Chapter 2: Guardian
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Character cross-overs
Bavmorda: Raven Darkholm (Mystique)
Seer: Irene Adler (Destiny)
Sorsha: Rogue
Midwife: Suzanne Chan (Sway)
Willow: Scott Summers (Cyclops)
Burglekutt: Warren Worthington III (Angel)
Kiaya: Jean Grey (Phoenix)
Ranon: Nathan Summers (Cable)
Mims: Rachel Summers
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Raven stood alone on the roof of the castle. The high altitudes formed strong gusts of wind that swept through her hair. She inhaled deeply, the winds reenergizing her. Up here she felt free, free from the pressures of her potential adversary. The child of the prophecy still eluded her and her army. God how she hated that child!
To the west she saw the unconquered realms mocking her. But all was not lost. Last month her army had led a siege against the great realm of Westchester. Raven had won and cursed those at the caste of Westchester. Slowly they would take full control of the realm.
"My Queen, a moment please," her Seer had requested. Her current thoughts interrupted.
Stepping behind her, she bowed in respect. She was the only Seer in all of the realms, Raven had seen to that. Her name was Irene Adler but Raven took to calling her Destiny because of her precognitive ability to see various destinies into the future. Though sometimes the events would not happen exactly as foretold, some sort of truth would come of the visions.
"The troops are near the child. We should receive word by morning," Destiny informed.
"Excellent. You may go now," Raven dismissed, waving her hand.
"One more thing…"
Raven turned to face her. Destiny seemed uncomfortable with what she had to say. "Something of note, I imagine?"
"Yes, my Queen. I had a vision of your daughter." She began, now having Raven's full attention. "I saw her turning against you and the army of Bayville. When this war draws near the end she will ride alongside her father, the King of Westchester." Destiny knew better than to say the man's name in Raven's presence.
Raven's eyes darkened in rage and she stepped closer to Destiny. "You say Rogue will betray me?"
Destiny nodded, head still lowered. "She knows naught of her father, my Queen, but surely you must know she is more like him than you, her loving mother." she bowed, knowing she risked a lot informing Raven of this but the Queen must know. If she were to only find out when the betrayal took place, the Queen would be devastated, inconsolable and easily defeated. This warning was a mercy to her Grace. "She will see Bayville for the evil they truly are and you can no longer hide the girl from it."
It was silent for a time. Raven only had one person she truly cared for and that one person truly cared for her. Raven had been betrayed by everyone at some point in her life; her parents, her friends, her lovers. Rogue was her flesh and blood. The only one left Raven cared for.
The news hit Raven harder than anything she had ever experienced. She waved Destiny away. She needed to be alone.
Destiny nodded. Bowing, she obediently left the Queen to her thoughts.
Raven thought of her past, before she acquired full power, she competed with another young Sorcerer for the heart of the young Militia, Pietro. He had started falling for Ororo, but Raven ended up using magic to help win his affection.
It didn't last; his true feelings for Ororo overpowered Raven's magic. Her life was forever changed. From that point on she demanded power. Nothing would ever again exceed her; she would control all and take what she pleases in life.
There was, of course, a result from the many passionate days she spent with Pietro, her daughter, Rogue. Rogue was the only part of her past she kept close. The thought of Rogue betraying her was something Raven would not tolerate. She couldn't, she wouldn't allow it to happen. But how could she stop fate?
Seers had the possibility of misreading their visions. Raven would need to send for her most ruthless Captain, Victor Creed. With him around, surely he would destroy Rogue's father before Rogue could choose to side with him.
Raven sent a messenger to Creed's army. He would return soon and join Rogue's squad in the field. But neither could know the reason why, too many questions.
Raven decided to retire for the night. Tomorrow's news was sure to please her as Rogue neared the child's location.
~2~
It had been nearly a month since she had taken the child from the dungeons of Raven's castle. Suzanne had kept to the woods and lived off of what nature had to offer. Ever since she had left Bayville with the child she felt a strong urge to head west. It was like the Scarlet Witch was guiding her, to what she did not know but needed to trust the protector of the realms.
Each night the howling of the wolves continued to grow closer. Suzanne hoped she could make it to her destination before the wolves caught up to her.
Morning came and she had just finished feeding the child when she heard the chilling cries of the wolves, not far away. Acting on instinct, Suzanne grabbed the baby and raced towards the river.
Breaking off the shores edge, Suzanne was able to use the sturdy piece of land to place the child upon and send her down the river, hoping against hope that someone would find her and take her the rest of the journey.
Suzanne had pushed the child off downstream just as the wolves were upon her. She turned in time as a wolf tackled her, three more followed. Together they ripped her flesh apart, oddly enough Suzanne felt at peace.
~2~
Scott Summers awoke from a nightmare. In it he saw his family being torn apart by Bayville wolves. He looked around. Everything was as it had been when he took a break underneath his favorite tree. He had been plowing the fields since the early hours of the morning and decided on a break at noon. After he had eaten his lunch he must have dozed off.
Groggily, he got up and went to return to his work when a voice he knew all too well called out to him.
"Summers? Summers where are you?"
"I'm here," he announced, picking up the reins to his plow.
"Summers, you know I sell the planting seeds around here, where did you get these seeds from?" the mighty seed seller of Niagara, Warren Worthington III, demanded, grabbing a hand full of seeds.
