X MEN: The Age of Apocalypse: THE CHAINS OF FATE

Rating: R

Author: Javed Chaudhry

Email Address: six_nites @ hotmail.com

Authors Note: This is the third installment of my own version of the Age of Apocalypse. The first two stories were mostly Scott Jean and Remy, but this is much more balanced, and consequently much harder to write. This is the continuation of Weaving in a Tapestry/Downfall. This is also probably the final installment in the series. The story is very changed from the original AoA story; in fact SKH says it should be an A/U to the real marvelverse, not AoA, hence the furthering of my OC's. However some basic elements were there. I am also a die hard S/J fan, and feel bloody pissed off with the way the New X-men story is going these days (though maybe issue 150 clears up some stuff.) Oh and though I prefer Rogue and Remy pairings, that's not the case here, sort of. It would be less confusing to read the others stories first, from the original Redux, then Downfall and then finally this one.

Disclaimer: I don't own X-men and I never will. I do own Sammael, Nidlen Halfbane, Shaman, Asmodeus, Astaroth, Archanfel, Galaire, Behamen, Gilgamesh, as well as Rumik, Lumina, Renegade, Quja, and a few other minor characters who I might have put into the story. Everything else is (probably) marvel owned. (Going Under, Whisper, Tourniquet, Taking over me, haunted, my last breath, bring me to life, my immortal, everybody's fool, imaginary, hello.)

Beta'd by: A Denial. (the pen name of A Lid, my previous-yet-same beta-er.)

Feedback: Please! Six_nites@hotmail.com

Again, things have changed. Again I shall make a list of the characters.

The Good guys:

The X-men:

Magneto: Erik Magnus Lensherr

Rogue:

Quicksilver: Pietro Maximoff

Scarlet Witch: Wanda Maximoff

Angel: Warren Worthington III

Iceman: Robert Drake

Colossus: Piotr Nikailovitch Rasputin

Shadowcat: Katherine 'Kitty' Pryde

Banshee: Sean Cassidy

Jean Grey

Weapon X: Logan

Nightcrawler: Kurt Wagner

Roulette: (A sub-group)

Gambit: Remy Lebeau

Psylocke: Elisabeth 'Betsy' Braddock

Storm: Ororo Munroe

Marrow: Sarah

Renegade: Gavin Fury Jr.

On The Hybrid:

Moira Trask (part of Human High Council)

Emma Frost

Helena Kahn

Sunfire: Shiro Yoshida

Blink: Clarice Ferguson

Sabretooth: Victor Creed

Know-it-all

Cyclops: Scott Summers

Human High Council:

Moira Trask

Brian Braddock

Mariko Yoshida

Susan Richards

Jonathan Storm

Dr. Victor von Doom

others

Leaving Avalon:

Destiny: Irene Adler

Mystique: Raven Darkholme

Juggernaut: Cain Marko

Black Tom Cassidy

The Bad Guys:

Apocalypse: En Sabah Nur

The Horsemen of Apocalypse:

Death: Shaman

Plague: Burke

War: Selene

Beast: Gideon - deceased

Holocaust: Nemesis

Mikhail Rasputin

The Externals:

Candra

Exodus: Bennet du Paris

Sammael: Kar' Toman Selavayne

Sebastian Shaw

Shadow King

The Prelates:

High Prelate Havok: Alexander Summers

Arch-Prelate Deathbird: Cal' Sayee Neramani

Prelate Lumina: Sylvia Ferguson

Prelate Quja: Kan Berrona

Prelate Polaris: Lorna Dane

Prelate Erik the Red

Prelate Bedlams: Terrence and Jesse

Dark Beast

Pierre

Rictor

Rooks:

Meltdown

Harry Leland

Sam Guthrie

Elizabeth Guthrie

Domino

The Madri

Infinites

Reavers

Wild Cards: Against either Apocalypse or good guys

Sinister: Nathaniel Essex

Renegade Externals:

Nidlen Halfbane

Gilgamesh: Kairan en'Ulas

Asmodeus: Argorion Devinrok

Behamen: Sonnara Delnoman

Astaroth: Yakker Kurenti

Forge

Nate Grey

Soaran

Brute:

Sonique: Theresa Cassidy

Toad: Mortimer Toynbee

Blob: Fred Dukes

Mastermind: Jason Wyngarde

*~*~*~

Previously: Xavier is killed by the then High Prelate Cyclops. Later during a rescue mission, Jean Grey is captured by the Tower. Cyclops falls in love with her, and they attempt to escape. However they are caught and tortured. Finally Cyclops defeats Dark Beast and helps her recover. The renegade Externals surface again and send Juggernaut and his allies to kill Sammael, an External. At the same time the X-men assault the Tower, and it is only Apocalypse's timely arrival that prevents the X-men from winning. Apocalypse also defeats Juggernaut. An External Archanfel is killed as he tries to kill Magneto, leader of the X-men. The X-men escape and they leave, with Cyclops and another Prelate, Rumik having turned traitor.

