Disclaimer: I still don't own them, wish I did though.
AN:/ Sorry for the slight delay on this chapter. Next chapter will probably not be up until the end of the week as I'm busy until then.
Chapter 3
Tibet
Apocalypse looked towards the figure that had been instrumental in his release this time around, before studying the two figures, one male and one female, that were kneeling before him.
"Yes, I do believe that these two will make excellent additions to my horsemen as War and Death. However, I will require two more mutants to serve me as Famine and Pestilence."
"I have the ideal two in mind my Lord Apocalypse. They also currently reside in Bayville, at the Xavier Institute."
"Yes, they will be very suitable. We must obtain their services, " replied Apocalypse as he contemplated the possible new additions to his horsemen.
"I can easily obtain one of them my Lord, the other, will require some planning," his companion replied.
"Then leave me. I must prepare for the Day of Reckoning, when I shall once again rule this Earth."
"Of course, I shall go at once my Lord," the figure said retreating back into the shadows heading once again towards Bayville, their home and Apocalypses final horsemen.
Xavier Institute, Bayville
"Come on Betts. We have to go soon," Pietro shouted through the door at his girlfriend.
"I'll be out in a minute, luv. Would it kill you to wait a couple more minutes and we'll be there in plenty of time," came the muffled reply through the door, "you're just mad because I won't let you in here."
"No I'm not mad. And it might kill me to wait you never know, and why can't I come in. I wanna. Why do we have to go to this stupid benefit anyway"
"Stop acting like a brat Pietro. If you were in here we'd never make it on time, we have to go to this benefit as it is raising money to help mutants who are forced out onto the streets when they manifest their powers" came the reply as the door started to open and Betsy walked out, "now are you ready to go or not, the car is waiting."
Pietro was, for once, speechless at the sight that greeted him. The wait had definitely been worth it and he now had to agree that had he been allowed into her room they would not have been on time, hell he'd probably have kept her locked away for good. Betsy was dressed in a simple long, sleeveless black gown with thigh-length slit up the side, the dress set off her graceful and toned figure to perfection. Her purple hair had been twisted up with just a few loose curls that framed her face.
"Wow, you look, I mean wow…"
"Thank you, you don't look so bad yourself. Now come on Speedy we have to go meet the others."
"Wow," was the only reply from her usually talkative boyfriend
"NOW, Pietro. You were the one telling me to hurry up," snapped Betsy.
"Huh, oh yeah, dinner. Do we have to go, I wanna stay here, I don't want any other guy to see you like that."
"Like what?"
"Like the most gorgeous woman in the world, they'll stare and…"
"It'll be fine. I'll compromise. If you promise to go, I'll behave and we can make an appearance before leaving within a couple of hours and the I'll be as naughty as you want me to be. Okay luv."
"Promise," Pietro pouted.
"I promise, now lets go."
"Okay" Pietro said picking her up and dashing downstairs, "the sooner we go, the sooner we can leave and have fun."
The tail end of this comment was caught by the mutants waiting in the hallway to leave, which included Magneto.
"So, you think that this benefit will not be fun do you Pietro."
"I, I didn't say that, I was talking about a different kind of fun, yeah that's it" came the stammered reply.
"Of course you did Pietro, I mean it had nothing to do with the fact that Psylocke looks very beautiful tonight does it," Magneto questioned ignoring the snickers that were starting to come from their audience. Most of them loved it when Pietro was squirming because it was so amusing.
"No, no of course not. Nothing at all to do with that, no sir, not at all."
By now, the snickers were becoming more pronounced, with some mutants openly laughing at Pietro's discomfort, as he was openly squirming before his fathers scrutiny.
"Then you will be staying for the entire evening then."
"Sure, I mean yeah, definitely, uh huh," came the reply. At this the entire hallway burst into open laughter, including Betsy, even Magneto was enjoying the sight of his usually suave son squirming under scrutiny and embarrassment.
"I'll make sure he stays the entire evening, sir," came the response from Betsy in between giggles.
"Good to know that one of you has a sensible side, even if we do not see it very often."
At Betsy's look of indignation, replacing her previous laughter, to this comment, and the fact that they would all be late if they did not leave soon, Professor Xavier decided to step in, raising his voice so he could be heard over his still laughing students, "all right everybody time to leave, I think Pietro has been embarrassed enough for now."
The laughter subsided at this, and the students started to make their way out to the waiting cars that would take them to the dinner. As the last of them were leaving the phone began to ring.
"Leave it," said Pietro; clearly recovered from his embarrassment, "the answering machine will pick it up. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can leave."
"No, I feel that we need to answer this call," said the Professor, as Betsy was already heading towards the phone.
"I've got it, luv," she said picking up the phone. "Xavier's School for the Gifted, Elizabeth Braddock speaking, how may I help you?"
Both Pietro and the Professor were watching Betsy intently as the call continued, watching her get more and more upset as the phone call went on before she eventually ended the call, almost in tears by this point, "thank you for letting me know. I'll be there as soon as I can get a flight. I'll let you know the details as soon as I know myself." Hanging up the phone Betsy turned around and said, "I need to leave for England now," before she slumped to the ground crying.
On seeing this Pietro dashed over to her and picked her up, hugging her close, whilst she sobbed into his chest. The Professor sent a telepathic message for the cars to leave for the benefit, not before asking Storm and Logan to join him in the mansion.