Since the near death of his son three years ago, Scott had started to fall behind on his field work. Money had been an issue every fall when he sold less than was mandatory for the price of seeds and other necessities.
This year friends had given him seeds to plant so he would have enough for next year and he would be able to get back on his feet, though he didn't want Warren knowing this. The spoiled man had a rich father who paid for everything he had. When he died five years ago, Warren got all of his father's assets. The only reason he sold planting seeds was for him to have something above the locals of Niagara. And no one liked the arrogant man.
"I discovered a spell that…" Scott began, but Warren cut him off.
"Don't start with your magic crap. Now tell me where you got these seeds from."
"My family's been collecting them throughout the forest since last fall," Scott lied.
"You know, one day this farm will be mine. And you, you will be fighting for work in the mines with the other low lives."
Just then, Jean walked up behind Warren. "This farm is not an inheritance of Worthington and we are not your father," Jean said, standing by her husband's side.
"How sweet, my dear Jean how have you been?" Warren asked. Ever since childhood, Warren always had a crush on Jean. But like everyone else, Jean hated him and when she married Scott, Warren had made Scott's life a living hell.
"You only need accept my proposal Jean and you could have all of the inheritance of Worthington" he looked from Jean over to Scott, "and when she comes to her senses, Summers, your magic will be all you have left."
"I'm counting the days," Scott said, returning his attention to the field.
Warren left without a single retort.
"Where are the children?" Jean asked, looking around.
"They were just right," Scott thought, but when they heard the laughter near the river the couple made hast to see what mischief their children had gotten into.
"Rachel, Nathan, what have we told you about this river!" Jean demanded.
Freezing in place, Rachel and Nathan looked at their parents. "Sorry mother," Nathan apologized while Rachel looked down at what they had found.
"But, look," Rachel said, pointing at something in the river. Both parents turned their gaze to the end of their daughter's finger. In the river, along the bank a baby laughed looking up at the astonished adults.
"Oh you poor baby," Jean coddled, picking up the child from where she laid.
"Be careful, Jean. You don't know where it's been," Scott cautioned.
"Don't be silly, it's just a baby. Come on little one, let's get you cleaned up," Jean said, leaving her husband behind and her children right on her heels.
Scott mumbled as he returned to the fields to finish the day's work.
A couple of hours later when he was finished for the day, Scott put the old mule back into her pen for the night. Then headed into his home to see how Jean was fairing with the orphaned baby.
Inside Jean sat in the rocking chair rocking the baby back and forth. Rachel and Nathan were playing a game quietly together. "Jean?" Scott called.
She looked up at her husband and smiled. "How was the rest of your day dear?" she asked.
"Productive," he answered, coming up next to Jean.
"A baby girl. Strange though, on her left elbow there's a mark. At first I thought it was a birth mark but now I'm not so sure. It's almost, magical." She chuckled, "It seems silly to think that."
"No, it's not," Scott said.
They grew up in Syracuse. As young children they grew up together as close friends and as adults became lovers. When time came for the pair to train for their destined titles all seemed to go accordingly. Scott would become a Sorcerer and Jean a Seer. That was until Raven had set a curse on all Seers in the lands. It was a simple curse, any who used their powers would die. Slowly, one by one all of the Seers that didn't heed the warning perished. Those that did lived, a simple solution to stay alive.
When Scott and Jean were old enough they married and moved to Niagara to get as far from Raven and her army as possible. When they decided on this Scott made a promise he would never pursue his title so the couple could live in peace. As the war for goodness became more dire and evil threatened full control Scott decided to break that promise and looked to begin training as a Sorcerer.
That took a step back three years ago when Nathan got sick, Scott and Jean focused on their children and getting their life back to normal.
As it happened this year the great Sorcerer Charles Xavier sought an apprentice. The great and powerful Sorcerer did not train many Sorcerers these days due to his withering age but when he did he let his instincts guide him. Charles was known to seek out eventual great Sorcerers. To have him come to the realm of Niagara and at this time was something that excited, yet scared Scott. A lot of pressure was on him to impress the great Sorcerer tomorrow.
"Magic is the one pure thing in this world and with it good will one day triumph over the evil of Queen Raven and Castle Bayville. We will all be able to live in peace again."
Jean smiled; the thought of Raven's evil not threatening to poison the lands was a wonderful life to have again. Scott and Jean were only children when Raven began her reign. They vividly remembered those peaceful, innocent days of their youth and the day all of it took a dark turn.
"Do you think we should take her to the counsel?" Jean offered as she watched the sleeping baby content in her arms.
Scott nodded. "And perhaps Charles could offer his counseling while here."
"Ah yes the choosing," Jean mocked. She knew when Scott heard of Charles coming here to select an apprentice he had been a nervous wreck ever since. She also knew the timing of this was rather curious. Deep down she could see the greatness Scott buried. He was meant to be a great Sorcerer.
Scott smiled at her teasing tone and he kissed her goodnight leaving her to take care of the children for the evening. They usually spent this time together as a family but Scott was weary from a long day in the field and the stress of tomorrow.
Scott had fallen asleep as soon as his body hit the bed. But before he had fallen into a deep slumber in the back of his mind he knew tomorrow was going to be a big day.
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