Continuation.....

Meanwhile, atop the roof of the theater, Spiral sat, surrounded by Meltdown,
Shatterstar, and Angel, who all looked at her expectantly.

"I loved him, you know." She finally admitted.

"Longshot?" Tabitha asked, to be answered with a nod.

"With all my heart. But Mojo twisted that love into hate. He sent me back in
time, to stop me from ever meeting Longshot, and tainting my heart with that
love." Warren coughed, interrupting her.

"Excuse me, but, wouldn’t that be a paradox?" he demanded. "If you never met
Longshot, how could Mojo turn you into Spiral?" The witch merely smiled.

"You Earthers have such a limited concept of space-time. I never was that
Rita, and I always was. You call yourself Warren Worthington, yet you are not
the same man that Charles Xavier took in, those years past." She spat. Warren
looked offended.

"My body has changed, but my soul is the same. I AM Warren Worthington,
despite what my body may say." He claimed. Spiral laughed sharply.

"A soul? Does that define who we are?" she cackled. "Then hear this, that I
exist not." She pointed at Shatterstar. "But the soul, that is the key of his
existence."

"Explain yourself, woman." Shatterstar spoke, bringing himself to sit before
her. "You know who I am. Tell me." He pleaded.

Tabitha glanced from Spiral to Shatterstar and back again. I’ve never seen him
so… humble…, she thought to herself. Whatever Spiral had to say, Statterstar’s
every fiber of being hinged on it. Softly, she spoke;

"Mojo was deposed, and the planet was Longshot’s to rule. But he refused to be
a tyrant king like Mojo, or a feeble-minded puppet like his successor, Mojo
II. He was a good king, IS a good king. And his wife, she was a Queen in every
sense of the word.

"She went to her people who were hungry, and she fed them. Not only in body,
but also in spirit. Every bit of the woman I was yearned to love her, to swear
fealty to her as a queen. But my spite was still greater, and my jealousy
greater still.

"So I plotted with our darkest mages and our most cunning scientists. Soon the
Queen was with child, and my plan was complete. When their son was born, I
danced the most forbidden of dances, the spell of Soul Theft."

Around her, a collective gasp sounded. "You killed a BABY?" Tabitha screeched,
reeling back. Spiral shook her head.

"I should have. It would have been less evil. I took his very life essence.
Uemeur, the mystics call it. And I placed it into a vatgrown body, physically
identical in every way. I had Longshot’s child, mine in every way save for the
most essential one.

"When I realized that they would find me out, the boy was already too old to
hide easily. The King and Queen had taken their child to Earth, where they
thought their doctors could save him. And so I feared they would find out my
deception. So I took the boy back through time, and hid him where no one would
dare search for him."

"In the slave pits of the gladiators." Shatterstar whispered. He looked up,
through eyes unreadable for any emotion. "They dubbed him ‘Gaveedra’, the name
given to all foundlings. He was one of many, and when he was old enough to
fight, he took the name ‘Gaveedra 7’, in honor of six of his brothers who had
fallen in the arena."

Spiral nodded. "And I watched him, realizing that if I used my magicks to keep
him safe, they would discover, and he would be killed. I watched every battle,
dreading the day I would see my son slain. But like his father, he was
special. And like his father, he would become a hero. He dared defy Mojo, and
fled to Earth to seek aid in his mad quest."

"And he met up with X-Force…" Tabitha breathed out in a rush. "But what was
the deal with Longshot’s real son? Dazzler’s baby? Did he ever get well?"
Spiral looked hard into Shatterstar’s face.

"I should say that he has. When I realized that Gaveedra was no longer mine, I
took their child from where he lay, living his entire life comatose. I worked
my magicks, but to no avail. I had stolen his soul, and could not return it.
My heart was impure, and the magick shied from me. So I ensured that no one,
not Longshot, nor his wife, would ever find the child. I put him into the care
of the Weisman Institute, and used my connections from Freedom Force to create
a false identity for him. And I named him,"

"Benjamin Russell." Shatterstar whispered.

"Benjamin Russell" Spiral nodded. Meltdown sat down hard on the rooftop.

"Wow. And I thought MY family was whacked." Spiral stood, turning to face the
courtyard.

"Because of my hatred and my black, black heart, I ruined the lives of the
only two men that I ever loved." She drew her sword from its scabbard, flipped
it over, and presented the hilt to Shatterstar, who gingerly took it. She
knelt, closing her eyes.

"Make your justice quick." She breathed. Shatterstar nodded. He raised the
sword high.

Behind him, Tabitha leaped to her feet. Warren stepped forward, putting his
arm across the blonde girl’s chest.

"It’s his choice, Tabs." She bit her lip.

"’Star, no…" she whispered. Shatterstar’s muscles rippled as he held the
silver blade high, jaw set as if in stone. Then, he brought the sword down
savagely.

