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Chapter 28

Raven scrambled into her room with hurrying footsteps. With scrabbling hands the door was shut beside her with a heavy slam and the catch locked. As she span around to face her room she stared round at the clothes she had gathered over the weeks here. The room wasn't the neatest it could be; with no possessions it was alarming how she could make a room so untidy. She slowly looked round the room, her eyes meeting the mirror on the dresser. She stared slowly at her reflection, walking cautiously towards it.

'You should not hide yourself away, Raven. You should not be fearful of what you are or what you look like.'

She tentatively raised a hand to touch her cheek slowly. She rarely allowed herself to touch her own skin. She feared it as though it could hurt her. She slowly let her fingertips brush the skin of her cheek, flinching slowly across the additional scales. Her shiny skin was exquisitely smooth and Raven was initially surprised at how silky her blue skin felt.

"I'm not scared," she told her reflection as she continued to force her fingers to stay against her skin. "I've got a brilliant, unique mutation. And I shouldn't be ashamed of what I am or how I look." She took a deep breath as she closed her eyes and with a familiar cracking sounded her clothes disappeared and instead just left her blue skinned form in front of the mirror. She had to accept how she looked. Slowly and reluctantly she forced her eyes to open. Fearfully she stared at her nude form and was met by a sudden surprise.

As naked as she was.. she almost didn't look nude. Those scales that trailed patterns freely around her body formed a perfectly symmetrical shape across her breasts and wound identical paths either side of her smooth abdomen. They then formed together once more below her naval and thicker scales continue down across her thighs. It was almost artistic. The design was so detailed and intricate. It was revealing and modest all at the same time. Raven was surprised to find herself thinking this.. but it actually looked good. Almost.. pretty.

Raven turned slowly, glaring over the clothes strewn over her bed before a smirk crept over her blue lips. This was to be the start of a new her. She was to turn into someone she would be proud of. To not fear or be ashamed of her blue skin. To show it off and hold her head high. Clothes irritated her scale, now she could walk free and be content. With one last look in the mirror, her eyes trailed over her form, unable to not marvel at what she had been hiding away. She didn't even need clothes, she looked better without.. the scales covered her enough.

She spun to the door, the smirk alight on her face as she stepped out. No doubt this was going to raise a few eyebrows.

Erik stood in wait at the end of the corridor to Charles's office. He too had changed clothing, changing from the more simple attire of a shirt and trousers to wear a long black coat with a high neck. He wore black leather gloves on his hands and black steel rimmed boots. His face held an expression to match his mutation, cold and steely. Perhaps this was a new start for him too? He looked round slowly when he heard light footsteps, and his stern face relaxed in surprise as Raven walked towards him.

Raven merely gave a playful smile at him, shrugging her shoulders with an unruffled air, "I decided that I should be proud of what I am," even her words had taken on a sharp quality of confidence. Erik just stared at her in a mix of surprise and awe. He almost couldn't decide whether she really was naked or not. She appeared to be, shape wise, but those beautiful scales were precisely fanning to keep her modesty oh so perfectly.

"So you should," said Erik quietly as he lifted his eyes upon her. "Together we will show Charles and his X-Men how we really should deal with humans. Come my dear." Erik spun round slowly, striding with swift footsteps towards the double doors of Charles's office. His hands outstretched before he reached them and the doors flew open to make way for his entry.

Inside the office, the X-Men were gathered and all turned abruptly as the doors noisily slammed open. Scott abruptly stood up, staring across at Erik. Charles frowned from behind his desk, looking carefully at Erik, as he stood alone in the doorway, "Erik?"

"Not anymore," replied Erik coolly, "Magneto."

"What are you doing?"

"Leaving, my friend. It is time for us to part ways. For too long I have tried to agree with your methods, but I'm afraid I cannot anymore. You can either against me or with me. Together as homo sapiens!"

Scott stared at him slowly, "Fight against humans?" he said in surprise, "But we are working for peace not a war!"

"Shut up, boy," snarled Erik, "You know nothing. Peace will never happen. We must fight for our survival and forget the little fantasies for a peaceful world. They need to accept who we are. How powerful we are."

Jean gently extended a hand to try and pull Scott down into his seat. When he wouldn't sit she stood herself, glaring over at Erik, "One man alone cannot lead a fight against humans. You're delusional."

Erik's lips twisted into a crooked dry smile, "Ah, Dr. Grey, I am not alone you see. Those this school cannot care for, I will help." He slowly turned his arm as he stepped to the side, his cloak swaying slowly as he produced Raven with a show of his hands in gesture. From the darkness of the corridor, Raven slowly stepped into the room. Her eyes swam like glowing orbs as she stepped into the sunlight of the office.

Scott's jaw dropped. She stood brazenly bare. She no longer carried herself hunched in a defeated way, with her head bowed as she fought to avoid staring eyes. No. She was stood tall, her hands on bare hips as she walked with a grace and precision of a woman. Perfectly placed footsteps guided her with an additional sultry sway of hips.

"R-Raven?"

Raven slowly swivelled her eyes upon Scott as he spoke her name, merely giving him a teasing smirk as she greeted, "Scott."

"What are you doing? You're leaving with him!"

"Of course," said Raven smoothly as she glared around the rest of the people in the room. Her eyes momentarily met Jean's who glared at her stonily. No doubt she had been informed of what Raven did to Scott. Raven noticed Jean's hand tighten on Scott's, but for some reason.. Raven didn't care.

"But she is not the only one," said Erik as he stared over at Charles who had still not spoken. In fact, he didn't look surprised; he just looked disappointed as he slowly glanced between Raven and Erik. "I have other mutants who shall be joining us. So, Charles, are you going to be a part of the fight that will ensure mutant survival?"

Slowly, Storm, Scott and Jean looked round at Charles, watching almost fearfully for his answer.

Charles slowly lowered his hands from his chin, resting them on the desk, "No," he said quietly, "I shall be continuing to teach my students and helping my X-Men to learn how to protect themselves from human hostility without dangerous measures."

For a moment, Erik and Charles merely watched each other in a tense silence, "Fine," came Erik's cold reply, "Goodbye Charles."

"Magneto.." replied Charles quietly as he bowed his head.

Erik turned abruptly striding out of the office. Raven merely smirked at the room before she turned, eyes lastly finding Charles. She let a derisive little laugh slip before she turned and followed Erik out of the office.

"Magneto, hm? Perhaps I should also fashion myself a name.."

"Of course you should my dear. You are a mutant now, a new name would declare your pride."

She smiled slowly as she looked up at him slowly, "Then my name.. is Mystique."

Now we're moving onto the begining of X1!