A secret from the past

This work is completely fiction, and all the figures here belong to Marvel and not to me. The story though is mine, and should somebody post it somebody else without my explicit consent (remember asking never hurt anyone) I will consider it theft.
This part is entirely plot. In this story both Kurt and Marie (Nightcrawle and Rogue) are children of Mystique. The Brotherhod consists of both Mystique`s and Magneto`s bunch together as one enemy of the X-Men.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prologue:

Mystique was fed up, and it wasn`t the usual bad mood that captures one when the schemes one`s been working so hard at and where one has risked one`s life time after time only to be thwarted again, no it was the overall situation. For since finding out, that she had both a son and a daughter -though from different fathers- who lived , breathed, were happy and most important of all who had these special talents the others in Magneto`s group and especially Magneto himself had undergone a radical change in their attitude towards her, for while at first they were or at least gave the impression that they were happy for her, since she now had a family for the first time proper since she had left her home nearly 20 years ago, this quickly changed when they learned the identity of Mystique`s children: ROGUE and NIGHTCRAWLER
„Why though? Why does it have to be them? And more importantly,why do they have to be part of these blasted X-Men?“,was all that Mystique could think, for that was the real problem.
As soon as Magneto had heard of the existence of her children, he set out to discover their identities a well as their whereabouts.
But the truth shook all.
She, Mystique the second person in Magneto`s Army second only to Magneto himself, his loyal companion and servant since the time she ran away from home had connections to the X-Men?!!
And not only connections, but worse still family ties, yes even family members being part of the X-Men!
It made her sick.
All those years of loyal service to their cause forgotten because of one cruel joke that fate had played upon her.
And now she felt as if she had turned into a social pariah who was carrying some repulsive disease, marking her as a social outcast, and now...

Mystique felt far less secure with Magneto and his bunch than before, she had lost something but it didn`t hit her immeadeatly she only felt more aware of her surroundings, and especially of .the looks she was given.
The looks!
That was it! The realisation hit her like a ton of bricks: She now knew what she had lost, it was her air of command, her being a person to whom others had to answer. The recent disturbances were proof enough for that, and now this, it seemed at times, that the whole world was uniting to anger her. Anyway, how the heck did they find out where she could be found, and then adressing her like that: To Ms. Raven Darkholme
Of course Pyro made fun of her, and what was worse, Magneto didn`t even condone it, no he even sneered with the others about her being known to others by her Slave-name as they called it. No, life defnitely was not fair.
But...
The summons, she had received to go to a parents meeting at the school where Nightcrawler and Rogue no Kurt and Marie went to school, for even though she normally didn`t use the so called „Slave-Names“ she had to admit that these were the names the kids were known by.
And then also there was this feeling...
Could it be?...
Mystique hadn`t had a family since her own family kicked her out, and althouh the Brotherhood was some sort of a substitute, it was different than with a real family bonded by blood.
So it was with a certain feeling of relief and gladness that she had received the news of her having her own family, it made her feel as if she had found something she had craved for all her life, even though Mystique knew it would be virtually impossible for her to play a major part in the lives of her children, nonetheless she wanted to try to be as good a mother as it was possible for her to be.
Of course she always had known that she two children, but since the day she had given them away, she had neither seen nor heard anything of them.
So now with this...invitation to a parents gathering, a gathering where the kids would be present too, it was such a chance, but Magneto wouldn´t like it,oh no, he`d rather keep her here at the hideout away from her children, but not this time. Becuse of the recent indignities suffered at the hands of Magneto and the rest of the Brotherhood Mystique decided to disobey him and go to this meeting, and then ...the X-Men would probably send some representative, and she`d be able to speak to them about her family.
It was funny, Mystique mused, but the news of having living relatives and more precise the thaught of having a family , of having children, had awakend some either long lost or deeply buried morthers` instinct, and she knew she wanted to protect her children from the storms of the outside world.
And as for defying Magneto, the last time she had openly done this, Magneto nearly killed her, which meant, that her escapade wold have to stay secret, otherwise his wrath would be terrible.
Nonetheless, Mystique had made her decision, and was willing to go through with it.