Instead of striking undefended flesh, though, it struck the stone of the
rooftop, shattering into millions of shining pieces. Spiral opened her eyes,
not daring to look up. Softly, Shatterstar knelt, pulling her to her feet. As
they both stood silently, neither having any expression on their faces, time
seemed to stop.

Then, gingerly at first, Shatterstar put his arms around the sorceress and
embraced her. Startled, then overcome by emotion, Spiral clutched the young
man tightly. And for the first time since they had known him, Warren and
Tabitha saw Shatterstar weep.

"Wow." gasped Tabitha. "That’s something new."

"It’s called forgiveness." Came a voice from behind them all. The four of them
whirled to see Longshot standing across the roof. Tension mounted as he
crossed the distance, standing in front of Spiral. The witch was silent once
more. Longshot placed a hand under her chin, forcing her to look into his
eyes. His eye blazed with the magic that was his power, his wild luck.

"I heard. Every word. I know now that you are more evil than I ever imagined."
Spiral tried to look away, but was caught in his strong grip. "You would have
destroyed everything I hold dear, you put me and Alison through years of
mourning and loss." He released her suddenly, drawing his own sword from his
side. No one dared move.

"And if my…" he paused, looking at Shatterstar, "my son… chooses to forgive
you…" he raised the sword slowly, then brought it down across his knee,
breaking it cleanly.

"Then so shall I."

And in the awkward, heartfelt embrace that followed between the three, no one
noticed two mutants slipping away off the rooftops, unwilling to interfere.



"Rogue?" the weak voice came from the bed.

"Ah’m here, Ali." Rogue answered. The others had returned from the rooftop,
and taken turns watching by Alison’s side. Rogue and Longshot stood alone now,
as the dawn slowly approached.

"I’m here too, my love." Longshot whispered. Alison smiled.

"It’s time." She breathed. Longshot embraced her tightly.

"No!" he swore. "Fight! Fight for just one more hour with me, my love." She
smiled, weakly placing her arms over his shoulders.

"Do this for me then, love?" she said, with a small amount of strength to her
voice.

"Anything." He responded. She slowly pulled herself up to a sitting position.

"Get me out of this bed, I need to see them." She whispered.

"We’re all here, Ali." spoke Warren, emerging from a nearby room. Shatterstar
followed, dressed in raiment suiting a prince. Alison gasped, looking slowly
at him, then at Longshot.

"Our… our son?" she asked, voice choked with tears. Shatterstar nodded. "My
son, my beautiful son…" she whispered. She raised her arms, and the boy once
called Ben Russell rushed to his mother, holding her as tightly as he dared.
Behind him, Spiral stood in the shadows, one sole tear falling from her face.

"I want to see them all, our people." Alison managed to say. "They have come
so far for their Queen, let me sing for them, one last time." Longshot smiled,
lifting his wife from the bed.

"We shall give the people their Queen." was all he would say.



As the sun began to cast its faint light over the horizon, the people of
Mojoworld looked up as one, as the familiar hum of speakers began to sound.
One by one, monitors flickered, casting the image of the Royal Stage to the
entire planet. Every man, woman, and child hushed themselves reverently and
watched intently.

Slowly, like clouds parting, the curtains swept aside, revealing Alison
Blaire, gaunt but standing, clad in her blue bodysuit with the golden
starburst, clutching a microphone stand like a lifeline. In the wings behind
her, Longshot stood, with his son beside him and Warren, Rogue, and Tabitha
behind them. Alison coughed, then spoke into the microphone, as if she had
never left it behind for the life of royalty.

"My people, my beloved people… it has been the greatest honor of my life to
love you, and be loved by you. It’s been all a girl who started out singing
along with Motown’s Greatest on the radio could hope for. I can’t say… I can’t
say I regret any of it." With that, she looked offstage and smiled at her
husband. She gestured towards him. "The other love of my life." She claimed
with a smile. Slowly, then with a building crescendo, the crowds applauded.

And Alison Blaire, the Dazzler, basked in the sound. She felt her powers
charging, more than they had in years. And like the tide rushing back, she
felt the sickness ebb. She knew, though, that it was illusion, and that this
would be her final performance.

She would make it her greatest.

"This is an old one, but a good one." She stammered, as awkwardly as a new
performer, not at all like one born to the stage. She raised an arm, and a
slow piano melody began. And she sang, with a soft, clear voice.

I don’t know where the years have gone

Memories can only last so long

Like fading photographs, forgotten songs

And the things I never knew

When the skin is thin, the heart shows through

Please believe me, what I tell you is true

Warren watched with tears in his eyes, remembering the vibrant woman he had
once romanced, back when he was a majestic winged playboy, king of the skies.
Now he was changed, more mature, wiser. And she… well, Alison was a queen. And
deserving every moment. He listened as she began the chorus as the piano
continued.

