Author's Note: This is the first X-men story that I have ever posted.  I'm not too great at accents, so I'm not even going to try…sorry folks.  Anyways, this is an AU based during my version of medieval times (there are kings, queens, et cetera).  This is my dimension so sorry if there are some facts wrong or if I mention a figure in history that technically comes later in life.  I'm not too sure about the couplings yet, except that this will be a definite ROMY.  Please request any other couples that you may want to make an appearance in my story.  Opinions and criticism are always welcome….Enjoy!

= change in scene

Blah = thoughts

The scene begins in a small cozy cottage along the banks of a river. Inside a little girl, about four years of age, is trying desperately to fight sleep's hold on her as she listened to her aunt who was telling her a bed-time story. The petite girl was wearing her forest green nightshirt that came up to her knees.  She is unpinning her naturally curly brunette hair as we speak from their usual places atop her head. As the beautiful locks cascade down her shoulders we can see unusual snowy white tresses that mar her brown hair. Some how these unruly bangs of hers manage to accent her pale completion in just the right way that it also complements her sparkling green eyes, which are often mistaken and compared to beautiful emerald jewels.

Beside her is an elderly woman clutching reciting her niece's favorite story. She too has brunette hair color with white streaks through it. Although, unlike the natural stripes of the girl, the ones in her hair were not a gift from birth but a gift from her years of life and experiences that one should not be subjected to go through, ever. The colors of her eyes are unknown for she always finds a way to hide them. The cause of this is her blindness. She virtually cannot see, but, unbeknown, to the girl she can use magic that enables her to see in her own special way. She can see the future and use powerful attacks, though only few for it often exhaust the body.  She is the most powerful sorceress of all the kingdoms combined. Her name is Irene Alders…also known as Destiny, and the stubborn little rogue child sitting atop the bed is none other than Angelique Darkholm, the foster daughter of Irene's good friend Raven, or rather, Mystique, the popular, ruthless queen of the Darkholm Kingdom.

Raven earned her nickname Mystique by being able to trick many with her façade of sincerity and peace. She was a witch among witches…and, of course, everyone was aware but no one said a word for they feared for their lives. One once said that she had a lady's whole family persecuted just because she commented about her dress at a party. Her comment wasn't supposed to have been offensive, but that was how Raven looked upon it.

Raven is the fiercest woman ever known to man, though, she was not always this way. Many say that she used to be as gentle as the summer breeze, but now she is as mean as a hurricane. The reason being is that she fell in love with a man once, she gave him her everything. She thought that he loved her back; almost as much as she loved him. Later she would find out it was all just a charade.

Late one night, on the rooftops of the castle she laid, looking up at the stars when down below she heard a rustling of leaves.  She peeked out and there before her was her precious lover, in an intimate moment with someone else. For days on end she neither slept nor ate. A few weeks afterwards she found herself listening into one of her lover's meetings for he just got back from 'an important voyage'. That night her worst fears came true. She found out that he was just using her in order to gain power of the throne. After their marriage he planned to kill her and re-marry the mystery woman that Raven saw the other night wrapped up in his arms.

She had him and his new 'lover' burned at the stake the next fortnight.

From that day on she had a heart as hard as stone. Those who knew her before hand were as loyal to her as a priest is to his Lord God. They would continue to stick by her side until their dying days. At some points she would even show her old self by allowing a little smile appear. These occasions were rare and the only time she would let it happen was in the presence of her children, or even at times with her closest friends. That is why her staff who she knew before, during, and after the occurrence of the love betrayal is still living in her castle and if not then they are living fairly well and are being cared for by their queen just as they had once cared for her. The only way that the new staff members are still alive after the countless mistakes made by one who is clearly inexperienced are all thanks to the compassion and/or rescues of Angelique and Kurt.   

Speaking of her children, the odd thing about Raven's relationship with those two is that they are nothing alike. The only thing that makes them even remotely the same as Raven are their appearances. Kurt, who most claims is the queen's second son, is very kind and easy-going; unlike his mother who is very strict and such. His fair complexion,  odd and unusual, but not unattractive, blue hair, and dark, doe eyes are that of his mother's. Ange's only appearance of her mother lies within her heart. She is as stubborn as her mother was and still is. Thankfully, Ange didn't get her looks from her father, the man who is responsible for Raven's coldness to outsiders, but rather she received the looks from her grandparents. Her brunette hair is that of her grandfather and the white streaks from her grandmother. Her eye and skin color is a mix from both. She often reminds Raven of her beloved deceased parents.

Currently, Queen Raven has pressing matters to attend to and has left Angelique in the trusting hands of her long-time friend and confidant. Along with Ange is her older brother, Kurt. They are both 'on vacation' with Lady Irene. This does not bother Irene though, for she loves them as if they were her own. Usually they do not see her because of the danger she might present to the castle. It is no secret that there are people that despise sorcery and for that, they hate this kind-hearted woman; although, everyone who live within this town love her and already see her as part of their countless families. Since she is of noble blood she has some riches which help her sustain her huge mansion, near the Darkholm's castle but still a ways away as to not pose a threat, and pay the servants for their help, most are actually reluctant to take it. She often donates money to help fund the town that surrounds her summer cottage. She is the sole pillar, along with Raven, and without them the town would have been destroyed by war or wither away from disease, hunger, or sickness. 

Currently, Irene is reading Angelique to sleep. She is so much harder to convince to sleep than her brother thought Irene as she read. Not that I mind at all…and at that she smiled. The book that Irene had committed to memory, and was presently reciting for Ange was a rendition of her town's beloved classic, The Glass Slipper: A Cinderella Tale. Now we see Ange's nodding off gaze as the story slowly closes to an end.

"…now I have my prince…' said Cinderella. '...And I my princess…' replied Prince Charming. With that they sealed their vows of love towards each other with true love's first kiss…… and lived happily ever after. The end," Irene said gently as she tucked Angelique to bed.

"Auntie Reeney?" Marie asked sleepily as Irene tucked her in. "Is it really possible for all of this to have happened? Are they real or made up? Do you think that I can find my prince as well?" she eagerly questioned.

At this surprising barrage of interrogations from someone who was suspected to have already been captivated in the land of dreams for quite sometime, Irene quietly chuckled at her niece's startling antics. "One question at a time….please Ange…I can barely keep up with what you're saying!" she replied in a teasing tone.

"Sorrie Auntie…," Ange said rather sheepishly. "What I meant to say was: is it possible for me to have a happy ending like her or are those things too much to ask for?" Choosing her words carefully as to not hurt the feelings of the girl she replied, "Well my dear, it all depends of how you look at it. Let you be the judge of this tale and let no one else tell you otherwise. Trust your beliefs, Ange, for in the future it is only what you choose to believe that will set you free. As for finding that prince of yours or your 'happy endings'…," Irene continued soothingly as Angelique quietly drifted to sleep,"…it is all your decision, your life, that decides whether you find him….or for him to find you for that matter, and yours alone to decide," Although I do doubt that your choice will stop him. She mentally added with a knowing smile. "Now then, sweet dreams my love. I shall see you in the morning," Irene said into Ange's ear as she gave her a goodnight kiss.  

A/N:  To clear some things up:

Angelique Darkholm- I don't know about you guys but I really liked this name.  I read someone else use this name for Rogue in one of their stories and I think I liked this better than Marie…plus…Ange, her nickname, also means angel in French.  I thought that it would be cute, even though Rogue is technically not that sweet but she's four right now. 

As for Kurt, I think that I might make him about two years older than Rogue.  That sound good?

So anyways…what did you think? Liked it? Hated it? Let me know how to improve or your thoughts about it….in other words…Review please!