Chapter Five

Hey! It's me again. Sorry about any delays, I'm writing another story called Mutant Tribulations and it took a while. Never fear though! I'm gonna spend all of my time on this fanfic now!

Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men, so sue me!

    Ororo, Logan, Jean, Scott, Jubilee, Kitty, Kurt and Hank all sat silently in the living room of the X-Mansion, the search for the elusive Gambit and questionable Rogue had ended a few hours ago and now everyone was exhausted. Professor Xavier had a defeated look visibly written across his face. Gone. Both Rogue and Remy were gone. Storm and Wolverine had done their very best to look for the Cajun after he left and Jean had went back to the mansion for help, all in vain. The Cajun was well and truly gone. Ororo stood up and walked out of the room, slamming the door. The tension was too much and she dearly missed her best friend Gambit. Xavier looked up and cleared his throat.

"We cannot give up. Now we have two reasons to work twice as fast."

    The other mutants nodded and walked out of the room, preparing to leave once more. Charles Francis Xavier hung his head in defeat. Had Mystique finally won after years of fighting?

**~~**

    Ororo strolled over the grounds. Her thoughts were confused and scattered. Ororo watched as the sky darkened to match her mood. Remy was a lady's man no doubt about it but he wasn't usually this reckless when saving one. He must really care for her. She thought with a smile. A tiny pang of jealousy nagged at her stomach. Worries of Remy ditching Storm for Rogue were running through Ororo's mind. Storm kicked a rock and a sudden rush of wind flew past her. A silver flash stopped right next to her and the cheeky grin of Quicksilver mocked her.

    "Hey beautiful! Got a gift and a message for ya!" Pietro laughed annoyingly.

He ran away and came back in about one second flat. The unconscious form of Remy was now lying on the ground in front of Storm's feet. Ororo's immediately helped him up, his arm slumped over her shoulder.

"Now for your message," he leaned down and kissed Storm on the mouth, "Rogue's ours. She hates you and thinks you want to kill her! Aw diddums!"

    While Pietro ran away, Ororo spat onto the ground and wiped her mouth. Thunder clapped overhead and Storm called out to the Professor.

"Prof? Guess who decided to grace us with his thieving presence?" Ororo smiled in spite of having a silver leech suck on her face.

"Jesus Remy! Lose a little weight will ya?" Ororo snickered half heartedly as she flew to sickbay, her heart just a little bit lighter.

**~~**

    Rogue sat up in her bed and stretched pleasurably. The man named Gambit had been locked away and Raven had told her last night he was trying to kill her. Rogue shuddered, well, at least Raven said he would be gone by now.

    Raven knocked lightly and Rogue looked up cheerily as she entered.

"Rise and shine, now we have payback time." Mystique smiled wickedly.

"Payback for what?" Rogue questioned.

"Why dear! Those horrible people with that ghastly man were here to kill us… they have tried for years," Mystique paused and wiped away an invisible tear, "what have we done wrong?"

Rogue pulled on her dressing gown and hugged Mystique emotionally.

"Don't worry. Anyone who hurts a friend of mine will pay." Rogue said firmly.

Mystique grinned evilly and snickered lowly. Rogue, mistaking her snickers for sobs, hugged her closer.

**~~**

     Rogue, Mystique, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver stood in front of the X-Mansion. Rogue was extremely elated and proud to be part of something. Raven had equipped her with a new outfit and she loved it. Skin-tight dark green and black Lycra covered her whole body besides her face and removable black gloves covered her life taking hands. The voices mocked her still but Rogue's new found courage ordered them to hush.

"Surely this place has security?" Rogue said unsurely.

"Of course," Mystique snapped, Rogue looked at her, hurt and Mystique forced her tone to soften, " Pietro here darts in and shuts down all of the security. Then we have a little fun."

Wanda smiled and nudged Pietro; he ran speedily and came back quickly.

    "All systems go boss." He muttered.

Rogue growled and flew into the air, lifting Wanda and Raven over the fence, Pietro just jumping over. Mystique ran to the left and Wanda to the right. Pietro had already run away. Rogue clicked her fingers and flew straight ahead, sighting a somewhat familiar red head.

**~~**

    Jean sighed to herself. Remy was in sickbay and Ororo was refusing to leave his side. A flash of silver and a hint of royal blue snapped Jean back from her musings. She stood on alert and attempted to warn the Professor. Attempted.

Professor! Intruders! There's intr…

    A green and black clad figure slammed into her and a gloved hand covered her mouth. Jean forced her off and lifted the figure into the air with her telekinesis. Angry screams echoed in her mind. Jean looked at her attacker in shock, it was Rogue. A very different Rogue but Rogue nonetheless.

"You hurt my friends!" Rogue screamed and broke free from the psychic grasp.

Jean could only look on in horror as Rogue took off her glove and clamped it over Jean's bare arm. She slumped to the ground. Rogue looked over her.

"Bitch."

**~~**

    Professor Xavier looked up in confusion as Jean's half finished message echoed in his mind.

Jean? Are you okay?

A cackle of triumph filled Xavier's study and Mystique crawled out from the shadows. Xavier instantly tied her down with his telekinesis but wheeled away in shock, as Mystique broke free easily.

"Oh yeah Prof. I'm back, I'm stronger and I've got a nice little surprise for you!" Mystique pointed out to the grounds through the window. Rogue was currently helping Jean to be rendered unconscious and a smile was visible on her ruby lips.

    "Well Xavier? Do you like my new toy? She's ever so fun and so easy to manipulate! Face it Charles! You and your pathetic X-Men are over because with Rogue, I can take all of your sad little mutants powers and finally pay back the world that hates us!" Triumph glittered in Mystiques dark yellow eyes.

"Mystique, you'll never get away with this!" Xavier yelled while calling out for the aid of his X-Men. Mystique advanced toward him.

"Oh but I will Charles. Mystique always gets her way."