Here is the the actually first chapter of the story since the first was a prologue. We are still in ancient Egypt but I also have a scene taking place in the present.
Warning: This is to these so-called arts. Please do not PM me about creating art. Anyone doing that will be reported.
Chapter One: Heart To Heart
Rogue took a short walk out into the night, looking for some solace and found a nice clearing and took a rest from all of her walking. She could have flown, but she didn't want anyone to spot her, especially Erik. She just wanted to be alone for the moment, because the dream she had was so real, more real than anything in her real life.
She reached into her pocket of the garment she was wearing and pulled out something. It was playing card, one that Remy had given her on the last birthday before he died. The memory of that consumed her as stared at the card.
Flashback
"I saved the best for last," Remy said as he approached Rogue who had opened her last present from Jean. They were a beautiful pair of lace gloves and she graciously thanked her for. He stood next to her handing her a wrapped box of gold foil with a green and red ribbon tied around it with an envelope on top.
"Oh, Remy, ya didn't have to get me anythin'," she said with a smile while taking the box. "Ya'll have spoiled me enough today."
"Woman like you could never be spoiled enough," he said and she gave a small smile. She opened the card first to see two roses printed on the cover, one red and one black with the stems intertwining together, and when she opened it she found a queen of hearts playing card.
She saw something written on it in French simply saying Happy Birthday, My Cherie. Then she looked at the birthday card, ignoring what was prewritten and glanced down at what was written in red ink.
"You'll always be my Queen of Hearts, Love Remy." She smiled at that and looked up at him. "That's so sweet."
"Dare's more," he said as Rogue admired the package.
"Come on Rogue, open it up already," Jubilee said, and she seemed more anxious to know what was in the package than anyone else.
She hastily removed the wrapping paper to reveal a red velvet rectangular box with an emerald green rope lining the opening. When she released the clasp at the center of the box it revealed a rose necklace with a chain made of gold.
"Oh, Remy this is beautiful." She removed the necklace to show all of their friends, and girls giving a gasp at the shine coming off of it.
"Beautiful women deserve beautiful t'ings," he whispered in her ear. She quickly put it on having trouble with the clasp.
"Let me help you wid dat," Remy said and she saw he was wearing gloves so there was no danger of accidental contact.
"So, how does it look?" she asked positioning herself to let everyone see.
"Oh, Rogue, it's so beautiful," Jubilee said squealing. "I wish I had a guy who buy me jewelry like that."
"Me too," Jean said looking up at Scott who looked a little confused.
"The Cajun is just trying to make us all look bad," Wolverine said standing off in the doorway taking a few puffs of his cigar.
"Come on, Logan, ah loved the workout suit you gave me," she said but he just rolled his eyes. "All the presents from everybody were just wonderful."
"Even the video game I got you?" Jubilee asked excitedly.
"Course, sweet pea, and we can play any time ya like," Rogue said and Jubilee looked excited.
"Den ya like your present?" Remy asked.
"Ah love it," she said looking into his eyes.
The memory faded as she looked out into the desert landscape, and she regretted not saying the one thing to him that day she so desperately wanted to. Why couldn't she do it? What was stopping her? All she could come up with was one word. Fear.
Even though the memory of that day used to make her smile, all she felt right now was the pain and loss. She didn't realize that she was crying, but she just couldn't stop herself. She was so enthralled in her grief that she didn't even see that someone was standing behind her.
"What fuels your sadness?" she heard someone say behind her. She turned her head and looked up. He couldn't get used to the regal stance of their host and almost immediately stood up.
"Ah'm sorry, sir," she said keeping her guard up. She had almost called him Apocalypse, even though in this time he was only known as En Sabah Nur.
"No need," he said and gave a short bow. "Is the accommodations not to your liking?"
"Oh, no, they're very nice," she said trying to be polite and show good manners even though she was stumbling over her words. "Ah just couldn't sleep is all."
"Must be hard dreams," he said and looked to the sky. "We all have them, but they will pass."
"Ah'm not so sure," she said and looked down at her playing card.
"Is this a cherished item?" he asked and pointed to the card.
"It was a gift from a very special friend," she said and tear escaped her eye.
"In your time?" he asked and had a look of sympathy on his face. What she had known of this man in the present was not what was displayed right this moment. "Perhaps we can find a way to send you back there."
"It wouldn't matter anyway," Rogue said, trying to hold back the tears. "He died, and this is all ah have left of him and memories."
"How was he called?" he asked and she didn't want to answer these questions, but something made her trust him.
"His name was Remy Lebeau," she said in a soft voice. She always loved saying his name. It was like a lullaby, and again guilt came to her once again. She had never told him her name. Part of her wondered why she never did. In fact, no one knew her real name. It was just another part of herself she kept hidden. "Most people called him Gambit." She smiled for the first recalling all those times he referred to himself in the third people. "He was the kindest man I ever knew, brave and strong, and he gave his life to save others."
"Remember him and he will live on," he said and walked away from her slowly.
She was intrigued that such a man who seemed so warm and inviting would become one of their deadliest foes. What could have happened to him to change is disposition and his philosophy so greatly. Then she thought of her behavior after Remy's death and the things she had done. The most guilt she had was how she had treated her friends, especially her brother who had been nothing but supportive.
