A/N: Hello! Sorry for the wait, had a bit of writers block, but also went on a vacation and also got a new job so i have been adjusting to things and also figuring out how exactly i wanted to write out this chapter! Anyway, here is chapter 11! Let me know what you guys think!
Chapter 11: The Awakening
After both have healed up in the infirmary, Remy was able to start training again and Rogue was still being cautious with her powers but was practicing her control on them with Remy in their down time. Today was no different than the last from the past couple days, Scott having them all run a hard danger room session, but also getting pissed that Remy would comment they were too easy for him. Scott would purposely try and make things harder for the Cajun, but Remy knew what he was doing and being a skilled thief and former Acolyte he mocked Scott and called it child's play. Rogue kinda found it amusing, until she would get knocked on her ass to which she would yell at Scott to make the simulation a little easier on the others. She knew Scott did not like her boyfriend being here at the mansion and on their team, to which she would chew him out for picking on the former acolyte just because he used to be the enemy.
Rogue sighs as she face plants into her bed, her body sore from another danger room session. Remy eyes her amusingly, a playful grin on his lips as he sneaks into her room and closes the door silently. He pounces on her bed, grabbing her and rolling onto his back while she lets out a squeak in surprise. "Remy!" Rogue looks at her boyfriend who was laughing.
"S'prised y' Roguey?" Remy chuckles in a teasing tone.
"Yes!" Rogue playfully smacks his chest.
The two lay on her bed in a tangle of limbs, relaxing after their strenuous danger room session, until the Professor called for a meeting in his office for everyone. Once everyone was inside, the Professor's mouth was turned down, Logan picking up that it wasn't great news. "I have found sitings of Mesmero in town searching for the last keys he needs. As you all know, he can use his telepathic abilities to take over others minds and do what he needs them to do. I caution you all to be careful wherever you go in town or even the city as we do not know what these last keys are. Should you come into contact with him, I want you all to use the mental barriers that I taught you to keep him out, after all, we don't want a repeat of what happened last time we have encountered him." The Professor explains as he had his hands clasped together on his desk, his gaze serious.
Everyone nods in understanding, uneasy resting in some of the younger students. The Professor dismisses everyone, Logan and Storm lingering to speak with him even further about the situation. Rogue holds Remy's hand as they walked out, telling him about the time Mesmero came to town through the fair and took over Jean's mind and some of the others to steal jewelry.
Logan watched them carefully as the students exited the room, then he turns to Charles. "Chuck, what are we going to do about Stripes? She's what Mesmero needs from what Irene was saying."
"We can't keep her from going out, but we must also ask everyone where they are going if they leave the mansion grounds. Mesmero can take someone's mind over if they are outside the mansions grounds, he knows if he tries to do it inside I would prevent him. Everyone must travel in groups should they want to go into town or the city." Charles glances at Storm and Logan as he says this.
"How 'bout we just keep Rogue here on the mansions grounds. She'd be safer here. She could easily be taken at school or anywhere outside the mansion." Logan suggests, arms folded.
The Professor sighs. "That would mean we would have to tell Rogue why she is being held here instead of going out like normal."
"Then we should tell her, make her aware of the situation. We could protect her." Storm pipes up.
The trio discuss how they should go about the situation, Logan grumbling about how it could potentially backfire-depending on how they tell Rogue. Storm sighs lightly. "Either way, it won't be good news to tell her. But we must be calm about it."
"And what if she doesn't believe us? Then what? She's a rebellious teen with lots of emotions." Logan huffs.
"Like Ororo says, Logan, we'll approach her calmly. We won't know her reaction until we tell her." Charles says.
Logan just sighs. The Professor uses his mind to ask Rogue to come back to his office, then a few moments later she walks through the door. "Ya wanted ta see meh, Professah?" She says.
"Yes, Rogue, please sit down. There is something we must discuss." Charles motions to the chair in front of his desk between Logan and Storm. Rogue looks at them, wondering what was up. "As you know, Mesmero is out there looking for the last keys, but we have insight from Irene that Mesmero is after you. For now, we need you to remain here inside the mansion grounds. Mesmero knows if you are in here he cannot get to you, especially if I am around."
"What?" Rogue's mouth gaped open slightly. Logan gives Storm and the Professor an 'I told you so' look. "Professah, ah think ah'll be fahne if ah go ta school, ah mean ya taught us to use mental shields fer a reason."
"I know, but if Mesmero gets to you, Rogue, then he could use you and the other keys to wake up the most powerful mutant ever. We are taking precautions. We are only trying to ensure your safety."