It was a dark night and Mystique was able to meld into the shadows, as she made her way towards the school. Her heart beat rapidly as she made her way towards the school, her escape being heped by the dark and the cold, as it was deepest winter, and snow was thick on the ground.

It took Mystique about half an hour to reach the school and while the fear and the doubts in her steadily grew, the nearer she came, her will still propelled her forward, finally letting her stand in front of her childrens school.

„Funny I`ve already come to regard them as my children, and me as her mother ,“Mystique thought standing in front of thè school`s entrance,and willing herself to enter the building.

Seeing all the people streaming past her and hurrying into the building, Mystique morphed into a fair raven haired woman, in fact her „true“ human form, and joined the crowd.

The school ws quite large, and at first Mystique had problems finding her way round the building , but she soon got the hang of it, and headed up to the third floor, where the meeting was going to take place. The students would have a similar meeting as well, only two classrooms further up the hall, where they would be discussing some important things before joining the adults. Rogue and Nightcrawler though were going to find out that they were half- siblings, and that they`d be able to meet their biological mother.

Mystique went into the classroom, but before she could enter it the teacher who had been greeting the arriving parents stopped her and asked for her identifiction.
„I am Ms. Darkholme and you sent me a letter concerning my children and asking me to show up here. Here is my ID-Card, so you know that I`m saying the truth.“, Mystique stated handing him one of her ID-Cards, ironically this was her „real“ one, the one which stated that her name was Raven Darkholme, a name she normally avoided useing, but it seemed, that this time and in the nearer future it may come in hand again.
After seeing this the teacher, whose name was Mr. Stenson, invited her in and asked her to take a seat.
Although this small scene seemed trivial, it didn`t go unnoticed, as Logan and Jean Grey had come from the mansion to represent the X-Men, though in their function as guardians of the kids. And Logan with his animalistic instincts noticed that there was something wrong with the elegantly dressed woman which is why he asked Jean to have an eye on her.
„Jean , I`ve got an uneasy feeling about this woman, could you plese keep an eye on her from a distance? I`m going to sit next to her, to make sure no harm comes from her, try and find out, who she is, `k? “ , Logan asked and Jean only nodded in assent, as it was their turn to be greeted and asked to take a seat .
„Jean, could you please stay clinked in my mind, so that you receive every scrap of information that I can extract from her, please?, Logan quietly asked Jean.
„Logan, you know I shouldn`t do this , it`s not right,“ Jean answered, „ I know, but... it`s so valuable as an ability,you know. And it helps with you knowing what`s the matter and helps you to react accordingly, should a crisis develop. And anyway, I trust you to not intrude into any of my private memories..“, Logan finally convinced Jean .
And so according to Logan`s suggestions they split up, Logan seating himself next to the mysterious Ms Darkholme, Mystique, while Jean went to a seat at the back of the classroom.
„Before the main meeting commences in the main hall, where you will be with your children, I´d like to greet you here in classroom to our parents meeting this evening in the names of all the present teachers here, and of course in my name to.“, Mr. Stenson began at which the classroom applauded.
„The main meeting afterwards will be for the discussion of an important topic, where grave consequences for our school could arise. But before this can happen, we must talk about some minor matters, nonetheless important for this class.“, Mr. Stenson continued.
As the meeting drew on and decisions were made Mystique felt content, being recognized as a normal person and taking part in such seemingly normal tasks. It just made a difference than the usal criminal activities, she was normally engaged in.
It was then that she noticed Logn trying to engage in conversation with her, after a decision had been made about some topic or the other, and with which she was clearly unhappy with.
„Excuse me, but is this the first time you`re here?“, Logan asked. „Why, what makes you think that?“, Mystique replied suddenly and rather unexpectedly automatically going on the defensive. „Well people who have been here before know that Mr. Stenson has opinions on matters as the one just mentioned and he nevers compromises, he doesn`t even think about compromise, meaning that you`re here for the first time.“, Logan stated at which Mystique had to smile as she answered. „Well, yes it is my first time here, and to be blunt I`m astonished at what kind of opinions this person voices aloud, I mean he is responsible for educating my children. “ „Yes I know what you mean, but now that you mention the kids, which are yours, because I never knew that the kids had gotten some new classmates?“, Logan asked. Mystique`s reply came slowly as though she were unwilling to answer .
Drawing a deep breath Mystique answered Logan. „They haven`t got a new classmate, it`s only that..., you see when I was young I had children, but becaue of my „situation“ I was unable to care for them, meaning I gave them up for adoption. Through unbelievable luck both my kids are here at this school, and what is more, the school management managed to seek me out and invited me here tonight, giving me the chance to later meet up with my kids and talk to them, maybe even a reconcilation. I mean they`re probably both quite angry at me, so on the one hand I`m loking forward to meeting them both, on the other I`m dreading it, for they both got very, very good resons to despise me. And as for their names...I don`t know, but have you ever heard of a Marie and a Kurt?“, Mystique asked (though at the last sentence she had to stop herself laughing, as she knew very well, that Logan knew them). This last sentence though shocked Logan so much, that he wouldn`t have been able to detect a smile, even if he wanted because he knew very well that both Kurt and Marie had been adopted, though he hadn`t know that were related by blood. The shockwaves that were sent through his brain upon this piece of news reverbrated in Jean`s as well, as she was still connected with his brain.
„Well, yes ... I know them fairly well, as both Marie and Kurt live with other children in a home together, and I am one of the representatives sent here today, as we act as their guardians. And Marie... well I do know her quite well, because I am something of a father towards her, so...“ , Logan still under shock came up with this answer slowly trailing out, towards Mystique.
Mystique on the other hand was intrigued to learn that Logan and Marie were that close, having such a special relationship, and Mystique felt a bit envious at the fact that a „stranger“ had a closer relationship than she, her mother had! On the other hand, she mused, she knew that she was being unfair to the X-Men and Logan especially, because as said before she hadn`t even been aware of her childrens` existence a week ago. But why had Logan be the one who was so close to Marie? Logan, the one mutant in the group of the X-Men she was attracted to. Fate clearly loved to play cruel jokes upon her!

