Review Shoutouts! Yay!
DarkWolfBlade: Thanks for all the reviews! You're awesome! And an Apocalypse deal? Well, you gave me an idea! Read the following chapter . . .
Isilthrar: Thanks for the nice review! I am updating a lot because I've got no other stories to distract me. I ain't got any other ideas stewing right now, except I'm thinking up a sequel to my other fic.
Frankie: Yeah, it is a bit sad. But still, that episode was pretty sad. I'm trying not to make the entire thing dreary, but it's got to have that touch, you know what I mean?
Well, I'm sorry to say this people, but this will be the last chapter I write for about two weeks, 'cause I'm going on Vacation! Don't ask where..really... but as soon as I get back, I'll keep writing!
Chapter 4:The Life in Death
In a pyramid very far from civilization, a man with a dark face and an evil look in his eyes stood opposite a stone statue of a woman. The dark face glanced across the room. He looked across the room at his project. Its eyes were shut tight, its skin hard, and stony. His face grew into a smile, his eyes narrowing as he thought of the possibilities. His hard work had borne fruit. His specimen had anger beyond his imagination, and the skills to back it up. Now, he had given it the power to strike its revenge. The only price it needed to pay was its free will...
"It is time." Apocalypse's booming laughter filled the chamber of the pyramid.
"Awaken, my Horseman." He spoke, and a pair of striking and vibrant yellow eyes snapped open, and the stone went away. The statue became alive. She had odd, glowing markings all about her, from her blue legs to her fiery red hair.
"What is your wish, my master?" The "Horseman" spoke with a distorted voice, not like her own.
"Seek your vengeance on anyone and anything. On those who have hurt you most. Bring your wrath upon them...Death(1)." Apocalypse ordered. The Horseman named "Death" nodded, and transformed into a raven, and flew away through a passage built especially for her.
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Irene suddenly collapsed on the floor. She was having a particularly disturbing vision. Why hadn't she gotten this earlier...
She saw her dear Raven killing, and destroying, and all not on her own free will. She'd been kidnaped(2) and brainwashed. She was even different physically; she had odd markings all about her, all glowing a bright blue, contrasting greatly with her dark blue skin.
"Irene!" Rogue gasped, and quickly bent down to help her up. But when she'd left the mansion, she'd neglected to bring gloves with her,a nd Rogue was so worried that she hadn't realized the consequences of grabbing Irene's hands. Irene quickly fell limp, and her thoughts and abilities flew into Rogue. Lucky for Rogue, though, she did not become blind. Rogue was so upset she didn't read the recent thoughts of Irene. She quickly hauled Irene up over her shoulder, her cane left behind, this time being extremely careful not to touch Irene directly, and carefully laid her on the couch. As soon as she was sure Irene was fine, she followed her memories to where her room was. Surprisingly, Irene hadn't changed anything. It was as neat and tidy as the night she'd left. She rummaged through some of her clothes drawers, and found an old pair of gloves. Then, as soon as she had nothing else to do but sit out in the living room, waiting for Irene to come to, she realized what Irene's intentions had been.
She had wanted Rogue to save Mystique.
It was all clear to Rogue now. That hadn't been Mystique she'd pushed off the cliff; merely a decoy! Irene had saved it. No, some strange man with a tail saved it, but to her that wasn't important. Irene had tried to use her again! Rogue stood up in a fury. She felt like picking that woman up and throwing her across the room and breaking her legs and leaving her there to suffer. But Rogue couldn't do that to anyone, let alone Irene. She calmed herself down and scanned through the thoughts more carefully.
No, Irene hadn't used her. She had even planned to ask Rogue first. She wasn't going to force her to save the statue.
Wait! That's what was to supposed have been in that room, then! It dawned on Rogue. Mystique's body had been stolen from where Irene had held it safely. She scanned through, the memories getting more clearer by the second. Then she found something she hadn't known, not then, not through all of her life; Irene had loved Mystique.
Ugh. Didn't need to know that really. Rogue thought sickly. But then, she scanned her own memories. It had always seemed like Irene had been watching out for Raven, taking care of her, trying to keep her from doing anything terribly bad, and had generally cared for her. Had Mystique felt the same way? Rogue felt an unusual urge to know. She scanned through the memories she'd absorbed from Mystique carefully. Apparently, yes, Mystique had cared back.