"Ma safety…" Rogue echoes, softly. "When have ah nevah been safe? Ah can take care of mahself."
"We know, stripes, but we don't want you to get hurt more than you have. You've been through enough. Just stay here until we can make sure Mesmero leaves the area." Logan pipes up.
Rogue just stares at her mentors in disbelief, but knew in her gut that if she disobeyed she could be putting herself and the world in danger. Silently, she gets up, pausing before she turns on her heels and exits the room. The trio sigh, sinking back into their chairs, Logan running his hand through his hair. "Well that could have gone better."
Rogue hurries down the hall, arms wrapped around herself, as she heads to her favorite hiding spot-the library. Entering the large, book-filled room, Rogue sits at the window seat in that overlooked the front yard of the mansion grounds. She fiddles with her hands, noticing how shaky they were as she wanted a break from everything that has happened to her. Her eyes shut as she lets out a shaky sigh, her head hanging down.
Rogue lifts her head up when she sensed a presence, seeing Remy enter with a bit of a concerned look. "Dere y' are. Y' okay?" Remy asks as he sits with her.
"Ah seem ta not be able ta catch a break." Rogue sighs. "The Professah, Logan and Storm told meh that Mesmero was aftah meh. Said that Irene foresaw it an' that Ah have ta remain in the mansion until Mesmero leaves the Bayville area."
Remy wraps an arm around her. "Well.. dat jus' means y' get t' stay home wit' me. But I t'ink de professo' has a point 'bout y' remainin' on de mansion grounds fo' y' safety."
"But ah can take care of mahself, 'sides ah know how ta block telepaths outta mah mahnd-sorta. Ah can keep Jean out fo' a while-it's been a while since ah had ta use it, but ah'm not helpless." Rogue huffs out, arms crossing over her chest.
Remy gives her a small sympathetic smile. "Dere jus' tryin' to keep y' safe, dough. Y' been through a lot, cher. Even I wouldn' want anyt'in' t' happen t' y' wit' Mesmero around right now."
Rogue sighs. "Ah guess ah'll stay heah fer the tahme bein'."
"'ll make sure y' not bored." Remy winks at her, only to receive a playful smack from Rogue, which makes him chuckle.
Over the week, Rogue would keep herself busy with training with Logan and Remy, work on her schoolwork that Kitty would bring home for her and read her books or have movie nights with Remy. They could tell she was not happy about being Mesmero's target, but she did enjoy being home from school as she didn't have to deal with any bullies picking on her and Remy made it more enjoyable as they also practiced more on controlling her powers.
Logan has been keeping an eye on Mesmero sightings, noticing he wasn't alone in searching for Rogue. Mystique would meet up with the short man, telling him Rogue was usually at school or at some spots her friends would frequent.
Mystique lets out a frustrated sigh. "Look, I don't know where she could be right now. She usually goes to school, I would know because her boyfriend drops her off. He's probably taken her somewhere." She mumbles the last bit, but Mesmero still glanced at her.
"Boyfriend? Didn't know the girl had one." Mesmero's eyes scan the area from their hiding spot, seeing if he can spot anyone from the Xavier Institute.
"He was Magneto's Acolyte, Gambit. Now he's an X-man and he'll be troublesome for us to get to Rogue. If he sees me trying to get to Rogue, he won't waste a second to stop me and you'll have trouble trying to stop him as he blocks his mind from telepaths. He is from a thieves guild after-all." Mystique folds her arms, anger on her face.
Mesmero just hymns to himself as his eyes look around. "Well, if she isn't here, perhaps she is at the Institute. What if you.. snuck in?"
"Xavier will know I am there. I can't disguise myself as her schoolmate anymore anyway. We'll just have to wait."
"We don't have time to just wait!" Mesmero growls. "You are part of Apocalypses plan and that girl is the only one that can help revive him! So I suggest you come up with something fast. He needs her to absorb as many powers as she could."
Mystique stumbles back very slightly as he glares at her, gulping as her brain tries to think of something. "I'll make something happen so that Xavier has to have them all out."
"Just do it. Apocalypse does not want to keep waiting any longer." Mesmero turns and starts to walk away. "Contact me when the plan is in motion."
"Of course." Mystique nods.
Mystique enters her house, ignoring the Brotherhood as she heads up to her room. She opens her door and walks in, sighing as she turns on her light only to gasp as she sees Irene sitting in a chair. "Destiny, what are you doing here?" Mystique asks.
"I know what you are doing, Raven. Hasn't she been through enough?" Irene doesn't move her head to look at Mystique, but her voice was stern.
Mystique lifts her chin up, making a face. "This is none of your concern. Rogue will be helping me out with something special."