Cyclops doesn't believe in the X-men either, most of whom blame him for their mentor Xavier's death and want him dead. He leaves. Apocalypse sets loose his horsemen on the world. The renegade Externals find readings of a new mutant, perhaps an old External, and find Nidlen Halfbane, who forces them to bow to him.

Cyclops is blown to a desert isle by a massive storm. Meanwhile Gambit leaves to Belladonna's grotto, and is captured by Sinister and Candra. Scott finds out that he was captured by the renegade Externals. They plan to use him to find Destiny and Avalon. He agrees having no choice.

The X-men fight against the Prelates when they try to seek out a new mutant. The Prelates very narrowly escape with Sammael's help. Apocalypse meanwhile prepares to launch his final assaults, using the help of his allies and Horsemen. Sabretooth joins the X-men.

Scott manages to warn Jean about the renegade Externals plan. She tries to convince the X-men, but only a few believe her. She escapes with them, leaving an angry Magneto behind. They reach the Savage Land with the help of Mystique and attempt to go into Avalon. Scott and Galaire lead a team of mercenaries into Avalon as well, unfortunately the Savage lands denizens kill most of the mercenary team. Even Jean and her friends barely escape them. Jean and her friends reach Avalon to find Juggernaut and Black Tom Cassidy there. They meet Destiny as well as Blink and Sunfire. Scott also reaches Avalon and he and Galaire confront Juggernaut and Black Tom. Black Tom is injured, and Juggernaut is frozen by Galaire. Scott helps to free him and is reunited with Jean. He runs off to stop Galaire asking her to send reinforcements.

At the temple on a hill in Avalon, Galaire and Scott fight, Scott is aided by Sunfire. In the duration of the battle an old emblem is shattered by Scott's beam blast. It summons one of the four horsemen of Apocalypse, the Beast. The Beast is recognized as Gideon, an External long thought dead and Galaire's lover, as well as by Destiny, as Benedict, a new citizen of Avalon. They fight against it but it proves too strong, killing Vazhin. Galaire manages to hurt it badly, but it only prompts it to transform, turning into a true Beast. Galaire dies.

Gambit attempts to escape, and frees an experiment of Sinister's the son of Jean and Scott, created with their DNA, Nate Grey. The two fight Candra and Sinister and a few Infinites and Gambit sacrifices himself to save Nate. Apparently in the blast Sinister dies, though Nate escapes.

Scott and Shiro try to fight, but it's too strong. At that point Jean, Logan, Victor, Blink and Juggernaut appear. The Beast proves too much for them as well. Finally it is defeated, but not before it kills another, Destiny's son Douglas. Avalon burns.

Candra informs Remy of all that has happened, including telling him that she loves him. Remy is shocked. Sinsiter though meanwhile has managed to convince Forge to 'rescue' Nate. Forge meets and befriends Nate. Bishop has joined Forge's group. Apocalypse sets off to attack Muir Isle, even though one horseman is dead, he has three more.

==============================================

Prologue: The Storm comes

It had begun. The call to arms had brought his armies to him, and he would now show all who stood against him what it exactly it meant to fight Apocalypse.

"Destroy the base. I want to finish off the X-men, once and for all. Bring me Magneto if you find him. I would kill their leader myself."

Apocalypse stood in the head of his statue in what had been New York. His remaining three horsemen were lined up in front of him. Death was only in a hologram though. He would not take part in the battle. Instead, he made ready the human High Council for the armies of Apocalypse. Apocalypse was very pleased with them. Apart from the Beast, they had performed exceptionally, and even Beast had done well, till he had been killed. Apocalypse wanted to know who had killed him. He would kill whoever it was himself.

His remaining lieutenants stood behind the horsemen, slightly irritated at that fact. Only Holocaust stood beside him. Apocalypse watched them all carefully. Of them all he knew that not all would remain alive at the end of even this battle. He swept them all with his gaze. He also could guess at who would fall. Not Candra, and most likely not Sammael. Exodus was also unlikely. That left Rasputin. The man was a fool. It was unlikely he would die either, but of all of them, he was most likely to fall. It was only his powerful mutation that kept him alive.

He would take a hundred Infinites led by Rictor. Even he was weak, but not too weak. Weak enough that Apocalypse didn't need him once this battle was over.

