didn't think this was possible and promises to make Wanda pay ...
At Cape Citadel, Gideon has gained entry to the base's computer systems and has now access to all U.S. nuclear missile sites around the world. After contacting Apocalypse about the progress, Gideon starts the targeting and launching sequences, much to Sabretooth's surprise. He thought that the mission was only about controlling the missiles, not using them. Apocalypse predicted that Creed would oppose his plans at that point, but he needed him to lead the attack. Now Creed is useless and the other Horsemen stand ready. Candra is now in charge of the group, and with her telekinetic powers she quickly encases Sabretooth in a bubble that holds him in place. Not wanting to further disturb Gideon during his work, they take Creed outside to execute him but instead run into Magneto and his X-Men.
Although he is in deep trouble, Sabretooth convinces Candra that the Horsemen will need him in this fight. Candra agrees and releases him, though she announces that it will merely delay his execution. Sabretooth leaps towards Magneto who easily holds him at bay with his magnetism, though it was a set-up for a telepathic attack by Candra. Yet Magneto's will is strong enough to resist and he orders his X-Men to attack. Logan is more than willing to fight and jumps on Sabretooth and Candra. Creed, back in his leadership role, orders War and Death into the air, and then turns to Logan. He recognizes him as Weapon-X and says that Apocalypse thought of recruiting him, though then decided for Sabretooth. As they start slicing each other with their claws, Sabretooth says he has a need to side with the winners, which right now looks like it's going to be Apocalypse. He might even learn to live with the idea of nukes. All he wants is to survive. Logan has enough and goes into berserker rage.
Elsewhere, Magneto and Jean are making their way toward the base, while the other X-Men keep War and Death busy. They want to stop the missile launch, however Candra blocks their way to the building. Jean tells Magneto to move on, while she will deal with her. Reluctantly, Magneto moves on. He knows that Jean's decision is right, though he would prefer fighting alongside his team. In the basement, he finds Gideon at the computers and uses a magnetic pulse on him, unaware of the green haired man's amplifying and redirecting power. Crushing Magneto into a wall with his own power, Gideon intends to make the master of magnetism watch the countdown running down.
Outside, Storm uses lighting against Death, hoping that she didn't kill her opponent, and Iceman and Colossus easily defeat War. While Apocalypse's ship slowly descents, Sabretooth and Weapon X are still going at each other until Logan severs Creed's spine with his adamantium laced claws. In the computer room, Gideon taunts Magneto about the coming Age of Apocalypse and how the world will bow before him. Magneto summons all his resources and draws power from the earth's magnetic field, which he unleashes into one focused burst. It overloads Gideon's absorption power and he explodes, destroying the entire complex. The missile launch is prevented, and although the X-Men wonder if their mentor is still alive, they don't have the time to check as Apocalypse emerges in the hatch of his giant ship. He congratulates his foes, as they impressed him with how easily they defeated the Horsemen. Actually he would want to invite them to join him, but he thinks the X-Men are tainted by Magneto's righteousness. Apocalypse leaves Sabretooth to die among the X-men and after his ship takes off, the weapons prepare to blast the entire area. Suddenly, Magneto emerges from the wreckage and manages to create a magnetic pulse that shatters the ship's weaponry. The X-Men watch the ship fly away, and Magneto congratulates his students - today they have done well. However, this was only the first of many more battles to come and from now on they have to be prepared to oppose Apocalypse every single day.
Among the ruins of the school at Wundagore mountain lays the badly injured Scarlet Witch. Rogue tends to her and says that everything will be fine. Nemesis has left and the children are safe, but now Wanda needs to rest. However, the Scarlet Witch knows the end is near and says that she no longer feels any pain. She says that Magneto needs to know that they are no longer safe on Wundagore. Rogue repeats that Wanda should rest and not further strain herself, but the Witch has one more request. Her father's burden is too great and she knows that he needs a friend. She asks Rogue to be that friend since she will no longer be there for him. Rogue promises, but tells Wanda that they both can be there for Magneto. Wanda knows differently, and after saying "No Rogue ... I'm tired. So tired.", she dies.
When the X-Men return home, they all gather around Wanda's dead body. Magneto has paid the highest price this day and he knows that the X-Men's course is clearly set. For Wanda and for the world, they will fight on to make the world a better place.


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[Assistant]
Shattered Dreams
Things are tense in the New Mexico headquarters of the X-Men. Weapon X, just back from freeing Jean Grey from Sinister’s clutches, angrily threatens Magneto. Jean is trying to calm him, the other X-Men – especially Sabretooth – are ready for a fight. Weapon X snarls at Magneto that he and Jean are finished with the X-Men. Logan sacrificed his arm to save Jean, whereas the other X-Men on Magneto’s orders didn’t help with the rescue mission. Now he has enough of them. Jean asks Logan not to fight and to just leave with her. After Logan acquiesces, she telekinetically transports them away. Rogue offers Magneto a shoulder to cry on, but he brusquely turns away. Quicksilver offers to run after them and talk sense into them, but Magneto tells them that their decision is made. Jean telepathically contacts Magneto and asks him to forgive himself, as she has already done. She understands, why he acted the way he did, but she is leaving with Logan, because he needs her more than the X-Men do.
Meanwhile in the remains of Spokane, Washington, Holocaust, son of Apocalypse, surveys the ruined city, the handiwork of him and Apocalypse’s army. He is joined by his servant Wolverine – a ferocious hunter and killer – a product of the Dark Beast’s science – who until now has been busy butchering the city’s human population. Holocaust informs him about his next mission. He wants vengeance on Magneto, the man who is responsible for his dependence on his life support armor. He’s aware that Magneto is at a low point since two trusted X-Men have left him. Their conversation is disrupted by a grief-stricken human who attacks them for the murder of his family. Wolverine dispatches of him with terrifying ease and asks what he is supposed to do to Magneto. Find the person he’s closest to, kill that person and make Magneto watch, Holocaust, the murderer of Magneto’s daughter, tells him.
(several days later)
Magneto magnetically transports the X-Men to the ruined city of Denver, Colorado, in search of a bandit horde. Calmly he gives his orders. Rogue in the meantime is worried that he seems distracted, ever since Jean and Logan left. She’s afraid it’ll make him careless. Gambit tries to comfort her and decides that they’ll just have to stick close to him, just in case. Sabretooth has tracked the bandits to their hiding place. He believes that they are currently threatening some normals – the X-Men attack. Not exactly a hard job for the team and Sabretooth, Quicksilver and Iceman banter back and forth. Magneto angrily interrupts and orders them to treat this as a real battle, like Weapon-X and Jean no doubt would have. Hearing this Rogue and Gambit worry even more.
Two criminals watch the battle from afar, wondering if they should join in and unaware that they in turn are watched by Wolverine. The killer catches and changes them, increasing their strength, awakening bloodlust in them and siccing them on the X-Men. The two attack and while Rogue and Gambit manage to stop them, one of the duo throws a non-metallic knife at Magneto, hitting him in the shoulder. Gambit takes charge, keeps Magneto from keeling over and orders a retreat, despite Magneto’s protests. Wolverine is left to wonder : he had assumed that the closest one to Magneto would be his son Quicksilver, but apparently Rogue and Gambit are even closer to the man. He calls out the other bandits and schemes.
Back at the X-Men’s headquarters, Storm bandages Magneto and asks him to take it easy. Magneto is being a lousy patient and chides the X-Men and especially Gambit for being undisciplined. Quicksilver plays the voice of reason and points out that after all they saved the humans as they planned to. Their mission was accomplished. Gambit urges Magneto to rest and reminds him that he was the one to awaken Gambit to the dream in the first place. Then he asks Rogue to come out him for some downtime. Rogue refuses, telling him she has to go over next week’s plans with Erik. Gambit takes this rebuttal in good humor, but reminds her that he has to talk with her about something very important soon.
