Prologue: A Dying Wish

Ruatoki, New Zealand – Three Days Earlier

The darkness of the night provided the perfect cover for him as he made his way past through the trees. He took a moment to look up at the sky and was comforted by the sight of the full moon, its light showing the way through the woods. Although, his night vision was handy in this situation, even though it was not exactly perfect. Being a mutant did have its benefits.

He exited the woods and scanned the area for any living beings around him before stepping into the clearing. If any humans spotted him, that would draw attention that he did not want. In front of the mutant stood a small cemetery with a few of the headstones either missing or breaking apart from years of weathering. The sight was depressing, but then again, cemeteries were not made to be comforting for its guests. At least not anyone of the living.

Seconds later, he stopped in front of one of the smaller gravestones and looked down at the patch of dead grass that laid beneath it. The name that was supposed to be carved into the stone was barely legible and it looked more like chicken scratches than it did actual words. But the mutant did not need to read the name to know whose grave he was standing over. He knelt to the ground and pulled a small bouquet of flowers from the inside of his coat. Maori onions. As bright and as yellow as the sun.

"I'm sorry for not seeing you for so long."

The mutant finally spoke, his New Zealand accent thick within his voice.

"But I know you understand. I guess I was cursed with a face only you could love, Mum."

Speaking of that, he grabbed the hood of his jacket and removed it from over his head to reveal his face. He was not unattractive, but he definitely was not HUMAN. The mutant's yellowish-tan skin was covered in swirling, black tattoos and his crimson eyes shined under the moonlight like embers in a fire. His black hair was tied back into a short ponytail and sharp canines could be seen between his slightly parted lips. Everything about the mutant screamed "monster" in the eyes of ordinary humans.

"I brought you some flowers."

The mutant nodded his head to the flowers in his hand and removed the wilting flowers that were already on his mother's grave. He laid the fresh Maori onions on the cold stone and then stood.

"I know you loved them, so…I made sure to get some before coming here. It was the least I could do after not seeing you for so long."

He stood quietly for a moment as if he was waiting for someone to speak, even though he knew no one would. Or so he thought.

"Kia ora, Kiwi Black."

The mutant, Kiwi Black, let out a deep sigh and scowled. Despite seeing how the mutant was obviously not happy about their appearance, the newcomer approached Black and grabbed his shoulder. The gesture was supposed to be comforting, but it only irritated the mutant more.

"Is that not the traditional Maori greeting? Kia Ora? It's the one I learned from your mother…along with a few other choice phrases."

"Hmph."

Kiwi Black shook the stranger's hand off him and glared at them.

"This is a sacred place. You defile her grave with your presence here."

"My boy, the same blood that runs through my veins is present within you as well. Remember that."

Black scoffed and turned away from the newcomer.

"Why are you here? What do you want?"

"Can't I simply want to visit my son?"

"Do not call me that. We may be blood, but you will never be my father."

"Oh, you wound me. Can you not show the least bit of affection for your old man? After all, if it were not for me, you would not be here."

"I would have counted that as a blessing."

The father laughed despite the slight irritation he was feeling towards his son.

"I see you get your humor from me."

"I wish that was the only thing I got from you. Now tell me what you want, so you can go. My patience is already running thin."

"As has mine, my son."

Kiwi Black had no time to dodge his father's hand before it wrapped around his throat. He was then pushed against the side of a mausoleum that was sitting to his right. The force of the impact caused cracks to appear within the building's white granite. Black clawed at his father's hand to get it off his throat, but it was to no avail.

"Try as you might, boy…but you know you cannot defeat me."

The father's grip tightened around Kiwi Black's neck. He smiled as he watched his son struggle to breath, but it slowly faded away. This was beginning to bore him.

"But you are my son, so I will not kill you."

The father suddenly released his son from his hold, and Black coughed a few times while he was catching his breath.

"It is the least I can do for your mother."

Walking back to the mother's grave, the father straightened his black tie and suit jacket. He had wrinkled it when he had attacked Black just a moment ago.

"But enough of that. There IS something I want from you, Kiwi Black. And you will obey me. Unless—"

The father turned back to Black and clenched his fists.

"You would like for me to go back on my word. It would surely break your dear mother's heart. You would not want that, would you?"

Kiwi Black answered the question with a low growl as he stood from the ground. But his father took that as a sign of compliance. It made him smile again, which angered Black even more. But he kept his composure and sighed.

"…What do I need to do?"

"Attaboy. I knew you would make the right choice. That is why you are perfect for this task."

"What task?"

"Do you not feel it, Kiwi Black? Our return is imminent. Only a few more days before our people are free from our dreadful prison. I know I can count on you to help with that. But…"

The father's smile faltered slightly, and this did not go unnoticed by Kiwi Black. The mutant frowned.

"But what?"

"…I am sure you are aware of your siblings, yes?"

Black did know about his siblings, but he was unaware of their identities. There was no way that his father has lived as long as he has and not have multiple children. That was just the kind of person he was.

"I know that they exist, if that is what you are asking."

"Yes. And some of them have grown to have…morals. Like those wretched angels…"

The father's clenched his fists even tighter, which caused a small trail of blood to leak from his palm. It was clear that these "angels" he spoke of were not to his liking.

"But enough about them. The point is that with their morals getting in the way, your brothers may resist my calls. A few of them already are, and this is becoming a problem."

Turning away from Kiwi Black, his father looked up to the sky and let out a huge sigh.

"I need you to find them. And convince them to come to me."

"You mean force them."

"Force, convince, do what you must."

"And what if I cannot? Considering that we were sired by you, your children are not weak. We may not be as powerful as you on our own, but together we can cause some serious damage. What if they decide to team up against me?"

"You need not worry about that. I will take care of it."

The father took a moment to adjust the cuffs of his suit.

"You just make sure our guests are present during our…family reunion."

Walking away, Kiwi Black called out to his father one last time before he could leave.

"We are not a family! Do you understand!?"

Black's father stopped and glanced over his shoulder. A sly smirk was visible on his face.

"We will always be family, Kiwi Black. Always."

He laughed and disappeared in a cloud of red smoke. Kiwi Black watched him go and then turned back to his mother's grave, a solemn expression replacing his deep scowl. If he went against his father, he was dead. If he went along with his father's demands…then he might as well be dead.

Hey guys! I'm really excited about writing this story. I finished watching X-Men: Evolution and I was really disappointed by the ending. If only they got another season! But I was happy that they mentioned Nightcrawler's relationship with Mystique and the Brimstone Dimension. Nightcrawler is my favorite X-Men character and I truly believe he needs to have his own movie! But since it is very unlikely that he will, I thought I'd show him some love by writing a story about him. I hope you guys enjoy!