It was more of a light mist than proper rain, but if you were out in it for over ten minutes without proper protection, you soon regretted it. Mystique's hair stuck to her forehead, and droplets ran slowly down Destiny's glasses.
"Is this really necessary?"
Mystique whispered to her, as she wiped rain of her face. Destiny's sightless eyes turned to meet hers, and she shivered involuntarily.
"To come all this way, only to be turned away because of weather…looking after the girl is softening you Mystique, may be we should find more suitable accommodation for her."
Mystique turned away and hissed softly under her breath. The event better be spectacular. Suddenly, a single shaft of sunlight beamed through the clouds, lighting just the institute, its radiance stopped just short of the two bedraggled mutants.
"The weather witch," Mystique hissed, and watched as several figures advanced into the warmth.
"Who is there?" Destiny whispered oddly
Mystique strained her eyes against the curtain of rain,
"Xavier, Storm and Wolverine."
"No one else?" Destiny's tone was strange and Mystique looked at her before returning her gaze to the figures in the distance.
"No…hang on, yes, a young boy behind the witch."
"Is there anything unusual about him?"
"It looks like he's wearing sunglasses."
Destiny gave a satisfied smirk, "So it is he."
"Who?"
"His name will be Cyclops, and he will play a great part in your future Mystique. Watch out for him." Destiny paused. "Look, the time approaches."
A car drew up in front of the mansion, and two figures came out. Mystique recognised one as the little girl from the hospital and the other she presumed to be her father.
"Should we not be nearer, so we can hear what is happening?"
"I will hear everything necessary from here."
Mystique watched as the girl and her father entered the ring of sunlight, both looking a little apprehensive. She narrated the happenings to Destiny beside her.
"Xavier is welcoming them, introducing the girl to Storm, now to Wolverine, and last to the one you say is Cyclops."
Beside her Destiny gave a visible jerk.
"What's happening?"
"Their futures, the Phoenix and the Cyclops, they are entwined are one. This is what we came to see."
She grasped Mystique's hand and the world plunged into darkness.
*~*~*~*~*
"Scott."
Mystique winced as the shout shook the air around her, vibrating not only there but also through her mind. She watched as the red-haired girl before her stretched out her hand and power flew through the air spreading all around her. She breathed in quickly; this girl must be one of the most powerful mutants she had ever encountered. Destiny had not been exaggerating; this girl would indeed be a force to be reckoned with in the future.
As quick as the vision had come, another replaced it, and Mystique watched in amazement as the future enfolded in front of her.
"Help me Scott."
"Listen to me Jean."
The boy she recognised as Scott leant over a young girl, blocking her from view, and she saw Jean floating in the background. All around her objects floated, lying still in the air. The boy continued, and she realised the words he spoke came straight from the heart.
"I will, Jean, just focus on me."
A voice that she presumed was Jean's came from the girl over which he leant. Mystique was confused, why was her voice coming from the other's mouth.
"I, I can't, I'm losing you."
There was true desperation in her voice and she saw the boy was near to breaking.
"No! No, don't tell me what you can't do. I know you better than anyone ever has or ever will. Come on, you can do this."
The objects fell to the ground around the girl and she stirred,
"Scott."
The voice had a strange double ring to it, as if two people were speaking instead of just one, but he rushed Jean's side, leaving the other visible to Mystique.
"Rogue, no" She yelled shell-shocked as the vision swirled around her leading to another. "That will not happen."
Suddenly a myriad of images swirled into one another, and it was unclear where one ended and another began.
The sunglassed boy leant his head upon the red-head's who sat beside him, she appeared to be sleeping gently on his shoulder,
"You're my best friend you know."
"I know."
*~*~*~*~*
"Scott seems so, like, together. So cool, and he's kinda cute."
"Cute? Uh, stiff, maybe, exacting, definitely, but -- hmm, you know... from a certain angle..."
*~*~*~*~*
"Even good guys need a nudge once in a while."
Scott put his arm around Jean
"Jean... whenever you think I need it, nudge away."
*~*~*~*~*
"Have you ever really cared for someone?"
"Pliers. "
"I mean, you felt it so strongly, you couldn't even get the words out."
"Yep, once. Most beautiful bike I ever saw. I was so speechless, someone else bought 'er… Not wire strippers, pliers. Use your eyes kid."
