Note: Alas we are coming to a close soon. -.- little upset about that. Oh well. I'm not completely finished with this story. Going to give a nice little extra to it since Rogue hasn't learnt to... Well, I'll let you guys read this one first. Thanks anyway for all your support. You guys rock! XD

Chapter 25

He opened and closed his eyes. His head was pounding. But as he went to rub his temples, he found chains trapping his wrists. "What the?" He muttered as he opened his eyes. The gentle daylight hit him like a knife to the head and it knocked him back into the pillow. After crunching up his face, he attempted to open his eyes again. His sight was blurry but when he looked around, he saw to his left six figures behind metal bars. All of which were looking at him. "What?" He questioned confused.

"Nice of ya ta join us, Malcolm." Came the voice of Jean-Luc LeBeau.

Malcolm opened his eyes fully and took in the six people stood outside of the cage cell. The two LeBeaus, Jean-Luc and Henri, the three assassins, Marcus, Julian and Bella Donna, and last but centre front was Tante Mattie Who had her hood down and looked furious. Malcolm sat up and stumbled his way over to the cell door.

"What ya doin? Let me outta here ya stupid-"

"Enough Malcolm." Said Tante Mattie in her rage, yet she stayed still and calm.

"Mattie, ya ain't got not right lockin' me in here. Let me go!"

"Unfortunately for you Malcolm, you are wrong."

"What? Woman don't push me-"

"Wade Malcolm junior, you have been accused and evidence given against you to being the thief who has stolen from de thieves guild and de assassins guild over the many years you have ruled over the higher court. You have also been accused of continuing and creating a feud between the thieves and assassins guild by manipulating each guild into believing dat the otha was de one takin' their money and more. You have also been accused and found guilt of blackmailing several of the higher court members to have them do your dirty work and also take your side of a voting, breaking the rules of a fair trial. You are also bein' found guilty for the murder of other innocent victims you have killed to get what you desire. Wade Malcolm Junior the fifth, the court is deciding your fate. Although, from this moment forwards, you are stripped of ya title and any further rights you once had. You are no longer head of de higher court."

"What!" Malcolm yelled in a panic. He was losing everything. He had lost everything. How? How did they find out? What had happened? He tried to remember. He tried. And he remembered. "Wait, wait!" Malcolm yelled back the six. They stopped to glare back at him. "How?"

"By the girl you tried to kill ta take tension off de little disappearance of large amounts of money from each guild ya been stealing for ya own selfish self." Stated Bella Donna.

"But... But how?"

"By her mutant abilities is how." said Jean-Luc with that family trade grin.

"Her mutant abilities... She can take memories through touch. But-"

"You touched her when ya dove in ta kill her. She knocked ya unconscious and discovered everythin you sneaky bastard been hidin." Said Marcus with the deadly family trade glare.

"And ya believe her? Ya believe dat little bitch?"

"Oi, don't call mon future sister-in-law a bitch. She ain't anythin of de sort." Snapped Henri.

"You believe that little mutant scum over me? You let that bitch live?" Malcolm suddenly started laughing. "She's gonna die. The higher courts can't be overruled once a decision has been made. I see it! See it all in ya eyes. Ya treasure that mutant scum. Well ya gonna have to watch her die. That troublesome piece of shit is goin' ta die. And I'll get what I want. Dat bitch'll burn in hell."

"Actually your wrong Malcolm." Said Julian. Malcolm spat at them.

"The higher courts can be overruled by one person."

Malcolms face dropped. He was hoping that wasn't the voice. He was desperately hoping that wasn't her. He thought he'd get worse punishment if it was her. He was scared of her. "No." He breathed as he put two and two together. "No. No she can't believe dat bitch. She can't favour the mutant scum over me. I have legacy. Family legacy. That bitch is just a wash up pathetic excuse for existence dat shouldn't even be alive. I believe de same thing her pére does, dat she should be dead. Dat filthy mutant bitch has nothing compared to my family."

"Your family which has been discovered to have been the cause of the feud in the first place and for generations has used and fueled that feud ta take advantage of all of us. Your family has no honor or place in dis guild anymore. Not only have ya been stripped. But so has ya family, and de rest of ya older relatives are been collected and y'all are gonna be hung tagether." Tante Matte said. "Just like the long lieing cheatin family ya's are. And as for de girl, the whole guilds respecs her more than they have eva dune ya. And dat girl happens ta be liked and protected by the External. So best be careful what words ya use against her Malcolm, or ya sentence maybe worse."