"You mean help you awake Apocalypse, the most dangerous and powerful mutant on this planet?" Irene's face hardens. "You're using her, Raven. And Mesmero is using you. Can't you see you are going to possibly kill Rogue if you keep this up?"
Mystique stiffens, her face in a stern scowl. She turns her back to Irene. "You can't stop me, Irene. Rogue is part of something bigger and she must help me achieve my own goals."
Mystique exits her room, slamming the door shut, Irene still sitting in her chair, frowning. The shapeshifting mutant contacts Magneto, lying about another artifact that has to be destroyed that Mesmero wants to use. She assembles her brotherhood and head out, meeting up with Magneto and his Acolytes, then they stay to cause chaos.
"X-men, to my office." Charles telepathically contacts his students.
Everyone enters, wondering what was going on as they wait for the Professor to talk. Xavier puts his hands together on his desk. "Magneto and the Brotherhood are causing mayhem in town. I am not sure what provoked them to rip up everything but we must stop them."
"We'll suit up, Professor." Scott responds, getting out his visor.
Once everyone was suited up, they go to the blackbird, buckling in while Scott and Logan take off. Rogue felt excited inside, glad to be getting out of the mansion after being kept inside for a while-which to her felt like forever. Remy glanced to Rogue and felt her excitement, his hands pause their shuffling from his cards as he moves one to squeeze hers lightly. Catching her attention, she turns her head and gives him a smile, squeezing his hand back.
The blackbird lands, Scott telling everyone to split up into teams-a mix of some younger x-men and older x-men in the groups. Remy glances to Rogue as his group runs off, her looking back at him and giving him a smile that told him she'll be okay, to which he responds with one back.
The groups run off to their spots that they were told to scout out, Mystique watching Rogue in her group carefully while a smile spreads on her lips. Mesmero had Mastermind under his control to keep Xavier from detecting him on the field, meanwhile, Magneto, his team and the brotherhood were tearing up the streets going off of Mystique's "clues". The X-men teams find their matches and start fighting, Mystique watching from the shadows. Mesmero steps forward and uses his powers to reach into Rogue's mind, Rogue feeling something off once she lands a punch on Lance after Kitty sank his legs in the ground and her mind trying to keep whatever was setting it off out.
"Lance, what are you guys, like, doing?!" Kitty demands as her hands were on her hips.
"Hey, I'm just doing what Mystique and Magneto say. Something about another artifact that would help stop this Apocalypse guy from awakening?" Lance explains.
"Wait. The Professor told us that Mesmero is looking for some keys?" Kitty looks at her boyfriend puzzled, both deep in thought and not noticing Rogue absorbing Kurt and teleporting behind them.
"Rogue?" Kitty looks around, but gasps as Rogue absorbs both her and Lance.
Rogue's eyes looked distant and foggy as she looks at her unconscious teammates and enemy, then they move up to meet Mystique and Mesmero's gazes as they go towards her.
Slowly, Rogue absorbs her teammates and enemies as she is guided by her two captors, Mesmero keeping his mental hold on Mastermind still. Meanwhile, Remy throws charged cards at Magneto as Scott and Jean throw their own powers at him, Magneto uses hunks of metal to shield himself. "Fools! Don't you realize what will happen if we do not stop Mesmero?!" Magneto growls.
"Oh we know, we jus' need y' t' stop destroyin' de city t' do it." Remy throws a charged card at the master of magnetism, Magneto getting sent back slightly.
He glares at his former Acolyte, sending a metal bar towards him, but Scott shoots it away. Jean gets ready to use her powers to lift up some rubble to toss at Magneto, but felt a hand touch her cheek and the world around her go unconscious. Mystique guides Rogue to Scott unseen, Rogue touching him after he readies another blast, rendering him unconscious. The only two remaining that Rogue had to absorb were Remy and Magneto. Magneto sees movement in the corner of his eyes, catching Mystique coming towards him with a slight smile. "Mystique, aren't you supposed to be searching?" He asks.
"The search is done." Mystique answers. "We have what we need."
"We?" Magneto questions, puzzled.
He gasps as Rogue touches the back of his neck that was exposed, Remy's eyes widening as he watched Magneto fall unconscious and sees Rogue standing there in a trance like state. "Rogue?!" He makes a move to go towards her but pauses when Mesmero and Mystique come forward, Mastermind at Mesmero's side in his own trance. "What have y' done t' Rogue?!" Remy glares at the two.
"She's the last key that I need to open up Apocalypse's tomb." Mesmero grins. "She's going to help resurrect him and to do that he needs power. That is where your dear girlfriend comes in handy as she can absorb as many powers as he needs. She will be quite useful to him."
