The turnout was remarkable.

Ever since Professor Xavier was shot down by a sniper a few weeks back, that had been all that the media had talked about. It all began when someone got out to the news media that Professor Charles Xavier, the largest mutant supporter of all, was a mutant himself. Xavier held a press conference where he publically announced that this was true. It was at this time that he was gunned down by a mutant-hating sniper from a balcony.*

(* Back in M2K's Uncanny X-Men #4 - Dino)

The X-Men had expected a lot of people to show up, such as former X-Men and a goodly amount of mutants. However, it was amazing to see the number of people that actually did show up.

Not only mutants, but non-mutant heroes as well.

"Look at this..." Jean said. "Look at all the people the Professor touched with his message..."

Scott Summers said nothing, just put his arm around his wife. He was dressed in his blue and gold X-Men uniform, just as she was. Before the funeral had begun, the team had agreed that it would be best to dress in the X-Men training uniforms. Garbed in the Professor's colors was the best way to say goodbye to him.

"Let's go..." he said, as he took her hand in his own. "We always knew we would have to do this, sooner or later..."

Gambit didn't necessarily like wearing these X-Men uniforms. The colors were too damn bright. He pulled the collar of his brown trench coat up. That was his one condition to wearing the uniform, that he'd be able to wear his trademark trench coat over it.

He looked over at Rogue, dressed in the same training uniform he was, although she wore her own leather jacket over it. Her face was filled with sadness, and it seemed that she would burst out into tears at the drop of a hat.

"C'mon chere," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "It's time..."

Rogue touched his hand with her own, and feigned a smile.

"Ah know..." she said.

It had been years since Hank McCoy had worn the blue and gold uniform of the X-Men. The last time he had worn it was in his early days as an X-Man, before he grew blue fur all over his body. It was almost amazing that it still fit him.

Suddenly, he heard a hum of engines as an aircraft streaked overhead, and lowered itself to the ground.

"Oh my stars and garters..." he said.

The hatch of the Quinjet opened up, and the Avengers emerged from it.

"I hadn't expected to see you here," Beast said, walking over to the team.

"We felt it was best for us to be in attendance," Captain America replied, extending his hand. "It's good to see you again, Avenger. Too bad it was under these circumstances."

"Not Avenger," Beast said, taking his former leader's hand. "X-Man."

The funeral procession had begun as soon as it seemed everyone had showed up. The five original X-Men acted as pallbearers, while the rest of the team, including X-Force, Generation X, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, other heroes such as Spider-Man and Daredevil, as well as other heroes and former members of the X-Men, Excalibur, X-Factor, X-Force, and the New Mutants.

The procession continued down through the streets of New York. From an alleyway, four mutant turtles watched as the coffin containing the one man who might possibly understand them passed them by.

From a nearby rooftop, the Punisher looked down, his face as expressionless as always.

Not too far away, Deadpool watched on with a slight mixture of confusion.

The procession had continued until it finally reached the coffin's final resting place: the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning. At the very edge of the estate, was a small church house. This was the place where the Children of the Atom had come to bury their fallen.

And now, under a gravestone with a large X on the top of it, was where their founder would be buried.

The coffin was taken and placed just above the hole. Half of the casket was opened to reveal the upper body of Charles Xavier, lying in the deepest sleep.

One by one, people who attended the funeral passed by it, paying their respects to a man who had inspired so much in so many people.

Once this was finished, Scott Summers, code-named Cyclops by Xavier himself, stepped up to the podium. The sun shone off the lens of his ruby-quartz visor. Standing up there, his body stiff and rigid with tension, it looked as if he was emotionless.

However, just as Scott's mouth opened, the word that came forth was one no one expected.

"MAGNETO!!!!" he exclaimed.

The crowd looked up to see the form of Erik Magnus Lensherr, also called Magneto, the current ruler of Genosha, looking down at them. He was dressed in his crimson and purple armor, with his purple cape flowing behind him, his crimson helmet concealing his features.

"Of all the times!!" Quicksilver exclaimed. "Of all the times, you choose to launch an attack on THIS day?!"

Magneto slowly lowered himself to the ground, and the forcefield began to vanish.