At the same time in Denver, disappointed in the way his human agents failed him, Wolverine dispatches of a rather loud-mouthed one. Then, he tells them that they will take the fight to the X-Men.
In New Mexico, Iceman teases Gambit about his relationship with Rogue. When he notices how serious Gambit is about her, he asks how Gambit will handle the physical problems between them. Gambit replies that Magneto is working on a means to help Rogue control her powers, so he isn’t worried. Iceman presses whether Rogue actually knows about the depth of Gambit ‘s feelings and Gambit admits he isn’t sure. Elsewhere in the compound Rogue asks Magneto to go easy on himself. He is driven to act as long as Apocalypse butchers people and he is eaten by doubts, as he feels he cannot even keep his team together. Rogue props him up, and tells him that at least she will stay with him forever. The two exchange a look, fraught with meaning and a confused Rogue quickly leaves.
By then, Wolverine and his horde of followers have reached the Rocky Mountains. Wolverine finally get the X-Men’s scent and now knows the way to their base.
(a short time later)
Within that base, Rogue interrupts Quicksilver’s speed-reading. They reminisce about Pietro’s dead sister Wanda and Pietro admits to Rogue how glad he is that she was with his sister when she died. Rogue asks him what Wanda would have thought about Magneto making her second-in-command instead of his son. Pietro tells her he has no problems with that and since the team is likely to expand soon anyway, they’ll need more than one leader soon. Gambit interrupts them and tells Rogue that he wants a commitment. She tells him she’s sorry and runs away. Quicksilver suggests the confused Cajun better have a talk with Magneto, who’s training outside. Magneto is indeed up again training with Storm, Colossus and Sabretooth, urging them to give no quarter, to show no weakness. Gambit interrupts the session, asking Magneto to talk with him. Magneto impatiently tells him to either join the training session or shut up.
Outside the compound, Wolverine and his troops have arrived. An especially overzealous human wants to attack, but Wolverine breaks his neck and asks the others to listen to his plan.
The X-Men have finished their workout, but Sabretooth is spoiling for some more action. Magneto tells him that they’ll start a new mission early the next day. Gambit approaches Erik again, asking him about Rogue. Magneto tries to evade the subject when both are interrupted by the lady in question who asks Remy to leave as she needs to speak with Magneto privately. Rogue tells Magneto she’s confused about her feelings for him. Magneto seemingly changes the subject and tells her he has found a way to solve her power-problem. He erects a biomagnetic shield around his body and offers her his bare hand. She takes it into her own bare hand and realizes that she is not absorbing his consciousness. Rogue starts crying and Magneto touches her face to comfort her. The two move closer, unaware that Gambit has secretly been watching everything.
Furiously, he attacks Magneto, feeling betrayed. Then he bitterly snaps at Rogue that she didn’t have to start a relationship with Magneto just because she promised his daughter on her deathbed she’d take care of him. Enraged by that unfair accusation, Rogue slaps him. The three are literally saved by the bell, as the alarm rings – the front gate’s been breached. The X-Men are already in battle against the enhanced humans and seem dangerously overconfident. Magneto, still distracted by what happened, doesn’t notice Wolverine closing in on him until it’s too late – the villains strikes him down. He then proceeds to attack Rogue, but is stopped by Gambit, who jumps at him. The weakened Magneto tries to join in, but Wolverine takes the stunned Rogue hostage and orders the two men to stand in a corner.
Rogue becomes conscious again, sees them in danger and acts on instinct. She grabs Magneto and flies him to safety. An amused Wolverine smashes the wall around Remy, burying him under the bricks. In the meantime, the other X-Men have noticed him and attack him together – to no avail: Wolverine is the only one left standing. He tells Rogue if she lets him kill her while Magneto watches, he’ll let him live. Gambit, who has dug himself out again, seemingly punches him in the back. As Wolverine mocks his feeble attack, he notices that Gambit actually put a kinetically charged-up rock into his belt. The results are explosive and very final for Wolverine. Rogue tells Remy she didn’t want to hurt him, but Remy cuts her off. All his life he pretended to be a loner, then he found someone he loved, and, of course, she loved someone else. Just his luck, he tells her and leaves the X-Men.


[User]
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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Untitled
Three X-Men, Gambit, Shadowcat and Wolverine, smash their way through the defenses of an ominous looking military establishment in the desert and take out several guards who oppose them. Upon their arrival, Shadowcat’s phasing power makes short work of the electrics, and Wolverine’s adamantium blades slice their way through the walls. With the walls defenseless, Gambit charges three cards and destroys a small section, which allows them access to the building itself.
Gambit wonders what they do next. Wolverine replies that they go in and out, it’s that simple. Kitty reckons the place will be swarming with feds in no time. The person they’re after is there somewhere. The fastest way to find him will be to split up. Wolverine heads left, Gambit goes right and Kitty floats upwards.
Gambit climbs into a room, where he can see several people who look like the building’s tech staff. They appear to be behind some form of energy shield that acts as a one-way mirror. They look more like inmates than anything else, though there are no prison bars. As Remy touches the shield, which ripples at the touch of his fingers, one of the techs shouts, “Look… behind him!” Remy turns and sees a picture of Rogue complete with her profile, before the holographic room morphs into an entirely different scenario.
He is now on a rickety bridge, crossing a deep valley. Coming towards him is a young-looking Rogue, and Gambit surmises that he’s now in Caldecott County, Mississippi. The simul-scene shows Rogue to be around twelve years old and cute as can be. Her troubles are way off. Suddenly, the bridge is destroyed in front of her and a large pink alien being emerges, grabbing the young girl as it grows. The pink blob begins to take on the appearance of Rogue, as if absorbing her appearance. “Come to Rogue!” it says with a smile. Remy is shocked.
Shadowcat swings through level upon level. Upon reaching one floor, strange green holographic symbols begin swirling around her. She recognizes this holo-text as being characters belonging to the Shi’ar language. It can’t be a coincidence that the files they’re looking for are supposedly encrypted in the same alien tongue, can it? She turns and notices a picture of Colossus alongside his profile. She figures the main file must come with its own virtual reality appendix.
She then finds herself aboard Avalon, as Piotr fingers the controls. Kitty knows that there’s so much he hasn’t revealed about his time with those knuckleheads. Alongside him is Amelia Voght and Fabian Cortez, and Cortez informs Amelia that their target is dead ahead. He asks if she’s ready. Amelia replies that they all are. Kitty sees Voght use her mutant ability to transport everyone to another ship nearby. The scene then changes, and Kitty finds many armed Acolytes confronting the crew aboard what seems to be a Russian space station.
Cortez greets the ‘Homo inferior’ and informs them that their vessel has ventured too close to their orbital base for comfort. One of the crew pleads with Cortez that they’re just scientists, before letting out a scream.
Meanwhile, Wolverine moves stealthily around the building and, despite picking up no scent, he sees Hank McCoy in his earlier incarnation of Beast, before he became all blue and furry. Logan knows it ain’t the real McCoy but, as he’s thinking, Beast transforms into his current form. He turns and runs down a corridor, so Logan follows him. He arrives at what appears to be a re-creation of Moira MacTaggert’s Muir Island Research Center. There, he finds Beast sitting down, looking at vials filled with DNA.
Wolverine knows that this is where Hank was working on a cure for the Legacy Virus about six months back. He appears to be making an entry in his journal. Hank speaks into a recording device, and he explains how the only way to implement a requisite evaluation of the working vaccine he’s synthesized is to deliberately infect himself with the very disease it’s designed to neutralize. He injects himself in the neck with the prototype vaccine.