Remy's fists clench tighter around his cards, a large charge igniting them as he throws them at Mesmero and Mystique. Rogue uses several absorbed powers to stop them, her face void of emotion. Mesmero releases his hold on Mastermind, having Rogue absorb him, then he tells her to absorb Remy, to which she heads towards him. "Rogue, I don' want t' fight y'! Fight 'im chère!" Remy steps back, taking out his bo-staff.
Rogue reaches her hand forward, determined to do what Mesmero tells her as he controls her mind. She lunges towards him, but Remy was prepared as he dodges her and tries not to hit her too hard. "Rogue! 'M not gon' hurt y'!" Remy tries reasoning, even if he knows Mesmero's hold on her is too strong to get through, but for a minute he lets his guard down as her gaze softens and she kisses him, but then he felt the pull of her powers and he was out.
It wasn't until a little later that he felt someone trying to wake him up. "Hey! Gumbo! Where's Rogue!" Logan shouts at him.
Remy groggily wakes up, noticing everyone else had a look of bewilderment on their faces as they all came together. Then it hit him and he springs up. "Rogue! Dey took 'er!" Remy looks at Logan with eyes wide.
"Who?!"
"Mystique and Mesmero! Dey gon' use 'er t' wake up Apocalypse." Remy runs a hand through his hair.
"Shit." Logan mutters under his breath, then turns to the Professor as he comes forward. "Charles, we have to find Rogue. She's been taken."
"Mystique lied to me just to get your x-man out in the open, Charles." Magneto says as he dusts himself off.
The Professor looked down, deep thought, wondering how he couldn't sense Mesmero in the area, then his eyes wandered to Mastermind, his mind putting the pieces together. Mesmero used Mastermind to trick him. Mesmero got what he needed. And Mystique helped him. "We must all work together to stop Mesmero. Logan, I need you to track down where they went, the rest of us will look more into Apocalypse on how to stop him." Charles looks to Logan as he announces this, Logan immediately nodding.
Remy straightens, a serious look on his face as he looks at the Professor. "'M goin' wit' de Wolverine t' help."
"Very well." Charles nods.
"Sabertooth will join you two to help assit in tracking." Magneto says, straightening.
Remy makes a face, Logan growling as Sabertooth idled up to the duo. "Fine, but I'm keeping an eye on you, bub, seeing as you almost killed Gumbo."
Sabertooth grins. "Tch. He's still walking, ain't he."
Remy glares, his hand in his pocket, but Logan puts a hand on his chest, motioning him to get their bikes. Sabertooth gets his bike and the trio ride off. "You sure it is a good idea to have those three search for Rogue and Mystique?" Storm asks.
"No, but we don't have many options. I can't track Rogue due to Mesmero blocking me out. We must trust Logan and Remy to find them while we look for more information on Apocalypse." Charles sighs as everyone else heads to the blackbird and orbs to head back to the mansion.
While Hank, Magneto and Xavier do some research on where Apocalypse could be and how they could possibly stop him, Logan, Remy and Sabertooth track down Mystique's car at an airport. "Mesmero." Sabertooth says after sniffing the cabin.
"And Rogue and Mystique. They were here." Logan growls.
"Oh really? What makes you say that?" Sabertooth rolls his eyes.
"Listen, bub, I ain't happy that you're here either, so we either work together or I can let you off easy." Logan sneers.
"For all we know they could have taken the girl and killed her or something." Sabertooth says nonchalantly, only to receive a glare from Remy.
"I doubt Mystique would kill 'er if she's needed." Remy snarls back, annoyance in his voice as he just wanted to figure out where Rogue was headed for next.
Logan lets out an annoyed growl, moving Remy along. "Quit the bickering, more looking." He then looks at the Cajun, his voice low. "Don't let him get to ya, alright Cajun?"
Remy just nods. They go to the airport that the trio had occupied momentarily, finding the flight they took and noticing it was going all the way to Tibet.
Meanwhile, Xavier, Magneto, Hank and the others land in Egypt, walking up to a a pyramid Hank had researched. They go over the plan with Kitty who was gearing up to phase down, then she lowers herself through the ground slowly until she falls through the ceiling causing her to land on her butt. Kitty groans, grabbing the flashlight to look around only to jolt at several giant statues in the cave.
Once they figure out how to open the entrance, the group heads inside, splitting up into smaller groups to look around while Xavier, Magneto and Hank went deeper into the tunnel system to find the main tomb. As the smaller groups all looked around in their areas, Kurt noticed slight movement out of the corner of his eye, making him turn and gasp as a hammer comes down on him only to miss as he teleports. The other members of his group turn and all stared wide eyed as the stone statue readies another attack, Pietro quickly exiting the area they were covering.