The Prelates stood ready as well, in full battle dress. At their head Havok and Deathbird were resplendent in their armor and uniform. Havok had a cape much like Cyclops' slung over one shoulder, and Deathbirds wings gleamed under the lights. All wore standard Prelate yellow armor, with different color uniform below, except Havok who was in Red armor, and Deathbird, wearing her yellow. She was still an enigma, not of human or mutant descent. He found her vaguely like a Shi'ar, but that was improbable. He would figure it out sooner or later.

"Let us destroy the X-men, for now and forever." He spread his hands wide and the teleporter they all stood on sent them to Muir Isle, site of the X- men's base. The Infinites would follow after.

x---------------x

Magneto was standing mulling over recent events when he heard the alarm. He leapt to his feet, and ran to a monitor flipping it on. It took a few minutes to turn on, and then the screen cleared and showed a nightmare. Magneto staggered as if punched. Multiple areas of the base were being attacked, by persons unknown.

"Apocalypse." It had to be him, but how had he found the base, it was so well hidden. His mind leapt to the obvious conclusion.

"Cyclops. So it was all a trap. Damn it, I should have killed him the moment I knew."

He whirled about. No time to waste in recriminations. He had to go out and fight them. If Jean ever came back he would show her what he had learnt, and he would hope she got it into her head that Cyclops was the enemy. If they ever got out of this alive.

He rushed outside into the corridor and ran into two Infinites. They turned to him, but he simply waved his hands and tore out their circuitry. The foul creations of Apocalypse fell to the ground. He ran onward and walked out onto the open field between the rest of the base and the X-men headquarters.

Into Chaos.

He could see no students or humans, which was good. However most of the X- men stood there fighting a horde of infinites and many other figures in armor. It wasn't going well for the X-men. There were many Prelates, nearly as many as the X-men, and they had Infinites to back them up. However in the air behind the Prelates stood a figure that made his heart clench. It was a human shaped figure, but long hair tied into two braids hung behind him. His eyes were covered with a strip of cloth that went around his head. He wore armor that was like bands, covering his flesh at almost all points, showing reddish skin below. He or rather it looked at him. In his mind he heard a cry.

I am Plague..

That was impossible; no telepath could breach the protection his helmet provided.

He raised his hands and found the bands weren't steel. It was something else, polymer-fibre maybe, perhaps some other material.

It smiled at him and then raised a hand. He was suddenly flung back a few feet. Whatever this creature was, it was also telekinetic. He stood. It had only been a few seconds since he arrived on the battlefield, but already he could sense the buoyed emotions of the X-men. Their leader was here, and they could handle any attack. He felt their relief fill him and he leapt at the figure in the air, a snarl contorting his features.

x--------------------x

Jean sat on the floor of the jet. It would take a while for them to reach Muir Isle. With her were some X-men, apart from raven. She had chosen to stay behind and help the people of Avalon get back on their feet, and leave Avalon. Jean would get to Muir Isle and send back a carrier craft big enough; like the hybrid, to get them.

Scott lay asleep on a chair, looking adorably tough. She shook her head. Only she would think something like that. His hair was still too long; however it increased his tough look. His beard was unshaven and he looked haggard. Considering what they had just been through, it was no surprise. Apocalypse had unleashed his horsemen upon the world, and it was up to them to stop the horsemen from destroying everything. They had just reached the southern tip of Africa and would reach Muir Isle in a few hours. Logan and Victor piloted the jet, Logan because he would never give up control to another, and Victor to get Blink off his back. He had explained to her that the jet was no place to learn how to fight, but she was hell bent on learning. So he had removed Sean from the pilot's seat and sat down himself. Shiro stood at the back. Sitting in a chair would burn it and the plane probably. Shiro still didn't have that much control over his flame covered body. Even so, Jean had to use some telekinesis to hold the flames back. It was wearying, and she had to sit on the ground to continue. Still she could handle it.

She contented herself with watching Scott. His face was turned towards her, and she wanted to see him when none of his usual shields were up. He looked vulnerable and she felt tenderness wash over her. His lower lip was slightly pouted and his jaw was relaxed, not slightly clenched as he usually held it. His visor hid much of his face, but not too much. She could see a fair amount of his face. Some strands of hair fell over his face and his breath stirred them slightly. One went into his nose and he snorted and shook his head slightly. She smiled in amusement. He looked like a little boy. Except for the beard. It was very unkempt and one could barely tell he had a goatee. His huge gauntlets hung to the ground. He had gotten them after their capture by the Externals in the Tower. She had questioned him once about them, but he had replied vaguely, not really telling her anything. However Jean had caught his mental wince at the thought, and she wondered what had happened when he got them.