As they all left Malcolm's jaw hung open. How could the External like that mutant scum?

XXXXX

Rogues eyes fluttered open and she smiled seeing Remy's beautiful, peaceful face lit up by the golden glow that came through the window. Rogue still couldn't believe what had happened. How Gambit had rushed to get to her, breaking so many laws to do it. Well Rogue shouldn't be surprised at the law-breaking, but still. It warmed her heart and also stung it that Gambit had been so desperate to save her after what she'd done. He'd forgiven her straight away and she just thought how really lucky and unworthy she was to be lying in his arms. Rogue snuggled up closer into his chest and began thinking again of how he put his life on the line for her and what happened after that voice.

XXXXX

"Enough!" The voice boomed.

All the thieves and assassins hopped off from on top of Gambit and Rogue. Gambit sat up pulling Rogue close into his lap. Rogue clung to Gambit too. She tired to make sense of what was happening as she was screaming when the voice had yelled. She looked down to see Malcolm unconscious. Good, she thought as she'd realized a lot of messed up things he'd done to keep his power over the guilds. She thought she hadn't known a more vile person than him. Then her eyes shifted up to the assassins and thieves who had jumped up off them. They were scattered off around them and their attention was all towards the same thing. Even when Rogue looked to Gambit, his attention was on only one thing. And it wasn't her. Rogue turned her head up to above her and Gambit and right there, glowing with bright light against the growing darkness was a goddess. A beautiful beautiful goddess with long blonde hair and blue eyes. Rogue was stunned not only by the woman's beauty and obvious strong powers, but because from the memories of all people in the guilds that she had absorbed, all of them were stunned too and told her just who this woman was.

"Guild leaders and higher court report." She ordered.

Slowly at first the assassins and thieves around them started moving away, then ran away into the crowds. The heads of the assassins and the thieves stepped up as well as all the higher court member, except Malcolm as he was knocked out. Gambit didn't stand up and bow to the External like his family did. He stayed with a tight grip on Rogue.

Tante Mattie took over. "External, this is a sentences for this young lady here after she stole from the thieves guild and framed the young princess of assassins, Bella Donna."

The External raised her eyebrow as her attention turned to Rogue. "Such skill."

"Yes External. The girl is very gifted." Continued Tante Mattie." The girl is one of de best thieves the guilds have ever come across as she broke inta the assassins home, and the thieves, and stole from both. And ders even been some debate as to whether she would be a betta thief or assassin as she managed to frame Bella Donna perfectly. Bella Donna would have died if it wasn't for the girl's good conscience. The girl's noble and in love with de prince of thieves. She had her heart broken cause of de guilds peace arrangements and simply wanted a little revenge that came out of her anger, love and jealous for dis boy. She didn't mean her crime, but unfortunately, de higher courts have voted against her." Rogue already liked Tante from the first moment she sort of met her, but now as she explained what happened and saw how she was trying her best to prove to the External how valid she was and not to kill her, she only grew to like her more.

"I see. That does put a damper on such a skilled individual's obvious talents. Why is Malcolm asleep?"

"He is not asleep. I believe simply knocked unconscience by the girl's powers."

"The girl is a mutant?" The External asked, seeming rather interested in this.

But Rogue's attention had moved back to Malcolm and she scrunched up her face in anger and disgust.

"Hope ah put em in a coma." Rogue muttered.

"What was that?" The External asked now looking at Rogue. All eyes came to Rogue as she looked around, nervous at being made the center of attention. Then her eyes found the External again.

"ah...ah... Sorrah." She said hanging her head down in embarrassment.

"Don't be sorry. Tell me what you said."

Rogue eyed Malcolm again and everyone saw the look of utter disgust in her eyes. Rogue couldn't hold it in.

"That man is vile. He ain't even a man. He's worse than vile. He's-"

"One of the higher court members," the External said warningly. "I suggest you have a good reason for cursing him, however?"

Rogue looked the woman in the eye and somehow saw in the interest and kindness in her eyes which gave Rogue enough confidence to continue.

"Him. He's the one who's been takin stuff from the thieves and assassins."

Everyone looked bewildered and confused.

"Oh really. What evidence do you have and why do you only just claim this now? It is quite odd a timing considering you were about to die from stealing yourself."