Elsewhere, Shadowcat moves gracefully through the building. She’s read hologram profiles on both Cable and X-Man, and now she comes face to face with a room full of Hand Ninja. They appear to be on the attack. As they leap past Shadowcat, she hears a familiar voice. It’s a younger Remy LeBeau, and he asks the ninja to sheathe their swords. He has come to seek an alliance between them and his Thieves Guild. Shadowcat can’t believe it.
Wolverine has left Hank McCoy’s holographic projection and now finds himself watching a young Mystique, running through the forest carrying a young baby. Logan figure’s he’s not in Scotland anymore. He also notices that the holograms are now made of ‘hard light’. In other words, they’re as solid as he is. He sees that Mystique is running for her life, and is being pursued by men who want to take her demon child from her. Wolverine opts to leap into action, and he slices his way through the hunters. Once they’re down, he notices the baby that Mystique has kidnapped changes from flesh-colored to being covered in blue fur. Nightcrawler’s holo-profile appears.
After seeing Rogue’s apparent origin, Remy has now read a holo-profile on Psylocke. It vanishes and Gambit finds himself on board a shuttle a few weeks back; a shuttle he wasn’t actually on. Struggling at the controls are Rogue, Psylocke and Colossus. It appears to Remy to be the way Rogue had described it. Rogue remarks that Betsy’s telekinesis is the only thing protecting the Intrepid from a world of solar radiation. Betsy knows, but she feels like it’s more than she can take. Suddenly, she summons the Phoenix Force into herself in order to maintain control. Remy knows that Rogue never mentioned this part of the mission.
Shadowcat moves on through the building and comes across Professor Xavier. He’s wearing an orange mining suit and is underground. The wheelchair he is using has been adapted to handle rough surfaces. Kitty remembers reading about this during her first year as an X-Man. This is Xavier’s search for Lucifer. Whoever is creating these projections definitely knows their stuff.
She phases upwards and into another room. There, she finds Onslaught, who is midway through talking to himself. “The Earthman Xavier is unrelenting in his pursuit of me. How banal. His psyche should provide an adequate host-receptacle for my psi-mind.” Kitty wonders if she is to believe that Onslaught was actually Lucifer, and not the professor.
Wolverine, after leaving the Mystique scenario, finds himself looking up at Mister Sinister. He passes several tanks filled with clones that Sinister is developing. One of them is Jean Grey. This doesn’t make any sense to Logan, as it was Madelyne Pryor who was created by Sinister, not Jean. Sinister asks his computer to place Jean Grey 3456 in the stasis cocoon, and ready it for its ultimate destination - Jamaica Bay. She’ll soon be right where he wants her… among friends.
Next on Gambit’s route is a projection of Thunderbird, back when he was just plain old Neal Sharra, living in Calcutta. He and a friend are taunting two frightened mutants and Remy figures that it’s the same in every place. There are always some folks who hate mutants; he just never imagined it could be one of their own.
Shadowcat’s next encounter is with a young Ororo Munroe. She is very young, and living in Egypt. Kitty is amazed at the way she moves around so quickly. No wonder she never got caught. Even before her power manifested, she had what it takes. As she watches, Ororo returns to the lair of Amahl Farouk, the Shadow King. He is pleased that she has seen fit to pay him a visit. She has power, and will make a lovely puppet.
Wolverine moves on to find a row of cots filled with babies. One of them is marked K. Pryde. He notices a young woman approach the cots dressed in what appears to be a Neo costume. She is carrying a bundle in her arms. Wolverine sees her lower the bundle into a cot and take Kitty Pryde in its place. “You definitely gotta be kiddin’ me,” thinks Logan.
Elsewhere, Gambit’s brain is going gumbo from sensory overload upon seeing all these holograms. The next he comes across features the members of Generation X. They are encased in a sphere, evidently unaware that they are being monitored by several Hellfire Club guards. Emma Frost and Sebastian Shaw are pleased with Charles’ latest walking weapons. She can’t believe that simpleton has entrusted them to her care. “Won’t they be magnificent in our service?” she remarks.
Sebastian is pleased. They won’t lose them the way they did Pryde and the first set. To think she spent so long locking horns with the poor old gimp, when all she had to do was lie to him. Gambit feels Shaw has a good point, but how does he know everything he’s seen so far isn’t just a load of junk?
Shadowcat comes upon the Weapon X tank with Wolverine inside it. Looking in on him is Apocalypse. Kitty knows that Apocalypse put the adamantium back in Logan’s body, but this file would have her believe that he was the one who bonded it to his skeleton in the first place. Kitty smells a red herring, and wants to find the others, fast.
Wolverine’s next scenario involves Magneto and X-Force. Magneto is sat near the unconscious body of Polaris in Genosha. He asks Cannonball what makes him think he won’t kill him. Sam replies that Polaris is down for the count. He needs her to boost his waning power. He reminds Magneto that he was the one who taught them to keep up on current events. They paid attention. The U.N. may have granted him sovereignty over his own country but, if he steps out of line, he promises X-Force will crush him.
Magneto asks about Xavier and Cable, their other former teachers. What if they manage to offend him as well? As X-Force departs, Sam replies that they don’t play favorites, but he shouldn’t underestimate X-Force. They’ve learned from the best.
The three X-Men finally come together again, but hard light holograms of each of them appears in order to confuse them and have them fight to the death. Fortunately, before any harm is done, the holograms disappear and Kitty asks them to thank them after. She has the disk containing the information they came for, so they should leave.
Once they’re well away from the area. Kitty explains what has been going on. She tells them that it was Bastion that was creating the holograms, or whatever Bastion’s calling himself these days. She figures he did it to bog them down with misinformation. They thought he’d been destroyed, but Carol Danvers had tipped them off. The feds had managed to salvage what was left of him, including the entire storehouse of classified information, which he stole from the mansion and downloaded into his memory. She’s glad they finally got it back.
She did, however, find some of the things she saw… unsettling. Logan agrees, but says it was nothing but Bastion’s lies. Remy adds that it was probably meant to stall them until the feds arrived on the scene. They sure hope so.


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The Peach Boy
There once was an old woodcutter and his wife who lived alone in the Japanese countryside. Much to their regret, the couple had no children. Having no one else in life, the two were constantly at each other’s side. The woodcutter would fell some trees, while his wife would wash their clothes in a stream nearby. It was on this afternoon that their lives changed forever, when a giant peach came floating down the river, settling on the bank where the two were working. It was the biggest and most beautiful peach they had ever seen and they decided to take it home. Peach jam, peach cake, peach cobbler. There would be enough dessert for a month!
Later, having successfully carried the giant peach home, the old woodcutter got his tools to help his wife slice it up. Though all it took was one might swing, and the woodcutter struck the peach, splitting it perfectly in half. Imagine the old couple’s surprise when the sounds of a crying baby suddenly fill their home.  Maybe the core of nature is the heart of man? A baby boy is inside the peach! The kindly couple cannot believe their eyes. Never having been able to bear children of their own, they believed the gods had finally blessed them with the son they always wanted. The boy’s right eye is covered by the peach pit, and fearing it might be irritating his eye, the woodcutter reaches down to pull it free - but suddenly brilliant red optical energy bursts forth from the boy’s eye, cutting a hole in the roof above. Just as experience had taught him to stand well out of the way of falling trees, the woodcutter had learned his first lesson in fatherhood, the hard way - the peach pit would stay. ‘Goo’ the baby utters as the pit is placed back over his right eye.