Anger welled up inside her and for a moment she lost control and the colour of her eyes changed into their familiar yellow. A change although minimal, that did not escape the wary eyes of Logan and he immeadiately registered the fact that the raven hired beauty next to him, who said she was Marie`s mother was none other than Mystique! This second shock was also caught by Jean and the cause for it as well.
What now happend to the front where the teachers were talking was now forgotten as Logan dug his hand into Mystique`s rips and started growling, „well you certainly had us convinced just now, but please tell us before I gut you what Magneto intends by sending a spy in here?“. „No, no,“, Mystique quickly and quietly tried to reassure him, „this is no idea of Magnetos`, it`s mine and mine alone , you see I really am the mother of both Marie and Kurt, where dou you think Kurt got his colour from, and anyway their mother`s human name is Raven Darkholme, my name! What do you think the aforementioned „situation“ was? The reason I gave first Marie then Kurt away? I had Marie when I was only 17 and my mutation started kicking in. Who`d wanted to live with a freak like me?“, she bitterly added. „The same goes for Kurt, he actually was a result of all these anti-mutant feelings, because one day I was raped by some young men and I became pregnant with Kurt. Now don`t go thinking I like Kurt less than Marie, he`s still my child, but why do you think it was so easy for Magneto to bring me to his cause?“ ,Mystique continued explaining in an angry undertone. „I never knew that Mystique, but do you think that`s an excuse for all these crimes you`ve comitted? And what about all the persons you`ve killed for the sake of your crusade? Did you always think of your revenge? Did you even get pleasure out of killing, because you saw them as your tormentors? “, Logan asked.
„Of course not. What do you think I am? A Monster? Well yes, in the beginning I enjoyed every death of a human, becuse my memories were still fresh, but gradually I began to realize, that my thirst for revenge and my lust for blood, human preferably, had long been slaked, and that any more would have been nothing more than terroism. I continued to kill, yes, but I mostly confined it either to those who deserved death or to those whose deaths were unavoidable. The battles with you were different, as both sides wouldn`t hesitate to kill, including you Logan. What about you? Do you know how many people you`ve killed? Who are you to judge me?“, Mystiqu concluded, and accusing Logan of unfairness. „OK, I don`t know how many people I have killed and maybe I really am not the right person to judge you, yet I am probably one of the few persons who can understand the situation you`re in. Then there are your children,Kurt and Marie, especially Marie who I care for, do you want to take them home with you to the brotherhood and teach them to be human hating mutants just like the rest of them? And what will happen the next time we meet in battle, because I must assume that Magneto knows about them? Mystique I need some good answers of you, if am to trust you.“, Logan answered. „Listen Logan, yes Magneto knows about Kurt and Marie, but I will not allow him to corrupt them, or to force them to join anyone, and neither will I do so. Should he or anyone else try to force or coerce them into something, then I will kill them myself. Understood? I care about them, and I know they are happy with you, so no I will not try and recruit them for the brotherhood. And as in battle... I will not fight them, and if others do so, without my help. I know there are going to be problems concerning my loyalty, but let me try and take care of them, ok?“, Mystique finally pledged, thereby revealing much of her troubled soul to Logan, who thought about what she had told him before answering. „Why are you confinding in me? I mean, I`m certainly honored, but what is your ulterior motif?“ „Does there always have to be a motive behind my actions Logan?“, Mystique returned the question with one of her own, before continuing. „ Look Logan, you`re the one mutant I`ve always had problems fighting against, except of course the ones that were more powerful than I was, because I`ve come to like you, yes I even feel attracted towards you . Would you have even considered that? The possibility of me having feelings for you? I bet not.“ With that she turned away ending their conversation abruptly and leaving Logan once again deeply in shock.
Jean. who had of course felt everything that Logan had felt and had continuesly read his thoughts so as to ascertain herself of the facts, quietly thought to herself, wondering what Logan would do next due to this unexpected turn of events.