"Ah know. Ah know it's weird. But ah absorbed his memories just now and ah know he's be foolin' y'all. He's-"

"What are your powers?"

"Oh, errr, guess ah should explain them first. Mah power is absorption. Whenever ah touch someone's skin, ah take their life force, their memories, their abilities and powers if they're mutants, and ah leave em hurt and a conscience like that." Rogue pointed her head in Malcolm's direction as Gambit had his arms wrapped around her arms and stopping her from moving.

"I see." The External said, never taking her eyes off Rogue In fact she grew closer to Rogue's face. Bending over so she could come eye to eye with Rogue. Then her eyes flickered to Gambit. "You may rise and let go of her now."

Gambit looked at the External, hesitant to let go. Rogue looked back up to him too and he met her eyes. Her soft longing emeralds which he liked losing himself in. Handling Rogue gently and carefully, he stood them up, loosening his grip, but still having an arm wrapped around her. Rogue looked back to the External who was looking deeply into her eyes as if looking deep into Rogue's soul and judging her character. The External took Rogue's hand and pulled her out from Gambit's arms. Rogue felt in a trance lost in the External's magical blue eyes.

"You have quite a power. Useful for both stealing and killing. I see where this argument of which best you'd suit comes from. Tell me more of what betrayal you saw within Malcolm."

Rogue swallowed, never looking away from those eyes. They just seemed to comfort her. Make all the other people fade into nothing. Little did Rogue know though, that the External was testing the Rogue.

"The man and his family are con-artists. The feud between tha thieves and assassins started years ago ova a disagreement. At the time, a Malcolm was in charge of tha town. He was gettin' robed and people gettin' killed, so he discovered tha guides and worked is way inta em. I believe tha first time ya met em, Wade Malcolm the first, he offered ya and the guilds his shares of the town they lived in as long as he was involved in the decision makin' and he gave ya the idea of de higher courts. He brought a silver box with em with his family crest in gold as the lock and inside there were thirty schillings. He gave it ta ya at one of tha guild meetings which he followed an assassin ta, and snuck in."

"Yes, I believe that is correct. But that was so long ago around the begining of the seventeenth century. "

"That Wade Malcolm Junior fifth got told these stories offa his papa whoh is papa had told em and so forth."

"So, the Malcolm's are a close family?"

"'bout as close as the thieves with their family and tha assassins are theirs. The Malcolm's though didn't care for ya rules and what ya stood for. Ya created these guilds to make things fair in the world. Assassins ta kill the evil in tha world, and the thieves to steal from the greedy rich and give ta the needy. Ya set up otha guilds too, but they're less effective than the thieves and assassins, and less trouble. The first Malcolm though offered ya his services ta watch over all these guilds cause ya struggle with visitin' regularly. Ya thought it was a good idea, so created tha higher courts."

"Yes, I did." The External said rather surprised at Rogue's knowledge of the guilds more than any other person it appeared. It shocked all the guild members too who stood dumbfounded at how much Rogue knew.

"Malcolm was makin' a fool outta ya, External. Ya stopped visitin' as often and stopped knowin' what was happenin'. He turned mean then and started diggin dirt up on the other good decent people ya had chosen ta be in the higher court. Ya idea was actually a real good one, but Malcolm was a rotten seed. He sucked up ta ya and fooled ya inta thinking he was ya loyal servant when he really wasn't. He started blackmailin other higher court members and demandin from the guilds that they start payin the higher courts. He got real greedy. Tha greed which thieves would steal from. He got real horrible, killin and framin innocent people who got in tha way of his plans. Someone tha assassins would kill. He passed on his power to his sons and they passed on everythin they knew bout their forefathers onta their children. For centuries, tha Malcolms did whatever they had ta to keep rich and keep on top, includin' whisperin' in each guild's ears and makin' em hate each other so they'd turn on each other and focus on each other rather than focus on him and realise what the family were doin. Malcolms' been foolin all the guilds and ya for centuries, External. And he's doin his bad deeds now."

The External frowned and straightened. Rogue blinked out of the trance she didn't know she was in, then felt Gambit's arms snake around her waist and pull her back. Rogue looked around confused as everyone was backing up. Then she looked to the External and fear rushed through her veins just as it did everyone else's. "FOOLED!" She yelled, raging with hate of being embarrassed and used.