The couple raised the peach-boy, Hitome, as their own, and as the years passed, he grew to become quite a fine young man. As his father got older and his strength grew weaker, Hitome follows in his footsteps to become a woodcutter himself, working to provide for his now elderly parents. Hitome goes off into the woods one day to undertake the task of cutting some trees down. However, his methods are a little different and a little faster than his father’s, as Hitome would remove the peach pit from his eye, unleashing the optical energy, to cut the trees down. While he lived a peaceful and happy life, much like his parents before his arrival, Hitome was often heavy of heart and found himself feeling lonely. Until this fateful day, when Hitome will literally run into someone who will change his life forever. ‘Help me!’ a voice cries out. ‘Please, help me!’ the voice exclaims, it is an older man, rushing through the forest, away from a trio who are following him.
‘Get behind me, sir. I’ll protect you’ Hitome declares, stepping in front of the old man, and in front of the trio who were chasing him. A muscular man in grey holds a very large hammer, while a blonde man in an orange outfit holds a flaming torch, and a pale woman with red hair carries a large sword. The man thanks Hitome and asks him where his weapons are. ’Surely a woodcutter must have a blade of some sort?’ Hitome tells the old man not to worry, and declares that he doesn’t need weapons. ‘No weapons? Easy pickings!’ the woman exclaims. ‘Ha! Just how do you think you’re going to fight us, one-eye?’ the one with the fire asks. ‘With a glance, thief’ Hitome smiles, and raising the peach pit, energy bursts from his eye and shatters the large thief’s hammer. The thieves look at the destroyed weapon, ‘Yaaaahhh! A demon!’ the thief with the fire screams. ‘Run! Before it curses us!’ the woman shouts, and the trio turn and run for their lives.
Hitome turns to the old man and apologizes for startling him, but the old man smiles: ‘Amazing! Simply amazing! So the rumors are true! All that force contained within your eye… why didn’t you attack the scoundrels directly?’ he asks. Hitome crouches down to pick up some food that he dropped and replies that having power does not always mean one has to use it, before excusing himself from the old man, who remarks ‘Yet you choose to use your power for menial labor? All alone in these dark woods?’ Hitome replies that he prefers to be by himself. The old man puts a hand on Hitome’s shoulder and remarks that he has met many people in his days, and one thing he knows to be certain is that no one remains alone of their own accord. ‘Tell me, do you live by yourself as well?’ he asks. Hitome reveals that he lives with his parents in the far woods, and the old man announces that he would very much like to meet them, as they have much to discuss.
After a short trek back to Hitome’s humble home, the monk revealed he had a tale of his own to tell the one-eyed boy and his parents. As they sit around a small fire, the old man asks the woodcutter why he chooses to live so far out in these woods. ‘It must not be easy’ he points out. The woodcutter responds by telling the monk that given his profession, it was always more convenient for them to live out here on their own in the forest, venturing into town when the need arose. He adds that after learning of Hitome’s abilities, the villagers made it clear that they preferred for them to stay as far away as possible. The monk declares that it shameful, as no one need be hated or feared for simply being different. ‘And truth be told, yours is not the first such tale I have heard’ he adds, before revealing that he has actually been looking for gifted souls with abilities like Hitome’s.
The monk explains that he comes at the behest of the Emperor himself, as last month, four evil demons invaded his palace and kidnapped his daughter, and all of the Emperor’s attempts to rescue her have been for naught, as every army he sends to fight the demons, no matter how large, is defeated by this evil incarnate. ‘Which is why we need your help. When rumors of beings with special abilities reached his ears, the Emperor dispatched me to try my best to locate you and others like you’ the old man explains. He adds that now that he has found Hitome, he must ask if he would be willing to join him, to use his power, to try as best they can to fight the demons and save the Emperor’s daughter. Hitome hangs his head asks ‘But with me not here to look after them, who will provide for my parents?’ The monk assures Hitome that the Emperor will personally see to it that they are taken care of. Hitome turns to his parents, as his mother tells him to say no more, and points out that they have always raised him to do what is right, so they understand what he must do now. ‘You were a gift that blessed our lives from the moment we found you’ she adds, while Hitome’s father tells him that it is time for him to go out into the world and use his powers to help the lives of others. Hitome and his parents them embrace.
Leaving his past behind him, Hitome sets out with the monk on what is sure to be an adventure neither will soon forget. Walking through a forest, Hitome asks why they travel these unkempt paths, for would it not be better that they stick to the main road? The monk explains to Hitome that just as he heard of him, he has heard of other magical creatures who dwell in these woods, so it would be in their best interests to have them join us, if they can find them. Suddenly, a howling noise is heard from above, and the old man‘s walking stick is snatched from above. ‘What…?’ the old man gasps, as they look up and see a blue primate in the tree above, holding the stick and laughing at them. ‘You’ve come looking for magical creatures? Well, you’ve found one!’ the creature exclaims, introducing itself as Aoi the blue monkey, but that he has no interest in joining anyone.
‘But you have not even heard what we have to offer you’ Hitome points out. ‘Seeing as I have the monk’s legs you now have even less to offer’ Aoi laughs. ‘Then you have no interest in games?’ Hitome enquires. ‘Games?’ Aoi asks. Hitome proposes a small challenge to see if Aoi is even worthy of joining them on their quest. ‘I’m sure I am more than worthy of the likes of you!’ Aoi responds, before asking ‘What sort of challenge?’ Hitome proposes that he will walk back five paces and place his hands behind his back, and if Aoi is swift enough to pull the peach pit from his eye without him catching Aoi, then they will leave him be. ‘However, if I am able to touch you, then you will join us on our journey’ Hitome suggests. ‘That is all? Ha! I accept! Prepare to lose your eye, boy!’ Aoi declares.
Hitome starts to walk backwards, and as Aoi leaps towards him, he grabs the peach pit - of course optic energy bursts forth - and Aoi falls to the ground, still holding the peach pit, which Hitome takes back. The old man retrieves his walking stick, and as Hitome helps Aoi up, he remarks ‘Now you’ve learned your first lesson for our impending journey, my blue-furred friend. One must never underestimate the element of surprise!’ ‘Well played, boy, well played. You have my respect for your cunning’ Aoi responds, before asking for a few moments for the pain to full before he joins them, ‘And wait for the chance to show you I’ve got a few surprises of my own’ he adds quietly.
Joining Hitome and the monk on their journey to save the Emperor’s daughter, the blue monkey Aoi guided them deeper into the woods. He knew the pheasant Tenshi lived therein and hoped the bird might be able to help them. Scaling the face of a cliff, Aoi informs Hitome that Tenshi is said to possess exceptional strength, however he refuses to fly again. Suddenly, a voice calls out ‘Leave me be! You have no right to come up here!’ Looking further up, Hitome and Aoi see Tenshi the pheasant sitting on a ledge before them. ‘If you fall, it will be to your death as there will be no to catch you’ Tenshi points out. Hitome and Aoi climb safely onto the ledge below Tenshi and Aoi boasts that it is not he who need worry, buyt the stupid human who insisted he come along. ‘Gentle pheasant, word of your feats has reached our ears. But why do you no longer fly?’ Hitome enquires.
Tenshi replies that when you have flown to the heights that he has, you come to realize the higher you go, the further you stand to fall. ‘And falling is something I have no desire to do’. Hitome tells Tenshi that he understands, and asks if it is fear that has grounded Tenshi. He then turns to Aoi and tells him that they have wasted their time coming here, as he thought they were coming to ask a pheasant to join them on their journey, but he sees that the only bird here is a chicken. ‘How dare you insult me in such a manner?’ Tenshi declares, spreading his wings, while Hitome whispers something into Aoi’s ear. Hitome walks towards the edge of the ledge, wearing his wooden climbing shoes, when suddenly, ‘Whoooa -’ he calls out as he slips and starts to fall off the ledge. ‘Nnoooo!’ Aoi shrieks. Aoi manages to grab Hitome and tries to pull him up, announcing that he cannot hold on for much longer. ‘Save yourself, Aoi. Let me go!’ Hitome calls back, before he and Aoi suddenly fall from the ledge, screaming as they plummet to certain doom.