Funny, thought Rogue, I never knew she could ever care for anyone but herself.
Rogue was brought out of her thoughts as she heard Irene rising.
"Wh-what happened?" Irene asked as she rubbed her head.
"Ah know why you brought me here." Rogue told her, trying to suppress her inner anger. Irene's face was etched thickly with surprise.
"Rogue, please, I wasn't trying to use you in any way-" Irene began, but Rogue stopped her.
"Ah know. Ah never thought you would. But now Ah confirmed it. But why, why did you try to save Mystique?" Rogue asked, although she already knew the answer.
"Rogue, something is wrong." Irene said, ignoring Rogue question. She felt she was not yet ready to tell Rogue of her feelings toward Raven. "I just had a vision, and it was not a good one. It was of Raven-" Rogue knew that Irene always called Mystique by her real name, she being one the few people Mystique had ever allowed to. "- and she was being controlled. She was killing innocent people, destroying things, and all in the name of some dark force." Irene told her gravely.
Rogue snorted. "Ah wouldn't count on it. Ah mean, who would go through all that trouble just to save Mystique? She's not even that powerful."
"Ah, but Rogue, she has skill. And she has been given the power to back it up. Her power has been radically upgraded. And by the looks of what I saw, she was in a bloodthirsty rage of some sort." Irene told Rogue, just before the door was kicked open.
"We're here for Rogue." Cyclops said, a few of the X-Men back behind him.
"You can't just barge in here like that-" Irene began, but Rogue had already marched up to them, a scowl present on her face.
"Scott, why can't you just butt out for once!" She hissed.
"You should've told us about where you were going!" Jean told her calmly.
"Well, Ah shouldn't have to! It's mah life!" Rogue yelled.
"Well, Kurt like, totally thought you were in like, some kind of trouble, the way you sped off this morning! And not to mention the Professor found out you were in the house of someone who worked with Mystique!" Shadowcat retorted.
"Well, it's not mah fault that Furball can't mind his own business!" Rogue shrieked before pushing them out and slamming the door in their shocked faces.
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"Yo, Lance! Freddy won't let me watch the battery TV!" Todd shouted. It was around midday, and everyone in the Boarding House seemed a bit discouraged with the fact that Nightcrawler had taken Mystique's rock hard body. They had been having fun with it.
The Boarding House was almost completely dark. Only a few candles burned for light.
"Toad, I told you, you have to deal with your own problems!" Lance yelled back from upstairs.
Pietro raced down the stairs. "You guys, I'm sooooooo bored!" He whined.
"I know! It's gotten boring ever since Night Creeper stole Mystique. Well, not only that, but also when the electric company cut off the power." Freddy said.
Wanda walked in and sighed. "Well, you know he really didn't steal Mystique, if you think about the fact that she was his mother, you dumb oafs. I mean, it's not like she actually belonged to you anyways." She told them.
"Yeah, well it doesn't matter now 'cause Rogue broke her." Pietro complained.
"Yeah, I hear that Fuzzball's gonna give her a funeral." Lance laughed as he came downstairs.
"How do you know, man?" Todd asked.
"Kitty heard him talking about it in his room. She says he's been moping around all the time now, and always picking fights with Rogue." Lance said.
"Well, you can't really blame him, she was his mom. Maybe we should go check it out." Wanda suggested.
"Why, so we can spit on her grave? I got better things to do with my day, yo." Todd chuckled.
"Yeah, it's her funeral." Pietro dismissed. Suddenly the door was smashed down and the candles were blown out by the wind, leaving them in utter darkness. Wanda backed away into a wall.
"What's happenin', yo?" Todd clung onto Freddy, scared.
"No, Pietro. It's your funeral." A voice from the door said. Mystique stepped into the home, her blue skin still glowing with the markings of Apocalypse.
"My-My-Mystique!" Pietro uttered disbelievingly.
"No. I. Am. DEATH!" Death screamed, and instantly attacked the boys; Wanda pressed herself against the back wall, watching everything go on in horror.
"You think it was funny using my body as a toy?" Death hissed as she picked Todd up by the shirt. She threw him against the wall, her enhanced strength forcing him through. He slumped down with his nose bleeding heavily.