Meanwhile a few classrooms further up the floor, the students were having a meeting similar to the one the adults were having at the moment, and after the necessary decisions had been made concerning their trip to Washington DC and their visits to the senate and congress, Marie and Kurt were asked to stay behind, while the other students went to join their parents.
Marie and Kurt though had to stay behind to be given news on a „sensitive subject“ as their teacher Mrs Dean called it, which made both of them nervous.

„Well have a seat, will you?“, Mrs Dean started. After they had seated themselves and were ready to listen she began.
„Kurt, Marie, what I am going to tell you now, will be of utmost importance for the rest of your lives, so I beg you to listen avidly and please listen to the end before you speak up O.K?“ , she asked, and after both had nodded their assent, she continued.
„As both of you know, you were both adopted shortly after your birth. The name of your mother and her wherabouts were unknown to us. Yes, I already see you beginning to understand Marie and you too Kurt must have thought I had made a mistake when I spoke of your mother and not mothers,“ at which Kurt nodded, while Marie was geting whiter and whiter by the minute, yet still the teacher pressed on, „it is true, when we had a look at your personal data, in our background check, because of our upcoming wilderness treck planned for spring, when you will be outside a lot, we have to have a look at a person`s history, becouse of allergies and illnesses. Well, anyway we stumbled over both your birth certificates, that had been somehow sent to us due to some mistake, but this mistake turned out to be a gift, as in the places marked who your mother was, the name was the same. A woman by the name of Raven Darkholme is the registered mother of both of you, and out of curiosity the school started to investigate, whether this woman was the same one in both cases, and we found out, that yes she was, a discovery that made the two of you into half-brother and half-sister. During our investigations we also found out where your mother was currently living, well not directly, but a postal adress at least, in fact it turned out to be a Post Box. I can assure you two, that we sort of stumbled across the adress of this Post Box, we decided to use the information and contact her. She was extremly surprised to say the least, yet we managed to convince her to come and attend this meeting, meaning you two will be able to meet her afterwards if you want. So what do you think?“, she finally asked.