But, Tenshi swoops down and grabs them both with his clawed feet, and flies them up onto the ledge, where the monk has climbed to. Than you, my feathered friend. If not for your efforts, Aoi and I would have plunged to our doom’ Hitome calls out. ‘If I didn’t know any better I might think you provoked me and then purposely fell…’ Tenshi responds. ‘And would that have changed anything? Be spreading your wings again, you saved our lives. That’s what matters and we’re forever in your debt’ Hitome announces. Tenshi admits that it felt good to put his wings to use again. Hitome remarks that there is always the possibility that you will fail and fall in life, but that there is also the chance that you can oar to even greater heights by putting your fears behind you. Tenshi remarks that Hitome seems wise beyond his years, and finds this intriguing. He wonders if he might learn more remaining in Hitome’s company, before announcing that he may well join them on their journey, if they will have him. ’We welcome your wings with open arms, Tenshi. Thank you’ Hitome replies, while Aoi winks at Hitome - their plan worked.
A short time later:, ’Snow? But how could this be? It’s the middle of summer!’ Hitome exclaims as snow starts to fall around the four travelers. Perched on the monk’s shoulder, Tenshi announces that control of the cold is the ability of the one they now seek. ‘And they say his heart is made of ice as well’ Aoi remarks. As ice starts to form around his feet, Hitome hopes that if this Kori has a heart, hopefully a little warmth will help thaw it, when a voice calls out ‘The only things that will need thawing…are your friends!’ Hitome turns around and sees the monk, Tenshi and Aoi covered in ice. ‘No! How could you…?’ Hitome asks. A regal white dog sits in the snow nearby, and announces that he has always found friends to be more trouble than they are worth. ‘Man or beast, everyone looks out only for themselves. You’d best trust yourself…and no one else’ Kori declares, before approaching Hitome, he tells him that he finds humans are usually the worst, always ready to betray those who have placed their faith in them. ‘It’s best you’re kept on ice, where toiu can do little harm’ Kori adds.
‘Such distrust… you’ve obviously been wronged in the past, and for that I’m sorry’ Hitome tells Kori, adding that he believes Kori will find that lack of faith in one’s friends, is the last thing his have to worry about. He removes the peach pit from his eye and an optic blast strikes the ice freezing his friends, removing them from the thaw. ‘You would free your friends before you free yourself?’ Kori asks. ‘What kind of friend would I be if I placed my wellbeing before theirs?’ Hitome asks, putting the peach pit back. Kori asks him why he doesn’t break his own bonds as well, to which Hitome explains that he wants to stay here and talk with him. ‘And why would you want to do that?’ Kori asks. Hitome tells the dog that he thinks he is in need of a friend. ‘Think of friendship as ice. Once it’s broken or melts away, it’s a hard thing to re-form. Unless you have the right conditions…then it’s easy to start over and make more’ Hitome adds, holding himself to keep warm. ‘Well put, one-eye. It’s been a while since I’ve warmed to anyone, mistrusting all who have crossed my path. But as your words have “broken the ice” between us, I’ll hear you out’ Kori announces, while Aoi starts to punch the ice around Hitome, ‘And speaking of breaking the ice…’ he jokes.
With Kori agreeing to join Hitome and his friends, their team was now complete, and the for new allies followed the monk to rescue the Emperor’s daughter. Something much easier said than done, though. Especially where demons are concerned! As they walk through the forest, Kori declares that the evil in the air here sends a chill up his spine, while the monk reveals that they are approaching the demons lair. ‘Let’s stand tall and hope these creatures prove more myth than magic’ Hitome suggests, when suddenly, the four demons appear. One, tall and menacing in purple and red. The female demon in scarlet glows with energy. The blue demon with bolts of white lightning across his body, and the green demon whose tongue flicks out in front of him. ‘I hate to disappoint, but I believe you will find we are far from fiction and a force to be feared!’ the demon in red and purple calls out.
Energy starts to glow around the large demon, who asks ‘Are there no warriors left to face us? The Emperor has opened the gates of his zoo to save his daughter!’ He grins and tells them that they will all make fine pets, before the battle commences, as Hitome, Aoi, Tenshi and Kori rush forward to confront the demons. Hitome strikes the large demon with his optic energy, while the short green demon extends its tongue, however Aoi is able to bounce on it. Kori breath ice over the scarlet demon, trapping her, as Tenshi flies straight into the blue demon, knocking him backwards. However, the large demon releases energy around himself which knocks back Hitome’s optic blasts. The green demon manages to wrap his tongue around Aoi’s body and tosses him into the air, while the scarlet demons smiles as she melts away the ice Kori trapped her in, and the blue demon moves swiftly, around and around Tenshi, trapping the bird in a whirlwind.
 Hitome grimaces as his optic blast is sent back at him, striking him in the shoulder, while Aoi lands with a SPLOP on the ground, covered in the green demon’s saliva. Tenshi falls to the ground with a thud, missing several feathers, and Kori runs from the scarlet demon, his ail on fire. ‘It’s no use. The demons are too powerful’ Tenshi declares as the heroes regroup. ‘We’ve come on a fool’s errand’ Aoi exclaims, wiping the spit off of his body. Hitome puts out the fire on Kori’s tail, and Kori points out that even the monk has fled, so they had best turn tail and run. ‘Which I still now have, thanks to you, Hitome’ Kori adds. Hitome announces that the monk has gone to look for the Emperor’s daughter, and it is up to them to hold off the demons while he saves her. As the demons start to close in around the heroes, Kori asks ‘But how?’ Hitome asks him if he has learned nothing on their journey. ‘Just remember what I’ve told you…now!’ Hitome calls out as the demons launch another attack.
The green demon’s tongue flickers straight towards Aoi, whop leaps backwards, while Tenshi swoops down and grabs the demon’s tongue, ‘Fly higher than you ever have, Tensih! Drop the demon to its doom!’ Hitome calls out. ‘I will not fail. I will not fall’ Tenshi utters to himself as he pulls the demon high. The scarlet demon attacks the wall of ice that Kori has erected around the heroes, ‘Allo me to handle the flaming female, my friends’ Aoi offers. ‘What do you propose?’ Hitome asks him. ‘You’re not the only one with a trick up your sleeve, peach-boy’ Aoi replies, and as the ice melts, the scarlet demon is met by Aoi, whose form is now several times larger than he usually appears. ‘How’s this for an element of surprise?’ Aoi grins, before smacking the scarlet demon aside with a WHAP.
Hitome turns to Kori and tells him that he believes he knows how to defeat the remaining demons. ‘Will you follow my lead, Kori?’ Hitome asks.’Let’s send these villains back where they belong!’ Kori replies, and as Hitome rides on Kori’s back, they speed towards the woods, with Hitome instructing Kori  to freeze the truees. The dog opens his mouth and blasts freezing ice at the trees. Hitome removes the peach pit and his optic blast strikes the frozen tree, rebounding off in several different directions, one blast heads straight for the approaching blue demon, who screams as the blast strikes him, ‘No, you fool!’ the leader of the demons exclaims as the blue demon falls back into the red and purple demon, knocking him into a ditch where the scarlet demons lies. As the red and purple demon tries to get to his feet, he is knocked over when Tenshi returns, dropping the green demon onto the others, they collapse. Kori and Hitome go over to the pile of demons as Aoi and Tenshi stand nearby, and Kori freezes the demons in a solid block of ice.
