AN:  This chapter is going to be here mostly to provide a bit of conflict for Rogue.  Not much else to it, although it gives them a reason to end the trip earlier than planned.  Short, sweet, to the point.

Chapter 62: Darkness Gathering… But Who Cares?

The X-Jet settled down on the edges of Caldecott, Mississippi, and Rogue disembarked.

"Where you in such a rush to, chere?"

"Ah wanna talk ta someone."

With that, Rogue disappeared into the town.

The southern belle walked through the small town with purpose to her steps.  She remembered perfectly where she had lived in her time in this town, and she knew it was high time for a discussion with her 'mother'.  She hoped Irene had her health insurance paid up.

She opened the door to the house she had lived in for most of her young life.  As she walked through the small hallway, she saw that Irene was sitting in her drawing room.

"Come in Rogue." Said Irene.

Rogue walked through the door, and sat down in front of Irene Adler, a.k.a. Destiny.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Asked Rogue.

"Tell you what?" Responded Irene.

So she saw I'd be here, but not what for. Thought Rogue.

"That Mystique was my adopted mother, that Kurt was my adopted brother, that she had set up my joining the Brotherhood over the X-Men, any of it?"

"Oh…" Responded Irene.

"Mystique, your mother, begged me not to tell you.  She thought you would be ashamed of her.  She really did love you, Rogue, but she couldn't keep you, not with the kind of life she lived.  You'd have been dead by the age of 8."

Rogue stared at Irene as she continued.

"I honestly thought you would be better off in the Brotherhood, only realizing later that I had interpreted my dreams wrong, and that, eventually, that would have been you downfall."

Rogue started to speak, when Irene cut her off.

"Please, Rogue, if you don't want to talk to me any more, I'll understand…"

Rogue shook her head. "No, it's not that. It's just, a bit of a shock to find out she actually gave a damn about me."

Irene began to speak, obviously to give Rogue a scathing lecture, only to have it turn into something much different.

"Death flies in the air, it's name the land of Arthur's rest.

Within it's metal skin, dwells the magnetic master's best.

To his mortal foes, a challenge shall he make.

'Come to my fortress, and we shall see who can victory take.'

And in his flying death machine, will battle be waged.

And forever more, will the X-Men be aged."

Irene's eyes came back to reality, and she stared at Rogue, who had written what was said on a pad of paper, something Irene had taught her long ago to do.

"Let me see it Rogue." Said Irene.

Rogue wordlessly turned her foster mother the paper.

"This does not bode well."

"Chere!  Cap'n Baldy be wantin' us. Maggy-but's up ta sometin!"

"Ah'll wagah tha he want us ta come ta his new fortress?"

"Right. Avalon."

Rogue sighed, and stood.

"Bye, Irene, take care."

With that, the Rogue left.

"I will Rogue, I only hope you will do the same." And once more, Irene went into a vision, clicking a tape recorder as she felt it come onto her.

"For Avalon will not be

An easy victory,

The darkest hour of the X-Men cometh,

And it shall herald the darkest hour of our kind.

Forever shall the X-Men remember it's cold halls

And forever shall they remember the battle for it's fall."