She reached out and brushed his hair away from his face. Suddenly he was awake and had grabbed her hand. He wasn't tense. Their bond had let her know he was awake, just as it had told him who was brushing his hair away. She shuddered to think what he would have done if someone else had done that to him. She saw Victor looking at them out of the corner of her eye. He had been astonished to find out Cyclops was in love with her and had been even more shocked when he was told that Cyclops had left the Tower because Jean had opened his eyes to others suffering. Jean could still remember the look on his face.

"Forget it Jean, it's alright." She looked back at Scott to see he had a wan smile on his face. She grinned back abashedly. She sent him a telepathic thought.

'Hey, I'm just looking out for you buster.'

He smiled back at her, then he turned his attention back to the cockpit. He stood and left her hand and walked up front.

"How much longer, do you know?'

Logan was about to answer when suddenly a massive telepathic scream and cry for help rang in Jeans head. She screamed and grabbed her head, kneeling to the ground. Shiro slammed into the wall, and Kurt bamfed next to her. Scott was at her side an instant later, his face pale, and worry and fear coming from him. Logan was there a few seconds later as well, having given the controls to Victor.

Finally the shout left her brain, and she could sense again. Scott knelt over her, cradling her in his arms.

"What happened Jean, what's wrong?"

Jean shook her head.

"It's the base, someone just tried to contact me in a desperate telepathic cry. Only Emma has that much power, now that Xavier is dead. It must have been a very desperate maneuver. She would never have been able to reach me otherwise. It's likely she had help, probably from Cerebro-2.'

Logan snarled.

"An attack? How did they find out?" His gaze turned to Scott.

Scott frowned, but Jean could read deep pain from him.

"I didn't tell anyone anything Logan. If that's what you're thinking. I've left the tower, how many times must I say so"

He began to stand, but Jean grabbed his hand.

"I trust you Scott, and so do the others. We know what you are Scott, and all of them have seen it as well. Whoever's attacking must have found out some other way." The last few sentences said with a direct look for the X- men with her. Logan shrugged embarrassed.

"Sorry Cyke. Jumped to a conclusion, what can I say?"

Scott nodded and accepted the X-men's apologies.

"What remains to be known is who's attacking. If it's Apocalypse, then we have to get there in time. He wouldn't have attacked, not without heavy back-up. Logan, how far are we?"

Logan had returned to his pilot's chair and Jean was amazed as the X-men with her bowed to his authority and leadership, just as they had done during the fight with the Beast. He was a leader, and the others recognized the fact. That was why they did what he said, even if they didn't trust him completely in most of their cases.

"ETA, 'bout a couple of hours, minimum. Can't give her more speed than that."

Scott nodded.

"Let's hope they last that long."

Jean looked out the front windshield. She hoped so too. Otherwise all was lost.

x----------------- ---x

Remy sat in his the room. He tried to move the door, to see if he had any leverage, but nothing came out of it. He dropped back onto the small chair in the room. It was the fiftieth time he had tried it. He knew, he had counted. Candra had come to him a few hours ago and had talked to him for a while. She had told him that Sinister hadn't been found still, and that Apocalypse had ordered him killed. Remy shook his head. It was so insane. Sinister hadn't been one he would have pegged as deserting apocalypse. In fact of all of them, Xavier had intimated that he was just behind Holocaust in terms of loyalty, being a creation of Apocalypse. There was just no telling with people.

He looked around his little prison. Nothing. The goddamn dampener on his neck was too tight to open. What a bloody mess. He slumped on the chair. Women, they were all bloody mad. Try to please one and she threw you on your ass, love one and get dumped, get one, and get rejected for old memories, flirt with three and get your face slapped. Have one bloody fall in love with you and get stuck in a bloody puny little room, with nothing to do but bloody sit on a bloody chair and twiddle your bloody thumbs. Bah!

Remy was getting pissed. This dampener subdued everything, including his empathy. It seemed ludicrous, but that was the power he missed most of all sitting here. It seemed he couldn't fall into the depressions that came easily to him without it. He must be in a bad way to miss falling into a depression. And what a power to miss, one that had mostly caused him problems. What a wonder-fucking-ful life.

"Yeah team."

===================================

Well, that's enough to start if off.

The final part is begun... yay!!!

Well, this part is getting to be problematic. I should be uploading every second day or so. I almost finished with the fic, and hopefully my beat-er can finish beta-ing the other chapters.

This fic has Apocalypse a hell of a lot more powerful than he was in the actual AoA. as he should be. I mean, ripped apart??? Apocalypse is supposed to be stronger than that.

things get darker here onwards. Anyway, tell me what you like, what you don't. After this fic is done, I have like five more coming.. I guess I have a lot of free time these days.

Ciao.