"Rogue, are you alright?" she turned to see the familiar face of her Nightcrawler standing there. He had a look of concern on his face, and she didn't understand why he didn't hate her. Beast barely had spoken to her since arriving here, and the Professor was keeping his distance.
"Kurt, what are ya doin' up?" she asked as she put away her playing card and walked a few steps towards him.
"Erik was worried about you, and he came to me and asked me to find you," Kurt said and reached for her hands. She wasn't wearing any gloves so she knew better than to take it.
"I'm fine. Just feeling sorry for myself," she said looking to the ground. "Kurt, ah need to apologize." She finally looked up to see the confused look on his face. "What ah did was unforgiveable?"
"Nothing is unforgivable, Rogue," he said in his soft inviting voice. "You were hurting and sometimes we do irrational things when the world looks hopeless. The forgiveness you seek is not from me, because I do not blame you. The redemption you seek lies within yourself."
"Why do you always know just what to say?" She asked, trying to dry the tears that were falling from her eyes. "Ah don't deserve a brother as good as you."
"I'm not so good sometimes," he said with humility in his voice. "We are all flawed, but it's those flaws that makes us who we are. Just always remember who you are inside. That is the best way to honor Remy's memory."
"Thank you, Kurt," she said and embraced him. She was careful not to touch his skin, but she could still feel his warmth. She walked back over to her tent feeling content enough to take another stab at sleep.
Meanwhile in the Present…..
In the ruins of Genosha a man stands in the rubble of the island that has been pretty much abandoned except for a few stragglers. He found an abandoned makeshift hospice that at one time survivors were taken to and cared for. He employed those that remain to the hard labor of repairing it to his liking to accomplish the task he had in mind.
He now stood outside the facility waiting for something or someone. A woman joined him, but she was no ordinary woman. Her blue skin and yellow made her unique, but she seemed like she didn't not want to be there.
"Do you think you can trust him?" she asked him but he didn't look at her, instead he was occupied with something else.
"I don't need to trust him, but I know he will not cross me," the man said as the woman looked up at him. "Just as I know you won't."
"This is place my children almost died, so I don't like being here," she said with a sense of urgency in her voice.
"Calm yourself Mystique," he said in a calm voice. "When I'm done no one will ever dream of attacking the nation I will build, but first I need something."
He walked over to the gravesite that was set up for the victims that were found, some identified and some not. He looked over to one of the grave markers. I had one word in scripted upon it, a single name: Caliban.
"We will need this one," he said and raised his hand. Dirt flew up in the air landing in a compost pile a few feet from the makeshift graveyard. The body had no coffin, just wrapped in linens. The cloth soon unraveled to behold a decayed body not yet settled into bone. He took a vial out of his pocket and poured the contents over the rotting corpse. Mystique didn't want to witness this process, but the body seemed to be changing before her very eyes from the internal organs to the muscle tissue being renewed back to a living state. Next, the liquefying affect seem to solidify into renewed skin. The process continued until the body shuddered and he was apparent he was breathing.
"Check him," he said to his blue skinned female companion. She looked confused and a little skeptical. "Now!"
She quickly moved towards the body examining it closely, checking and rechecking for vitals then looked up at the man. "Apocalypse, he's alive. How?"
"With my own blood," he said just as another man approached. He's white skin that was once smooth and youthful looked old and decaying. "Sinister," he said examining the man.
"Yes, master," he said but looked away.
"You betrayed me," Apocalypse said and the shame on the man's face who was once Nathaniel Essex was clear.
"My deepest regret," he said still hiding his face. "Please, give me a chance to prove myself. I've paid the price for my treachery. My body is dying."
"This vial will restore you," he said and held it up for Essex to see. He tried to grab for it, but Apocalypse snatched it away. "Not yet, first you must do something for me." He opened his other hand to reveal a charred card but Essex looked confused. "This card belonged to the X-Man called Gambit. He sacrificed himself to save others proving his worthiness, but his body is not here. Find it and bring it to me and your body will be restored."
"How am I…"
"Caliban," Mystique said and looked over at the half conscious man. He was mumbling something.
"Give him this," Apocalypse said and handed Mystique an uncharred card, yellowed over time but still intact.
"Where is Remy Lebeau?" Mystique asked like she had something nasty in her mouth. Caliban shook his head vigorously. "Gambit!" she clarified. "Where is his body?"
"Graveyard," Caliban answered in cracked speech. "New Orleans." With his last words he lost consciousness.
Mystique handed the card back to Apocalypse. "We won't get anything else from him for now."
"It's enough to start," he said and handed the card to Essex. "Find his body, or there is no deal and you will die for your betrayal. The words of Caliban and this is your only clue," he said and handed him the yellowed card. "Now, go."
Sinister left with the yellowed card unsure of his task, but it also left Mystique confused. "How will this bring my children back to me?"
"If you mean Rogue, she will return to us, once we possess the most precious thing to her," he said and gave a laugh.
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and the battle starts in the next chapter, plus Sinister is on his own mission in the present. See you then.