"It's not that at all, my son," he said. He walked over to the open casket and removed his helmet. He looked down at the body of Professor Charles Xavier, the man he had once called friend. Though they drifted apart over the years, he still admired and honored that man, even in death. Now, he placed something inside the casket, on top of Xavier. It was a photograph, taken years ago in Israel, of Magneto, Xavier, and Gabrielle Hallar. He then closed the casket, and looked at Scott.

"You may continue, Cyclops."

Scott felt a bit uneasy, but finally cleared his throat, and looked out over the crowd.

"Professor Charles Xavier..." he began. "Where do I start? Professor Xavier was a man I had known for half my life. I had no family growing up. But, after I met him. After he had told me that I was a mutant, and had instilled in me the pride of taking up a dream which he had been dreaming for years. A dream that both humans and mutants could live in harmony. What he has done for me, I will never forget. Professor Xavier touched many people with his vision. The turnout of this crowd is proof enough of that. And, even after he almost caused the destruction of the Earth,* we still maintained our faith in him. Some of you may be wondering who I blame for the Professor's death. Do I blame Sam Maier, the reporter who told the world that Professor Xavier was a mutant? Do I blame the informant who told him this information? Do I blame the sniper who took his own life after killing the Professor?** The answer is no. I blame bigotry, and prejudice. If not for that, no one would have cared that Professor Xavier was a mutant. If not for that, that crazed mutant-hater armed with a gun would never have opened fire on Professor Xavier, and then take his own life. Professor Charles Xavier was more than a mentor to me. More than a friend, more than a leader. He was a father. Professor Charles Xavier was a father to all of mutantkind. Simply put, Professor Charles Xavier was the greatest man I've ever known."

(* In Marvel's now-classic Onslaught storyline - Dino)
(** Back in M2K's Uncanny X-Men #4--Dino)

Scott stepped down from the podium, where Jean was waiting for him. They immediately fell in an embrace, and looked on with sorrow as the casket lowered into the ground.

Scott Summers stood facing Sean Cassidy, also called Banshee, who was the headmaster of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters in Massachusettes, and the time-lost mutant known only as Bishop.

"Thank you for coming, Sean," Scott said. "It was good to see you again. And it's good to have you back with us as well, Bishop."

"I'm glad to be back," Bishop said.

"However, there's one other person who we'd like ta stay with ye," Sean said. "Clarice Ferguson, also called Blink."

Sean motioned to Clarice, who was talking with some of the other Generation X kids.

"But why?" Scott asked.

"The lass has had a fair amount o' trainin'," Sean replied. "Moreso than the rest o' th' children. She can explain it far better than I can, though, an' she wants ta stay here."

"We'll give her a trial run," Scott said. "See how she works out."

"I've also spoken with my sister, Shard," Bishop said. "She will also be staying with the team. Ever since X-Factor disbanded, she hasn't had much of a home, and now that I'm back, I think it would be best for her to remain with me."

Scott nodded.

"All right, we'll keep in touch, boyo," Sean said. He turned to the kids. "Saddle up, lads 'n' lassies, we're headin' home."

As goodbyes were exchanged, Scott was approached yet again.

"Excuse me, sir..."

He turned to look at Samuel Guthrie, otherwise known as Cannonball, the leader of X-Force.

"Ah just wanted ta say that ah'm sorry 'bout th' Professor," he said.

"Thanks Sam," Scott said. "Where's X-Force going next?"

"Ta tell ya th' truth, ah don't know," Sam replied. "Because I ain't goin' with them."

"What?" Scott asked. "Why?"

"This whole thing has made me realize that ah'd probably be more help here, with the X-Men, than I would leadin' X-Force."

"If you think that's what's right, Sam, then you're perfectly welcome to stay," Jean said, coming up behind them. "We could always use a helping hand."

NEXT ISSUE: Well, there isn't one. You heard right, X-Men is ending! So, instead of finding X-Men #6 next month, you'll find X-Men Omega #1!! But before you jump into that, you DEFINATELY need to read Uncanny X-Men #5!!! It's the one issue no X-fan should miss!! Also, read the X-Men Annual 2000, when Colossus makes a decision which affects both him and Shadowcat!!