"Hey, that's not funny!" Freddy roared. He began running at Death at full speed. Everyone but her in that room thought she was a goner. But she did an amazing front flip onto Freddy back, and forced him through the wall. She instantly transformed to Rogue, and grabbed Freddy's neck. His strength began to sap into her, making her even stronger, and knocking out Fred. She transformed to normal, turning to Pietro.
"What's happened to you?" Pietro asked as he zipped around Death.
"I have been improved." Death said simply. She used a swift kick that knocked Pietro into the ceiling. He winced in pain and held his arm as he fell through the air (3) and was knocked unconscious as he hit the ground. Wanda raced over to him.
"Pietro! Pietro! Pietro, answer me, you idiot!" Wanda cried, nudging Pietro carefully. Her tears ran down her face and landed on Pietro's unmoving body.
"That's it! Get out of here!" Lance screamed has his eyes rolled into the back of his head. He sent a huge tremor towards Death, but she easily moved out of the way. She shifted her arm into a advanced weapon that resembled a cannon, and blasted Lance into a wall. His head made a satisfying crack! as it hit the wall.
"You're the only one left." Death didn't even smile as she walked slowly towards Wanda.
"What did I do to you? I even suggested someone who could save you?" Wanda screamed.
"Everyone is against me, except my Master." Death reached Wanda. Wanda was too shocked to fight back. Death picked her up by the throat and slammed her head against a wall. A crack appeared behind it. She brought her face in so close to Wanda's that Wanda could smell her hot breath in her face.
"The Age of Apocalypse is nigh(4)." Death said finally, and threw Wanda into the old television, and she gasped for breath. Death pounded her shoe onto the side of Wanda's head. "Spread the word." Death stomped out of the dark house, leaving the carnage behind. She transformed into a blood-spattered raven, and flew into the blue sky.
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The X-Men were in their jet, on their way back to the mansion. Cyclops(5) flew the jet, while the rest of the team sat in the back with disgruntled looks on their faces.
"What's, like, gotten into her?" Shadowcat asked angrily into the silence, her arms folded over her chest.
"She's taking the Mystique thing really hard too." Jean answered.
"But she's the one who killed her, man! How can she be the one upset?" Spyke cried.
"Whatever. Let's just get back home." Cyclops moaned. They soon landed in the X-Jet's hanger, and trooped to the Professor's office to report. But before they could even knocked he beckoned for them to come in.
"The Brotherhood needs your urgent help. There is someone down there attacking them and they are nearly dead!" The Professor informed them.
"No! Lance!" Kitty cried.
"Go! Now! Save them!" The Professor urged. They nodded and quickly ran to the garage. They hopped in the X-Van and drove at full speed to the Boarding House. Kurt didn't come. They arrived and jumped out. They saw a horrible sight. They ran in to find all of the Brotherhood unconscious, most of them bloody. Spyke quickly pulled a bloody-faced Todd out of a wall. Kitty rushed over to Lance, who was slumped at the bottom of a wall, his clothes very singed. Scott picked up Wanda, whose back of her head was slightly bleeding from an impact of some sort. Just as Jean was about to pick Pietro up he stirred slightly.
"Ah!" He cried as he held onto his bleeding and broken arm. "Is-is-is she gone?" He asked quietly, not even opening his eyes.
"Pietro! Who did this? Tell us who!" Jean urged trying to clean off the blood on his arm.
"My-my...Mystique...Death..." Pietro said no more.
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(1)-Not sure what Horseman she is, so I just made her Death.
(2)-Yes, apparently that's the correct spelling for "kidnaped".
(3)-Yeah, that's how high their living room's ceiling is. He stayed up in the air for like, 3 whole seconds!
(4)-Apocalypse said that at the end of X-Men Legends 1's game ending movie.
(5)-I called them those names instead of Scott and everything because they're in costume. Deal with it ;)
Well, that was the most violent thing I've ever written! Hoped you liked. A lot longer than my other chapters! How's THAT for Apocalypse thing, DarkWolfBlade? Lol. I wouldn't of THOUGHT of that if it weren't for you! Well, I've got an entire story planned out now, including a big, shocking twist! Please, review and I will TRY to reply!