With their foes now vanquished, the heroes are reunited after the battle with the monk, who has found and freed the Emperor’s daughter. ‘Love the new look’ Tenshi calls out to Aoi in his larger form. ‘What can I say? Danger brings out the beast in me’ Aoi smiles. The Emperor’s daughter turns to the heroes and thanks them all, adding that she will be forever in their debt for joining her father on this dangerous journey to rescue her. ‘Father?’ Aoi asks, surprised. ‘But you’re the Emperor’s daughter’ Kori points out. ‘Then that must mean…’ Tenshi begins. ‘You’re not really a monk after all. You’re the Emperor!’ Hitome gasps. ‘Yes, my friends. I am. And I hope you will forgive me for my deception’ the “monk” replies. Hitome and the others kneel before the Emperor, as Hitome asks ‘But why go through all the trouble? If you’d simple asked -’ he begins.
The Emperor explains that he has commanded armies and have already ordered soldiers to fight at his behest, to try and save his daughter, and though they fought nobly, their hearts were filled with fear - they gave their lives for a cause not their own. The Emperor tells the heroes that it was important that he find companions who were willing to look inside themselves and face their own fears, to band together of their own accord to join his crusade. The Emperor and his daughter smile, as the Emperor states that friends bonded by heart and soul are the most powerful allies once can hope for. ‘Which is why I would not ask that you all join me as my royal guard’. Hitome and the heroes look at each other with excitement. ‘Us? Your royal guard? That will certainly be something new and different!’ Hitome exclaims. ‘We’ll be amazing!’ Kori declares. ‘Astonishing!’ Tenshi calls out. ‘Uncann…um, I mean… awesome!’ Aoi adds.
And it was with hearts full of pride and joy that Hitome, Aoi, Tenshi and Kori accepted the Emperor’s offer and became protectors of his kingdom. Their adventures together had just begun….


[User]
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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Untitled
What is friendship? Some say it is a bond shared between two beings - mutual trust that each must contribute to equally. But what happens if two friends stop being equals? What if one breaks the other’s trust, severing the bond between them? Such was the friendship of the tortoise and the eagle….
Their upbringing could not have been more different. The eagle chick lived high in a tree, in a nest with his mother and other chicks. The eagle chick witnessed his family’s slaughter at the claws of other birds. Flung from the nest, the eagle chick learned the brutal reality of hatred.
The tortoise came into the world peacefully, hatching alongside several others. He grew up in a nurturing family environment, playing with his siblings and their mother. A childhood that taught him the values of love and family. However, the tortoise’s life was not all fun and games. As he grew older, the odd pattern on his shell set him apart - a large “X”. ‘Stay away from him. X marks the spot! He’s nothing but a big target!’ one of the other tortoises called out, while some others pointed and laughed at the tortoise. He was different and soon his company was not welcomed among the other tortoises, and while they played, he found himself spending much of his time alone.
Unsurprisingly, the eagle’s early years were anything but idyllic. With no one to turn to, he taught himself to fly. And soon after spreading his wings, the eagle was quickly to learn the skill of the hunt. It was survival of the fittest, as life had taught him. Caring not for size or stature, the eagle was fearless in choosing his prey - from a mouse to an antelope.
When warm meat was scarce, the eagle often flew to the grasslands where there was prey of a different sort - tortoises. On this day, the playing tortoises look up, and seeing the eagle swoop down towards them, retreated into their shells. The eagle dropped down amongst the tortoises, he had to work a little harder for his meal - the tortoises never ran or put up much of a fight. But on this day, ‘Stop!’ the x-marked tortoise cries out, and the eagle goes wide-eyed, surprised. He turns around to see the tortoise walking towards him. ‘Please leave them be. There are easier ways for you to find your next meal’ the tortoise exclaims. The eagle announces that he prefers cold blood on such a hot day. ‘Then take me instead. I offer myself in exchange for their lives’ the tortoise announces. The eagle laughs, and asks the tortoise what kind of fool he is, sacrificing himself? ‘They were… they are my friends’ the tortoise responds. ‘As you wish’ the eagle declares, picking the x-marked tortoise up with his claws, carrying him through the air.
The eagle tells the tortoise that those cowards would not have saved his life had their positions been reversed. ‘Possibly. But I cannot forget the friendship we once shared…even if they have’ the tortoise replies, before remarking that the eagle has quite the view from up here. ‘You’re not scared?’ the eagle asks, before setting down on a large rock, high above the ground. ‘I might as well enjoy the scenery as it’s bound to be the last thing I see’ the tortoise points out. The eagle tells the tortoise that his outlook on life is an interesting one. ‘I have a feeling that you’re not going to kill me, eagle’ the tortoise responds. ‘Really? And how can you be so sure of that?’ the eagle asks. The tortoise tells the eagle that he has a sense about these things. ‘You’ve led a solitary and painful life, yet you still hold onto a spark of hope that you won’t be alone forever. That’s why you’ll spare my life’.
Furiously, the eagle shouts ‘How dare you? You know nothing of my life!’ but the tortoise tells the eagle that his eyes show everything he needs to know, as he sees the fire in the eagle’s eyes. The eagle turns from the tortoise and walks over to the edge of the rock, ‘The demons I carry are mine alone’ the eagle states. The tortoise offers to help the eagle keep them at bay. ‘After all I’ve done?’ the eagle asks. ‘You’re not the only one in need of a friend’ the tortoise points out.
As the days grew to months, so did the two grow to become friends. Other birds would look on, perplexed as they would see an eagle carrying a tortoise. And as the two friends played in the water, another tortoise would watch them, confused. The tortoise was able to see the hope inside the eagle and provide him with the comfort and companionship he had long desired. The eagle accepted the tortoise for who he was and looked past their differences, simply enjoying the fact that he finally had a friend - even sharing leaves with the tortoise, although he doesn’t look very happy eating them. Perched together in a tree watching the sunset, they found peace together.
Demons were laid to rest and a trust was formed between them. As they relaxed one day on their rock under the sun, they learn that trust is easily shattered as several eagles flew over them. ‘What -?’ the tortoise exclaims. ‘No!’ the eagle shouts. Trust is often shattered by tragedy. The eagle attacks the others to defend his friend, and feathers fly in a flurry - until all of the other eagles lie motionless in a pile under the eagle. The tortoise looks over at his friend, bewildered. Their eyes are locked on each other, until the eagle turns away. ‘Don’t… don’t worry. It will be all right’  thetortoise calls out. But the eagle exclaims that it won’t. ‘Do you see what I mean about demons? Mine will always haunt me! They’ll never be laid to rest!’ he declares, covering his face with his wings. ‘Don’t think that way. Together we can -’ the tortoise begins, but the eagle tells him that it is not safe and that he is a danger to him, to all those around him. ‘Stay away!’ he shouts, and taking flight, the eagle bids farewell to the tortoise, assuring him that he has enjoyed the time they have spent together. ‘But I must spend the rest of my days… alone’ he announces. ‘No! Wait!’ the tortoise cries out, yet his call goes unanswered.
Despite the eagle’s actions and warnings, the tortoise refused to give up on his friend. He crawls down off the rock in search of the eagle, and with the help of a few newfound friends - insect, crocodile and frog, the tortoise was able to locate the eagle’s lair - a fact that did not escape the notice of the sharp-eyed eagle. The eagle drops down out of the nest and as he hovers in the air tells the tortoise that he wishes he could say it was good to see him again, but instead, he is disappointed that the tortoise did not respect his wishes. ‘Tortoises are just as hard of head as we are of shell’ the tortoise responds.