Suddenly, thunder sounded above their heads and winds became more wild. Rogue was sure Storm was around somewhere, trapped in an in a closed space. But it wasn't Storm. It was the External. Rogue was pulled back down off the stage by Gambit and she noticed that all the others had gotten off stage too, except Malcolm which the External was looking down at, white-eyed with rage.

"You dare Mock me? Mock the order of the guilds? You shall pay?"

Rogue realised what was going on. The External was mad and going to kill Malcolm. As much as Rogue hated the guy for continuing the feud and making it worse, meaning that Gambit had to marry Bella Donna or get killed for it, the X-Men within her couldn't do it. "WAIT!" Rogue yelled out. "NO! WAIT!"

"What are ya doin?" Gambit asked her.

The External eased her powers and turned her white, furious eyes on Rogue. Those eyes were scary and Rogue regretted speaking.

"Is there more to add?" The External asked.

"Errr, no, ah... Ah just didn't want ta see ya kill him."

"That is not in your control to decided."

"Ah know, it's just..."

"What is it girl?"

"Ah- Ah don't know. It's just killin em right now dunt seem right. Dunt seem like tha right punishment. 'specially since ya gonna kill em while he's already down and missed everythin that's happened. Ah just think dat maybe ya should, ya know, have his punishment judged fairly. By the higher courts like ya created. Ah mean, why sink ta his level? Why sink low and kill someone when they're down and without a fair trial? Ya a woman of justice and fairness. He might deserve it in the end, but everythin' here, everyone here is here causa ya, and causa your purpose. Ya created the guilds as a secret justice away from tha world which would judge people unfairly. You created a world where justice would be sort fairly. Why let em ruin that further? Why ruin what ya created like he's been tryin ta do? It ain't worth it. He ain't worth it. It ain't worth ya losin everythin ya stand for just cause ya mad at em. Go through the courts ya created for that fairness and see where that gets ya."

And the weather calmed. The External looked at Rogue quite bewildered.

"In all my years...You speak wisdom, child. Wisdom I have not seen for many centuries. A strong and equal will full of purity from one who has obviously lived her life through pain and suffering. Who knows the world for it's faults, yet can still rise above it and find the bright side to life."

Rogue had no idea what the External was talking about. That didn't sound like her at all. She wasn't wise. If anything, it sounded more like the Professor and everyone knew his little miniatures were Scott and Jean. Rogue had nothing compared to them. And she was selfish and stuff. And she'd still feel sorry for herself when the world hurt her. She didn't believe a word the External had just said to her.

"Step forwards leaders." the External said.

Assassin leaders and thieves leaders stepped back up onto the stage, creating a circle around the External. All except one.

"I said all leaders." The external said eyeing Gambit.

Gambit squeezed Rogue's shoulders and looked down to her. Rogue looked back up seeing he was fighting his duty over his love for her once again. And she felt for him.

"It's alright, go." Rogue said in a low voice.

"She will not be harmed Remy LeBeau." the External confirmed. Then, addressing everyone, said: "In this girl I see the reason I befriended and created the guilds. I see the first person I ever came across on this world, who help me when I had nothing. Who taught me the goodness and hardships of the world and within who's existence, I decided to seek for you skilled individuals. She is a living reminder of why we are who we are. A person who well represents our cause. Tell me child, what is your name."

"Errr, Rogue."

"Rogue?"

"Yeah." Rogue saw the raised eyebrow. "It's,errr, who ah am now... The old meh died some time ago." Rogue said looking to Gambit. "Ann Marie died with her mama." There was understanding in Gambit's eyes and acceptance which lightened her world. She turned back to face the External. "From that moment on, ah changed and ah became the Rogue."

"I see. Another great in the making." The External smiled at her own joke. Then she turned her attention back to all. "From this moment on, the Rogue is under my protection and shall take Malcolm's place in ruling."

Rogue gasped and a moan escaped her before she could stop it. The External caught this and turned back to her.

"What is it child?"

"Oh, nothin"

"Speck child."

"It's just... Well, tha reason ah spoke up in tha first place, asked ya not ta kill em, but give em a fair trial was because ah was remembering some people. Mah old family. The X-Men."

Rogue looked down at her ungloved hand, and tried, but didn't want to, looked at Gambit's reaction out of the corner of her eye to see if he was disappointed or anything. He just seemed confused and interested in what she had to say.

