Disclaimer: I don't own.
A/N: Warning, I screw with a lot of universe in this fic. If you don't think you can handle it, I suggest you leave right now. If you think you'll be alright, then by all means, please read.
Mystique stormed into her New York apartment in a furious rage. She looked around in a red haze, and finding a priceless Fabrage vase, picked it up and hurled it across the room. Irene came to stand in the archway. Though she was blind, Mystique could feel her "watching" her. "Raven, this is not the time to be destructive." Mystique turned to face her. "Irene I've lost another one! Another one!" she cried, "You told me when we started this-" "I told you it would not be easy. I warned you Raven. You chose this yourself." Mystique sighed. Walking into the living room, she collapsed into an armchair. "I didn't think it would be this hard." Irene sighed and sat beside her. She placed a hand on Mystique's shoulder. "I know Raven, but it was this or the alternative." Mystique shuddered. The alternative. Her life was hell because she'd chosen this over the alternative. Though she'd still have them if she'd chosen differently. "You would've only had them for a while," Irene said, as if reading her mind, "at least this way they have a chance."
It was cold outside. Very cold. But no amount of bad weather could rival the coldness she felt inside. She'd lost another one, her final one. They were all gone now. Now she had nothing left to loose. She folded her arms over her chest and continued to stare out the window. She'd never felt so lonely, so empty. She thought back to the day she and Irene had constructed this plan. It had seemed so brilliant back then. Then again, everything had seemed so bright back then.
~Flashback~
"Victor Creed, Magnus Lensher, Charles Xavier…Irene must they all be on this list?" "Yes my dear, they must." "Oh but Irene, I don't like anyone on this list." She continued to read the names on the paper she held. Fifteen names in all. "This is not about what you like my dear. It is for the benefit of the future." "But must I really do this?" Irene turned in her chair. "Raven, I'm giving you a choice. I have seen the future; I have seen its possibilities. Some are decidedly better than others. At this present moment in time, the future looks gray." "But, Irene if it will happen anyway…" "Control my dear, control. That is what this is all about." She reached forward, catching Raven's face in her hands. "Raven, I am giving you a chance. This is important. Like it or not the future rests on your shoulders. The war is coming. We must be ready. We need our champions. And you are destined to bear them." Raven sighed. "But all these men Irene…" "These men are those whom will come to great power in the future. If you do not bind yourself to them now, there will be no hope." Irene released her. She looked away. "It is for the best my dear," Irene said, going back to her writing, "You will see. It will all work out in the end."
~End~
Mystique hugged herself tighter. How far away it all seemed. How different it'd all been. Her face scrunched up as she remembered some of what she'd been forced to do in order to "insure prosperity in the future." Walking away from the window, she moved to stretch out on her bed. 'Fools, all of them. If only they knew what they fight for matters not. The future was determined long before any of us.' The image of her younger self starting the hapless journey so long ago made Mystique's stomach drop. When she'd started, she'd never imagined it would hurt so much, nor be so hard to let go. No. She would not give up so easily. The future was hers to mold, if only she could get them back.
A/N: Wow. I was not intending on this being chapters. But, now that I look at it, it ought to work out better this way. Hmm…I hope so. Like it. Love it. Hate it. *shrug* I'm gonna keep writing it. I have a fondness for it.