The eagle tells the tortoise that the years have not been kind, and there is no telling what he would do when hungry. ‘I don’t want to hurt you’ the eagle warns. ‘I don’t think you will’ the tortoise replies. ‘I’m not the same eagle you once knew. Leave me be’ the eagle responds. ‘I didn’t come all this way to turn back so quickly. I’m staying right here’ the tortoise announces as he starts to climb the tree. ‘Then you place your life in peril’ the eagle calls back.
The tortoise remains true to his word and stays at the base of the tree, hoping to eventually speak with the eagle. But as the days pass with no luck, the tortoise decides he has to take matters into his own “hands”. When he spied the eagle leaving his next, he makes arrangements to pay a visit, and with the help of the bat, who drops the tortoise into the eagle’s nest, hopes he can talk some sense into his long-lost friend.
But, inside the nest,  the tortoise is shocked to see it littered with bones - and tortoise shells. ‘NO!’ the tortoise shouts. ‘Killing has become all I know. Now do you see the monster I am?’ the eagle asks as he sets back down into the nest. ‘I warned you for your own good! But it’s clear now you’ll never listen!’ the eagle exclaims as he stretches his claws out to grab tortoise, picking tortoise up, he flies through the air. ‘Please, don’t do this! Don’t let your demons consume you once and for all!’ the tortoise pleads. Eagle tells him that it was only a matter of time, that there is nothing he could have done. ‘But thank you for trying. Goodbye…forever this time’ and with that, the eagle drops the tortoise from a great height. ‘NOOOOO!’ the tortoise screams as he plummets to certain doom.
The tortoise retreats into his shell, which cracks upon impact. ‘Arrrggh! My legs…’ the tortoise screams, unable to move, and his shell cracked in the form of a “X”. The eagle hovers in the air and watches: ‘You survived? Unbelievable…’. ‘I live… and I have you to thank for that’ the tortoise announces. ‘What?’ the eagle asks as he drops to the ground. ‘You could have dropped me from a greater height, somewhere other than over this soft, grassy plain. You chose not to. Your actions…your nature…allowed me to live’ the tortoise points out. ‘After all I’ve done? How can you say such things? Won’t you just accept the truth?’ the eagle replies. The tortoise tells the eagle that there is still good in his heart, and that he will make him see that. ‘You’ve only served to strengthen my belief in you’. The eagle turns away from the  tortoise and tells him that he is a fool and that he will never see the error of his ways. ‘I’ll go where you’ll never find me, to places you can’t possibly now travel’. The tortoise tells the eagle to do what he wishes, but that he will never give up on him. The eagle takes flight, leaving tortoise on the ground. The trust they once shared was eroded. Their bond was all but broken. But the friendship of the tortoise and the eagle would never end… as long as there was hope.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
To Die in Dreams
A small town in the countryside:
The sun shines down on a clear day. Outside a butchery, several skinny dogs wait by the door. And at the Red Rose Tailor Shoppe, a young man with a scarf wrapped around his eyes stitches some material with a needle and thread, as a crystal ball speaks to him: ’I don’t know why you continue to torture yourself… it’s not as if the girls in this village lie awake at night dreaming of blind tailors. Why bother with bridal dresses if you’re never going to find yourself a wife?’ the crystal ball asks. The young man holds the ball up and exclaims ‘I’d tell you to bite your tongue if you had one, Ball’. An image of a blond boy in the ball pokes his tongue out, then a snake appears, followed by a dog, both baring their fangs. ‘If you could only see me now’ the crystal ball declares.
The blind tailor turns his attention to a red dress and tells the ball that having to listen to it is punishment enough. ‘Just you wait and see. I’ll find the right woman one day!’ he boasts. ‘Oh, I’ll see, all right… as I usually do the seeing for both of us’ the ball replies, suggesting to the young man that he should have listened an hour ago when he tried to remind him that Grandma Darkholme is waiting for the cloak she ordered for her granddaughter’s birthday. ‘Oh, no! Where is it?’ the young man asks, turning away from the red dress. The ball tells him that the cloak is to his left. ‘Steer me straight! Make sure I don’t run into anything this time’ the young man tells the ball after he collects the cloak and picks the ball up, he steps out of his shop.
Later, the ball guides the young man through a forest and tells him to lift his feet as the roots are pretty thick through this stretch. ‘Boy, talk about a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I thought the old lady was going to bite my head off’ the young man sighs. ‘You should have seen the look in her eyes!’ the crystal ball declares, an image of Grandma Darkholme’s eye appearing in the ball. ‘Well, we made it out alive and got paid. Be thankful for the little things -’ the young man begins, as the eye tells him to turn left. ‘What? You better not be joking around again! I don’t find bumping into trees funny…’ the tailor replies. ‘No! There’s a light coming from under a thicket of brush over there’ the ball reveals. The tailor continues through the forest, and the ball tells him to push aside the branches ahead. He does so, and steps out into a brightly-lit field, where orange and yellow leaves blow in the breeze, and a casket with a glass case has been laid in the field. A young red-haired woman in a green dress lies in the casket.
The young man kneels down and touches the casket. ‘It feels like glass… what is this?’ he enquires. ‘Something I don’t think we were meant to find. We should just cover it back -’ the ball suggests, but the young man asks if it is a box of some kind. ‘This is no concern of ours. We should be going-’ the ball suggests, but the young tailor clinks his ring against the box and declares that it is a glass box. ‘A coffin, more likely…’ the ball announces. The young man asks the ball if he can see what is inside, what the box contains. The ball doesn’t answer. The tailor finds a handle on the side of the coffin and clicks it open. There is a whooshing noise as the lid raises, and the tailor declares that the air is so warm. ’Please don’t! This feels wrong!’ the ball calls out. Reaching into the casket, the young man feels around and touches the young woman’s face. ‘There’s a person in here. A woman… there’s a woman in here!’ he announces, touching her face, he reaches for her lips. ‘What are you doing?’ the ball asks, as the young man leans into the casket and puts his lips on the young woman’s.
The tailor pulls away and rubs the scarf covering his eyes. ‘I… I don’t know what came over me… I was drawn to her. Like she was calling for me’ he announces. The ball remains silent. The young woman’s face appears blank, motionless - until her eyes open and a fiery glow radiates. Her eyes close, and then open again - green and bright. ‘Where… where am I?’ she asks as she sits up in the casket. ‘Who are you?’ she asks the young man, who announces that he is a lowly tailor who was lucky enough to find her here. ‘But who am I? And what was I doing here?’ the girl enquires. The young man asks her if she doesn’t know her own name, or how she came to be locked away in these woods? ‘No… no I don’t remember anything’ she replies, before starting to sob. The tailor asks the ball what he is supposed to do now, and the ball radiates with energy.
The tailor tells the young woman that he can see her, a picture of her in his mind. ‘You… you’re beautiful’ he declares. The young woman thanks him, and the tailor asks how this is possible. ‘It must be a sign of some kind…’ the young woman begins. ‘Or an omen’ the crystal ball suggests. The young woman climbs out of the casket and as she walks alongside the tailor, who holds his crystal ball, the sunsets over them. The ball tells them that there is no much they can do out in these woods, so they should head back to the village and try to figure things out from there. The tailor tells the ball that it is right, they should head home where they will be more comfortable and safer. ‘Who knows what dangers lurk out there?’ he adds.
Back in town, an elderly man holds up a large game bird, while another man, older than the tailor, carries a large pig over his shoulder. His apron pockets contain various knives. He looks outside the window, and sees the young man and the young woman in the village. He storms out of the butchery, other civilians gather nearby. ‘Alive and kicking, eh?’ the butcher growls, declaring that it is time to do what he should have done in the first place.