"They taught meh 'bout fairness and peace. They took meh in when ah had nowhere else ta go, even afta ah betrayed em. Well, they didn't trust meh. But anyway, the X-Men have been like a family ta meh, and... Ah been thinkin' bout em. When ah was 'bout ta die, that is. And ah thought of Remy too."

Gambit tried to hold a grin as she said that.

"And the truth is... Well just a minute ago, ah thought ah was gonna die and neva see em again. Ah was missin em before ah'd even died, and ah just realised how ah've been runnin from actually havin a good thing. Maybe cause ah think ah don't deserved it, but ah don't know."

At this moment she felt Gambit squeeze her sides and she realised he was telling her off in the most discreet way he could. She tried to hide a small smile.

"It's just that... Well ah don't think ah could do what ya askin' meh ta do. Ah... Ah only just got mah life back, 'cause of ya, and ah'm so grateful for ya ta give meh another shot at it, really, thank ya so much. But..."

"I understand child. You seem to have the same wish as somebody else." She said while looking at Gambit.

He shrugged his shoulders in a cocky, layback sorry,-can't-help-it kind of way, bringing back the old, easy Gambit which Rogue knew and made her happy. The External shook her head in mock displeasure, then turned her attention back to everyone.

"However, you shall and will remain under my protection from this moment on, and it shall be each and every guild's job all over the world to make sure no harm comes to you or else they shall answer to me. You, both of you, are free to adventure from this guild and search the world on a mission to seek and raise the peace we represent. Guild leaders step forwards."

The leaders on the stage took a step closer around the External, each having some sort of small smile towards the two. Even Gambit's father, who was still being trialed for attempted murder, had a rather excited look to his face.

"Today, we have received a gift and an eye-opener. This feud shall stop with the revelation of what its cause has been. The guilds are to befriend each other. Trust each other. Do business together and move forwards with no one stepping out of line and breaking the new peace just established between the guides. Here we start a new leap and shall better ourselves from this day forwards. All the guild leaders and remaining higher court shall decide the Malcolm families' punishment and run it past me once there has been a decision. Now, I order that this meeting of the bored is ended. Peace be with you and with you all."

Then the External disappeared in her own magic cloud.

The time after that was a bit of a long, uneasy and blurry for Rogue. She had to get through the shocked and existed crowd of thieves and assassins who wanted to meet and know her and know why the External loved her so much. Thank god Gambit stayed so close by her side. He wanted to talk to her privately and she was almost scared by this, only he was having trouble fighting off the guild members as if he was a bodyguard to a very famous celebrity. She got pulled into a room with the higher courts and other leaders from all different guilds after they got out of the swamps. Guilds that Rogue thought were funny or didn't even know existed even with all the memories she'd absorbed. She helped the victims of Malcolm's blackmailing be released from his hold by using his memories against him to free them while there was still time while he was unconscious. That lasted all day.

She went through leaving the long, informative, boring meeting to being pulled aside by Bella Donna who wanted to start over, go out shopping or something with Rogue and be friends. Then her family came over and offered her training and to join the assassins. Of course, Gambit's family came over and offered the same thing straight after. Merci had found her and acted just like Bella and wanted to go shopping with Rogue The two, Bella and Merci, made it a date for the three of them to go out some time that week.

Then, when Gambit got her away from all the other guild leaders trying to invite Rogue to join them, she found Logan mopping over her death which he wasn't allowed to attend because the guilds feared he'd try and stop it, so was left out on the cold. Rogue had him wrap her in a frantic hug and had to explain everything to him, and send him off home with the news and make them all wait to hear from her. While she comforting her wanting-to-be father of his fears of her death and sending him home, Gambit stood tall by a tree not too far away, watching over her.

And then, she had to answer to Gambit who took her back to his old room in his home with the thieves and yelled at her for being so stupid as to run off leaving him like that. They'd argued, but it was a healthy argument which, in the end, had the both of them telling each other they loved each other. The only downside was there was no kiss which seemed to be the next step after their conversation and in their relationship. So instead, Gambit finally crashed out on his bed after changing into his pajamas while Rogue had a shower and later joined him in his bed. He'd woken up by her moving onto his bed, but simply smiled at her, brought the blankets over the both of them and they cuddled together while falling to sleep

XXXXX

And that was what Rogue had been thinking about a little later on when she'd woken up briefly. As she went to fall back to sleep, she was happy the busy day was over (even though she knew there would be more errands tomorrow since she was the golden girl now under the External).