"The problem is, how's the guy supposed to know if the girl feels the same way?"
"Look, here's how I see it, I'd like to finish this job before New Year's. So if you don't tell her, I will."
*~*~*~*~*
"I can't believe you even knew where I was."
"It must be a bond we have. I don't know how to explain it."
"You don't have to. I just wish I could open my eyes and see your face"
*~*~*~*~*
The pair stood beneath the stars, and as one they turned and leant toward each other, lips meeting, for a moment the very air around them seemed to shake. They spoke as one.
"I love you."
*~*~*~*~*
"We are gathered here today to join Scott Summers and Jean Grey in holy matrimony."
*~*~*~*~*
"You may kiss the bride."
*~*~*~*~*
The images stilled to become one image, the girl, contorted and straining. Mystique stared. It looked like what she was fighting lay within her.
She yelled once,
"Scott." Her voice was full of pain and she burst into flame. The flame was bird shaped, and a strange distorted voice came from it.
"I am Phoenix." The door burst open, and several people rushed through, again she recognised Scott, Storm, Xavier and Wolverine, but joining them were several people she had never seen before as well as the girl she had come near to regarding as a daughter.
"Rogue, why would you so this to me?" She whispered.
"Jean, listen to me."
"Jean is gone, I am Phoenix."
Xavier clasped his head, trying mentally to contact her, but he shuddered, and appeared to faint.
"Foolish, I am more powerful than all of you put together." As if to demonstrate she threw Storm and Wolverine through the wall. One by one she knocked down the team, until only a few were left. The was a flash of smoke, and a boy and girl appeared directly above her, obviously intending to knock her to the floor, but they remained motionless in the air. The girl screamed,
"She's like holding us. Port Kurt, get us out of here."
A shudder ran through Mystique, Kurt, it could not be, this boy looked normal, her Kurt was blue.
"She's not letting me."
Suddenly they were falling,
"Phase Kitty, phase."
"She won't let me." They slammed into the ground, and collapsed, and Mystique watched in horror as Rogue pulled off a glove.
"You will pay for hurting mah brother."
Her brother, but that meant- Mystique's gaze returned to the prone boy, whose image flickered, and there lying on the ground was her son.
"Nooo." She watched powerless as Rogue joined the casualty list, and there was only one person left.
Cyclops stood, the bodies of his friends around him.
"Aren't you going to attack me?" The Phoenix's tone was scathing.
"No, I could never hurt you."
"That's a shame, because I can hurt you."
He flew backwards into the wall, but the force was much lighter than that used with the others. He stood shakily to his feet, and approached the glowing entity.
"Go on, finish it." He dared.
The Phoenix made as if to throw power out, but nothing happened. He continued talking,
"I know you're in there Jean, you can fight it. I know you better than anyone ever has or ever will and I love you Jean, fight it."
The Phoenix screamed, and sped out through the window, as Scott collapsed.
*~*~*~*~*
Mystique came to. She was wet, very wet. Destiny stood beside her, eyes stretching out into the distance.
"My son was there."
"As was Rogue."
"It will not happen."
"You cannot be the judge of that I'm afraid."
"What was the point of that trip?"
"You see how deeply bonded they are. Together will find true happiness, but you see the obstacles that lie in their way."
"She will destroy us all."
"Yes, but she is the key to our salvation as well."
"I don't understand."
"El' Sabbah Nur"
"Apocalypse."
"Yes, and she is the only one who has the power to stop him, if given the right incentive."
He sightless eyes turned towards the Institute.
"Thus they together hold the key to the future, for only she can stop Apocalypse…"
"And?" Mystique asked impatiently.
"And he is the only one who can stop her."
Together the two women, soaked through, looked at the group on the steps. Dry and warm they seemed to glow with a radiance all of their own.
"Good luck." Mystique whispered before taking Destiny's hand and leading her away.
On the steps the Professor frowned. He was well aware of his two visitors, but he knew that eventually he would know what they had come to see, and what had happened.
*~*~*~*~*
I don't own any of the characters or anything to do with X-men Evo, especially the quotes.
I know it look a long time, but I hope you liked it. Any one who has read my Live Journal knows what inspired me to make it rain!!
Please R+R- I want your feedback!
Thanks a lot, the last chapter will be the last, and I got a basic idea, so it shouldn't be that long
-Kat