Chapter One

As soon as the rumbling of the earth died down and everything went still, Lance Alvers felt his knees give way under him, causing him to fall to his knees. Squeezing his eyes shut against the blinding pain that seared through his head, the teenager was distinctly aware of his new master's eyes on him.

"Good work, Avalanche," his master said softly, "Your powers are strengthening and so is your healing factor." Lance cautiously raised his eyes to his master's expressionless face, gingerly brushing away the blood that leaked in a steady flow from his nose.

It was one of his rare occasions that he had actually managed to reach his master's high expectations of him. All the other dreaded meetings had always ended with him being beaten up so badly that he would be barely conscious when his friends found him.

"I'm pleased to have reached your expectations of me, Lord Magneto," he mumbled respectfully, struggling back onto his feet, in an attempt not to look weak in front of him. What Magneto disliked the most, was weakness in any of his people.

Satisfied of the days meeting, Magneto swept from the house, beckoning to his faithful sidekick, Sabretooth to follow him out. Watching as they left slightly put off that they couldn't be given an excuse to beat him up, Lance sank back down to the floor.

How stupid could he be? Ever since Pietro had betrayed them, to help his father, he should have known that trouble would be imminent. If he had managed to foresee something like this happening, they wouldn't be in this mess.

Now, none of them were safe anymore. Not even Pietro, who was blinded by his devotion to his father, was safe. If they stayed long enough under Magneto, they'd surely be killed, just like Fred Dukes.

The Brotherhood had never been the same again after Fred's death. Sure, that guy was as slow as a preschooler, but he was their 'brother' too. Todd was the one who had taken this the hardest. He and Fred we the closest of friends. Todd hadn't really come to terms that Fred was really dead, making up fake scenarios for not seeing him around these days.

Lance was concerned for his mental health. He'd say "Freddy ain't gone yet, yo.I think he was at home earlier watching TV." or something like that. Sometimes, it freaked them out to hear him having a private conversation with a non-existent Fred in his bedroom at night.

Being the leader of the Brotherhood, Lance fought to stay the strong one for his friends. Although Fred's death was killing him inside, they needed him, including Pietro .The boy had cried at Fred's death, but he had said that it was merely an accident. Magneto never meant to stab Fred with that metal pole.

Just an accident? Lance wanted to laugh at that. Magneto had aimed to do it. He had murdered Fred out of cold blood, but Pietro wouldn't let anyone blame it on his "oh-so-perfect" father who he was so annoyingly devoted to.

Why couldn't he just fight back? Was he not strong enough? Lance didn't like to admit the fact that he was scared. What a great leader he was…unable to stick up for his friends. It was all his fault for being so stupid.

"God, what kind of a leader am I?" Lance asked no one in particular, "I've caused my friends death; I caused Todd all this pain and I let Pietro run out on us and get away with it. It's all my fault. "If the gods how much wrongs he had committed, they'd kill him there and then.

"Hey, Lance, don't say that…" he heard Todd's soft voice saying from somewhere to his right. The younger boy had obviously heard what he had said earlier on. It made him feel bad that Todd had to hear it. It was inexcusable.

"You're the best leader anyone can have, yo," Todd was saying. He sounded sad and tearful, which was a usual occurrence now. They had all changed so much. From the old cheeky friend he used to have, Todd was not quiet and timid.

Ever since they got themselves into Magneto's grasp, Todd had become fearful around everyone, the change that Lance couldn't bear to see happen. They were nearly broken, even he was scared. How would they ever get out of this mess? What chances did they have if they managed to escape?

Looking in Todd's fearful eyes, he finally understood. Whatever they did, they had to do it together. Because, only together, they were stronger. "Hey, Todd, come here," he muttered, gently pulling him into a comforting embrace.

Holding the younger boy to him, lance whispered, "I know how hard this is on you. I'll get us out of this…some way. How long would it take? I don't know, but Todd, you know that I'd always look out for you and Pietro, right?"

Gaining significant comfort in his words, Todd sighed. "I know, Lance. I know you will…"