Inside the tailor’s shop, the young woman holds a cup and drinks from it. ‘That should warm you up…’ the young man tells her. The red-haired woman thanks him and tells him that he is too kind. He then motions around his shoppe and asks her if anything she sees sparks any memories. ‘I know it’s not much, but I just thought maybe there’d be something here to take you back… make you remember some of your past’ he suggests. The young woman looks at the red dress, then at a pair of scissors on a table. The scissors remind her of a set of metal claws and she leaps to her feet, ‘Noooo!’ she screams, throwing her hot drink to the ground. The crystal ball shows an image of the scissors as the young woman tells the tailor to get them away. ‘What’s wrong? What did you remember?’ the tailor asks. ‘Something here must have set her off…the scissors on the table to your left!’ the ball announces. The tailor picks them up and asks the young woman if these are what she is afraid of.
The young woman screams, and the tailor remarks ‘I guess so…’ as he tosses the scissors into a drawer. ‘Ouch’ the ball remarks, an image of an ear appearing in the ball. ‘No, not again. I don’t want to remember… I can’t let it happen again. I don’t want to hurt -’ the young woman exclaims, holding up her hand. ‘Who hurt you? What did they put you through?’ the tailor asks, before holding up the red dress, and suggesting that her clothes must be wet from the spilled tea, so she should change while they try to find the village doctor. ‘Thank you’ the young woman smiles.
Soon: ‘Hello? Kind sir, are you back?’ the young woman asks, emerging from behind some curtains, she no longer looks innocent, but now a temptress, dressed in the revealing red dress. ‘Nah, your boyfriend ain’t back yet, but I figured I’d drop in and check on ya’ someone standing in the shadows replies. ‘Make sure you weren’t up to your old tricks… Princess’ the butcher addresses her. ‘Princess? What? Do I know you? Do you know me?’ the young woman asks, energy glowing around her. ‘Don’t play dumb with me, Red’ the butcher replies. He holds up a knife and tells the princess that she is now talking out of here alive - that he is not going to make that same mistake a second time.
‘STOP!’ the young tailor shouts as he re-enters his shop. The crystal ball warns him to be careful, alerting him to the fact that the butcher has a knife. The butcher pulls out a second knife, and suggests he stay out of this. ‘I got no grudge with you’ he assures him, warning the tailor that he has no idea what kind of trouble he has dragged into their village. ‘You want her for yourself, don’t you?’ the young man asks, declaring that he is not going to let the butcher take her. ‘I love her!’ he reveals. ‘What? Have you lost your mind?’ the crystal ball asks. ‘So she’s already got you under her spell, does she?’ the butcher asks. ‘Stay low!’ the ball tells the tailor, who has picked up the scissors and holds them up - they clang against the butcher’s knives. ‘Not bad for a blind man! But don’t think that ball’s gonna be able to block this!’ the butcher declares as he reaches forward with the knives, slashing at anything before him.
The princess touches her cheek, a scratch reveals blood, which trickles down her face. She looks confused, before licking the blood with her tongue as it touches her lips. Her eyes glow again with the fiery energy, and she grins wickedly. An instant later, the shoppe is destroyed in a fiery explosion as the princess bursts forth into the sky, an evil laugh resonates through the night sky, which is brightly lit by the phoenix emblem that her energy creates. She stares down at the village below, ‘You thought you could erase my memory and place me in eternal slumber? You fool!’ she snarls at the butcher who, along with the tailor, looks up at her in the sky. ‘I’ll show you mere mortals the folly of your ways! My wrath upon these lands will now be doubled!’ she warns them, before flying off into the night.
‘Damn! No telling what she’ll do… I’ve got to get after her!’ the butcher announces. Holding the crystal ball, the tailor asks the butcher what kind of evil he has unleashed on them. The butcher suggests to the tailor that he move his hand before he loses it. ‘And where do you get off blaming me? You’re the one who woke her up’ he adds. ‘Woke who up? Just who the hell is she?’ the tailor asks. ‘Ever hear the story of the Witch Who Never Dies?’ the butcher asks. The tailor asks if it is the sorceress who lives forever by inhabiting the bodies of young princesses, and adds that everyone knows that old wives’ tale. ‘Well, that “old wives’ tale” just blew up your house!’ the butcher points out. ‘You can’t possible mean…?’ the tailor asks. ‘That’s exactly what I mean. That was her!’ the butcher responds, adding that he should have killed her once and for all after what she did the last time.
‘And just what did she do last time?’ the blind tailor asks. As they walk through the forest, the butcher announces that he will reveal this on their way, but they need to get moving before her trail gets cold. ‘Where?’ the tailor asks. The butcher tells him that he figures it, waking her up makes him just as responsible as he for making her remember. ‘So we’re going after her together. You and me’ he declares. ‘How could you possibly expect a blind man to be of any use -?’ the crystal ball enquires, but the tailor tells the ball that the butcher is right, this is their fault and they need to see it right. ‘And I need to “see” her again’ he whispers.
(Shown with flashback images)
The butcher reveals that the last time the Witch in a fiery form was seen was across the borders in the lands to the far north, where, long believed to be dead, she seemingly rose from the ashes to possess the body of the red-haired princess there. She wanted the kingdom for her own and single-handedly fought the armies dispatched against her to claim it. They never stood a chance. Warriors, witches and wizards of all kinds tried to stop her. No one stood a chance. Then, just as all hope was lost, a single man, the knight who was to marry her, was able to defeat the princess with nothing more than his heart. In the end, it wasn’t any weapon that won the day, it was the simplest by most powerful of emotions - love. And the knight and the princess were never seen or heard from again.
(Present)
The blind tailor asks the butcher why the knight didn’t kill the princess then and there - why not take her life and end the danger once and for all? The butcher replies that the answer to that is quite simple actually - for even after everything that she did, ‘He still loved her’ the witch calls out as she suddenly appears in the forest. ’He raised his sword against her, but couldn’t deliver the killing blow’ the witch smiles, looking at the butcher. ’Isn’t that right, my merciful knight?’ she asks. ’Yeah, love can make you do stupid things’ the butcher calls out as he leaps forward, knives outstretched, he aims for the witch. ’Good thing I got smart’ he tells her. The witch responds by grabbing the butcher with a large fiery claw, and bringing him close to her. They gaze into each other’s eyes, before kissing. ’Good thing I did too’ the witch replies, before slamming the butcher against the ground, draining him of life.
‘And what of you now, tailor? Do you wish the same fate that befell your friend?’ the witch asks, appearing before the blind tailor as the princess. The tailor replies that he wishes for but one thing - ‘If you’re going to kill me, I would like to see you one more time before I die. Yours is a beauty I would take to my grave’ he announces. The scissors from the shoppe are strapped to the tailor’s back, as he tells the witch that he was under no spell, that her face is the only face he has ever truly seen. ‘I instantly fell in love with you…at first sight’ he reveals. ‘As you wish’ the witch replies, reaching out to touch the crystal ball. She appears suddenly without the energy glowing around her, then screams, and her head rolls back, before she collapses to the ground.
‘What did you do?’ the princess asks as she gets to her feet. ‘I hoped that love, my love for you, would be able to break the spell you’re under’. He adds that she would see the error of her ways and her true nature would emerge. ‘It worked. But I fear it’s only temporary. I can feel her fighting for control of me again’ the princess calls out. She tells the tailor that there is only one thing he can do. He holds the scissors, and hands them to her but tells her ‘No, I can’t...I love you’. The princess tells him that spell is already starting to take hold, and she can’t do it herself. ‘If you love me…’ her voice trails off as together, the tailor and the princess push the scissors into the princess’ chest. They kiss, and shove the scissors in further. As the sun rises, the tailor carries the princess out of the forest.