"Okay Chuck," Logan said as he and Storm walked back into the mansion, "what's the problem?"
"I need you and Ororo to fly Elizabeth back to England in the Blackbird immediately," the Professor replied, "unfortunately you will have to return as soon as you have dropped her off, as Erik and I cannot watch all of the children by ourselves."
At these comments both Logan and Storm noticed the couple sitting against the wall, Betsy still crying.
"Oh God, what happened to the poor child?" asked Storm
"I have yet to determine that, she is too upset to speak, and her mind is a jumbled mess of emotions that I cannot make sense of," the Professor replied.
Storm walked towards the two teenagers and asked, "Elizabeth, child, what is wrong?"
Finally noticing that there were other people in the room, Betsy looked up from her position against Pietro's chest, before answering, "I need to go to England."
"We know that Betts but why?" asked Pietro, "We wanna help."
"I have to go because my brother is missing and the kidnappers will only speak to me. I have only 10hours before they kill him."
"Oh God, Betts. I'm so sorry. I'm coming with you."
"No. I have to go alone. I'm going to get changed and pack a few things if that's ok," came the distracted reply.
"Of course child, we will be waiting in the Blackbird."
"Thank you," came the distant reply as Betsy walked up the stairs towards her room.
"Why-won't-she-let-me-go. I-should-be-with-her," asked Pietro, the fact that he had sped up showing his irritation and worry for his girlfriend.
"'Cause if I know those kinda kidnappers, and I think I do, she'll have to go alone or they'll kill 'er brother on sight Speedy," said Logan as he and Storm headed for the lower levels where they kept the Blackbird.
"But I can't just sit around here waiting for news."
"I agree, which is why you shall be accompanying me to the benefit in a minute when the car arrives," replied the Professor.
"But…"
"He's right Pietro. I'll be back soon. I promise. I'll call when I know what's happening. Now go, or no fun when I get back," said Betsy as she walked down the stairs having changed with a duffel bag over her shoulder and headed over to her boyfriend, "OK," she said kissing him.
"OK. But you promise."
"I promise."
"Come along Mr Maximoff we are leaving now. Elizabeth, Storm and Logan are waiting in the Blackbird, please stay safe."
"I will, thank you Professor, goodbye," Betsy said as she followed the route that Logan and Storm had taken only a few minutes ago.
Braddock Manor, London, England
Betsy finally arrived at her destination a few hours later. Storm and Logan had dropped her off before heading back to Bayville, and here she was at the gates of Braddock Manor about to try to save her brother. As she headed up the drive towards the front door, she couldn't help the feeling of discomfort that she was starting to feel. "This does not feel good, something's not right," she said to herself as she walked through the front door, "James," she called out for the butler.
"In the dining room, miss, and may I say how happy I am that you got here as fast as you did."
"You may, now what can you tell me about what happened, I mean for gods sake it takes a lot for anyone to be able to knock Brian out," she said as she walked into the dining room.
"I know and that's why I called you, 'cause you know about stuff like that."
"I suppose. If that was the case I don't see why I couldn't have brought some friends over, they would have helped immensely."
"Ah, but there was a reason for that," James said walking towards her, "in that I wanted you alone." As this last sentence was said the voice became more and more feminine, and James morphed into Mystique.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were at the Institute, where's my brother?" Betsy all but shouted at the shape shifter.
"I'm afraid that your dear brother met with a slight, mmm, accident shall we say and is unfortunately no longer with us. You're supposed to be a telepath, I'm amazed you didn't pick up on it sooner, especially with your twin link."
"I, I don't know. Why?" Betsy asked quietly still taking in what Mystique had told her.
"Because it is all part of my Lords plan. I help him, and I get rewarded. And he wants you, so I'm here to get you."
"But, but you've been helping the Professor and Magneto for the past year, why?"
Mystique pulled a spray out one of the pockets in her clothes and pointed it towards Betsy saying, "I can't believe you thought I was actually on the side of good you stupid girl," before releasing the gas in Betsy's face knocking her out. "Now for a quick phone call to the Institute," Mystique said, morphing into Betsy and heading for the phone.
Xavier Institute, Bayville (stuff in italics is 'Betsy's' part of the conversation)
"Good morning, Xavier's Institute for the Gifted, Kitty speaking, like, how may I help?"
"Kitty, it's Betsy. I'm…""Oh my God, Betts. I was like totally sorry to hear about your brother. Have you found him yet?"
"Not yet. That's why I'm calling. I need a little longer, I don't know how much longer, to try and find him. I won't be able to call for a while as I'd rather not tie up the phone line in case they try and contact me again or something."
"Ok, I'll pass the message on, and we're all thinking of you, just so you know."
"Thank you. I'll be in touch as soon as I know anything more definite. Bye Kit."
"Bye."
Braddock Manor, London, England
"Stupid girl," said Mystique as she hung up the phone. "I don't know what Avalanche sees in her, the stupid, ditzy valley girl that she is. Anyway Miss Braddock," she said looking at the unconscious body at her feet, "It's time for you to meet your new master. Only one more and Apocalypse will be ready to launch his campaign and rule over Earth."
AN2:/ wow, my longest chapter yet. I have the rough notes for the next chapter, so it might be up sooner than I thought, but no guarantees. Next chapter is about the final horseman, and the identities of the other two may be revealed, so stay tuned.