Where’s the lights, turn them on again

One more night to believe and then

One more note for my requiem

A memory to carry on

The story’s over when the crowds are gone

A lone guitar broke in, following the melody softly as Alison kept the song
going. She felt her knees begin to weaken. Finish this! She swore to herself.
And in the shadows above, six hands danced slowly. By all the gods there every
were, she will finish this. Spiral promised.

All my friends have been crucified

They made life a long suicide, true

Guess we never figured out the rules

But I’m still alive and my fingers feel

I’m gonna play on until the final reel’s through

And read the credits from a different view

"Oh Ali…" whispered Rogue. Ah wish Ah had your strength, girl. Here you are,
your last breaths, and you’re giving ‘em to these people. God bless you,
songbird. The music swelled as the drums sounded, bring Ali back into the
chorus.

Where’s the lights, turn them on again

One more night to believe and then

One more note for my requiem

A memory to carry on

The story’s over when the crowds are gone

Shatterstar watched in silence. He had never seen Alison Blaire in person
before this day, but when he had seen old footage of her concerts on
television, every time he had seen her, he had felt an unspoken connection.
Mother… the word came to his mind. He wanted so much to run to her side, but
instead merely watched, amazed, at the woman who gave him life giving her life
to those he loved. Including her son.

The music burst into a harsh beat as the key and tempo shifted. Alison gripped
the microphone, raising her head to the sky and pouring her heart into her
voice as she sang.

When the crowds are gone, and I’m all alone

Playing the saddest song, now that the lights are gone

Turn them on again, one more time for me my friend

Turn them on again…

The crowd could see the tears pouring down her face as she sang. This was her
swan song, her farewell performance. Tabitha Smith listened, eyes closed,
swaying on the balls of her feet. She remembered being eight years old, with
her hair moussed out, singing along with her Alison Blaire cassettes into a
brush that was her microphone. As times changed, her tastes did as well, but
hearing the Dazzler’s voice brought all her childhood pleasures back. Tabitha
swayed and sang along quietly as Alison continued.

I never wanted to know, never wanted to see

I wasted my time till time wasted me

Never wanted to go, always wanted to stay

‘Cause the person I am are the parts that I play

So I ploy and I plan, I hope and I scheme

To the lure of a night filled with unfinished dreams

And I’m holding on tight to a world gone astray

As they charge me for years I can no longer pay…

Alison began to waver on stage, holding onto the microphone for support. In a
flash, her husband went to her side, looking into her eyes and singing the
farewell again with her.

Turn them on again, turn them on again

Turn them on again

Turn them on… again…

I never wanted to know, never wanted to see

I wasted my time till time wasted me

I never wanted to go, always wanted to stay

‘Cause the person I am are the parts I play…



Slowly, Alison slid into her lover’s arms, giving him a soft smile. "It… it’s
been luck, hasn’t it? Luck brought us together and gave us all this, wasn’t
it?" Longshot shook his head.

"Luck may have brought us together, Alison, but love brought us the rest of
the way." With that, he kissed her for the final time. She placed her cheek
against his palm, then closed her eyes slowly. With eyes filling with tears,
Longshot slowly knelt, laying her body on the stage and crossing her arms over
her chest. In death, she was as beautiful as she had been in life, still
shining with the light from her powers.

He stood, looking out at his people. Every one of them stood still, mourning
their Queen. With trembling fingers, Longshot reached down and took the
microphone from his wife’s hand as the piano slowed to the same slow melody it
had begun with.

He would finish the song.

And the lights, turn them off my friend

And the ghosts, well, just let them in

‘Cause in the dark, it’s easier

To see…

His voice was strained with the weight of a million sorrows as he finished the
final note. And as if on cue, the stage lights winked out, one by one, until
the body of the Queen was illuminated one final time, then the last of her
power faded, and all was dark.

Finally, in the darkness, Tabitha whispered, "’Star?"

"I am here, Tabitha." She felt a hand slip into hers and squeeze. Feathered
wings rustled as Warren placed an arm over Shatterstar’s shoulders and gave a
supportive nod. Rogue, in turn, embraced the red-haired youth, then walked
over to where Spiral stood in the darkness.

"What’re y’all gonna do now?" she asked.

"Mourn." Spiral replied honestly. "But first, I shall send you home."

"And where is my home now?" came Shatterstar’s reply. Longshot stepped over to
his son.

"Wherever you like. You are more than welcome to remain here, you know."
Shatterstar looked to Tabitha, who nodded slowly.

"I… I would like that. Father." He spoke quietly. Longshot nodded, then
embraced his son.

"Let’s go home." whispered Warren. "We’ve got to break the news to the
others."

"But not right now…" answered Rogue, as she walked over to Longshot and
Shatterstar, joining their joint embrace.

"Yeah, not right now…" Warren whispered, walking after her. They would stay,
and grieve, and commiserate. But in the end, they would live on.

Even after the crowds had gone.