The plane lands on the snowy landscape of Tibet, the trio exiting and searching for where Mystique and Mesmero could have landed. Spotting the plane, along with several pairs of foot steps in the snow, the three men follow them up the mountain, preparing for the worse. Logan puts his hand to his ear when Hank's voice comes through. "Hank! We're in Tibet! Mesmero had them come here! He-AGH!"
Logan sinks to the floor, as does Remy and Sabertooth as Mesmero uses his powers to keep them at bay. Remy looks up, squinting as he sees a blurry figure of Rogue continuing up the mountain towards a cave entrance. He grits his teeth and tries to move forward in the snow, Mesmero now turning his back to get inside. "He could have killed us." Sabertooth growls.
"Yeah? Well Mesmero was telling me to push you off the mountain." Logan growls.
"Oh really? Mesmero was telling me to push you off the mountain. Thing is, I still might do it." Sabertooth gets up as Logan does.
"Do me a favor, why don' y' both jump off de mountain?" Remy growls as he trudged upwards in the snow, determined to get to the cave entrance quick.
Mesmero closes the entrance, going up to a door in the wall that had a small room with a podium in the middle. He grins. "And now for the final key, you, Mystique."
"What?!" Mystique looks at him incredulous. "You said Rogue was the last key!"
"Your powers are the only thing that can open this door so that she can get to Apocalypse. Are you refusing?" Mesmero looks at the blue mutant, eyes narrowing.
Mystique hesitates. "Of course not…"
She walks up and places her hand on the podium, gasping as the room comes to life with lights flashing. Mystique tries to pull her hand off, but it was almost like it was glued down. She screams as her body starts to turn to stone, the last doorway starting to open. Mesmero turns as he was about to summon Rogue forward, but pauses when he noticed the door glowing and exploding. He glares as the trio enters, his mind commanding Rogue to go forward. Logan lunges forward, claws out as he aims them at Mesmero. Mesmero uses his staff to deter him, knocking him to the side, but Remy jumps forward and uses his bo staff only to have it cut in half and be blasted by Mesmero into a wall. Remy groans as he looks up, eyes widening as Rogue descends down the stairs and vanishes from his sight.
Rogue slowly makes her way towards the tomb, taking her glove off. Logan shouts at Remy to go while he and Sabertooth finish him off, the Cajun nodding and rushing towards the door Rogue went through. He pauses as he gets spooked by Mystique's statued state, then shakes his head as he continues. Logan and Sabertooth punch Mesmero, then Sabertooth slams him into the wall knocking him out in the process.
Rogue puts her hand to her head and found herself standing in front of a tomb. Looking around, she became worried, her eyes then seeing Remy rushing down the flight of stairs. "Rogue!" He shouts.
Rogue gasps softly, her body moving forward but before she could utter a word, a large hand grabbed her bare wrist and she lets out a cry as everyone she absorbed starts to go into Apocalypse. Remy rushes forward, catching her as her body falls limp. "Rogue?! Chère," Remy puts his gloved hand on her cheek, concern in his eyes, but they turn to terror as he looks up and sees Apocalypse rise.
He charges up a card, ready to defend himself. Apocalypse turns his gaze to the side very slightly, noticing Remy. He throws his card, but Apocalypse destroys it, then the ancient mutant moves his fist to lift it up and sends a powerful blast towards the two southerners that makes Remy shield Rogue with his body and get sent to the ground unconscious.
Logan rushes towards the entrance of the stairway, but pauses dead when he sees Apocalypse floating towards him. His claws come out, rushing forward, but Apocalypse does the same to him and Logan gets sent tumbling into the ground hard.
The others arrive from Egypt, rushing out of and stopping at the sight of the ancient mutant. They all pose in a fighting stance, ready to fight even if they're exhausted from fighting the robotic statues, but neither one of them could get a single hit on him as Apocalypse pauses and claps his hands together, creating a powerful blow that knocks everyone back into a heap. He moves forward towards the pyramid that the others came in, Magneto struggling to get up as he tries to stop him. Magneto grits his teeth as he uses his powers to keep the doors from closing but Apocalypse sent another blast at him, then finally, disappears. "We've… failed…" Magneto admits as he slumps down.
"Yes… indeed.." Charles' head hung low in defeat as his students laid unconscious around him.
End of chapter
A/N: I'm a sucker for a lil fluff also wish we could have seen evo. Gambit in his x-man costume. Till next time!