„What I think? I think it`s a scandal. You were snooping around in our past and uncovering things, that may have better been left alone. And while I`m glad that I have a brother, “ -here Marie smiled at Kurt - „ I still think you should have asked us whether we wanted these investigations, and as for our mother I do not really know whether I´d like to meet her, as I may not be ready for it. But you have made that decision for me, have you not? I`m to meet her and have a tearful reconcilation, is that the idea? Well, I`m telling you, it will not be like that, I may give her good reasons to leave me alone and not intrude in my life.“, Marie angrily exclaimed. Kurt on the other hand, was silently sitting next to her. „ Listen Rogue, I`m really glad that I have a family, you see there is so much more life in a real family, and yes, I`m also not really happy about how we found out, but contrarily to you, I really want to meet our mother and show her whatt I am, what kind of person I´ve become, and I´d also like to know the resons, why we were given up for adoption. So please stop being angry and just think about it. OK?“ , Kurt replied. „If you insist Kurt, I´m going to the others, I can talk to Logan there. He`ll know what to do.“ With these words Marie stood up , turned around and went out of the room. „I`m sorry, but I think Marie is right, we`d better talk to someone about this. Thank you for everything Mrs Dean.“ Kurt stood up and was about to leave the room, when he was called back by Mrs Dean. „This Logan is he important for Marie?“, she asked Kurt who answered „Yes, Logn and Marie arrived together at the Professors`, and she sees him as a kind of father figure.“ „I understand, well in future we`d better contact this Logan as a parent, should there be any need. Of course, should Marie want her mother to be her official representative we`ll contact her. Oh one more question before you go Kurt. Why did you call Marie a Rogue?“ „I didn`t call her a Rogue , I called her Rogue, which is a name for her, used by her friends.“ With that Kurt turned and left, leaving a thoughtful Mrs Dean behind.

When Marie had left the meeting with Mrs Dean, she entered the room where the adults had their meeting, and was just about to seat herself next to Logan, when she saw a woman avidly talking to Logan. A woman, who although certainly a stranger to Marie still seemed to somehow be someone who Marie knew. The woman had just finished talking to Logan and was unaware of Marie, when she sat behind Logan, and hugged him from behind. Something nobody else could do, without risking disembowelment by Logan`s claws.

„Hi Logan, who is your Ladyfriend here?“; and in a whisper so the woman, Mystique, could not hear her, she added „Logan I desperatly need to talk to you, it`s important.“ „Yes, I know“, Logan whispered back, but before an irritated Marie could answer anything, he answered her loudly spoken question by saying „Marie, this is Ms Darkholme.“ „Nice to meet you Marie“, with that Mystique offered her hand to a dazed and shocked Marie who seemimgly mechanicallyshooj it, as she had of course instantly recognised the name. This woman was her mother!
Shocked into silence Marie just stared numbly ahead, and didn`t notice Kurt entering the room. Kurt saw Marie in some kind of daze and wanted to go and ask her, what had happened, when he received a message, sent to him by Jean Grey with her telepathic powers, to leave Mraie alone for now and come and join the other X-Men who were sitting around Jean. As he approached the group Jean told him, that she had told the other students to not ask either him or Marie about their conversation with Mrs Dean, but to wait until either one of them or both were ready to divulge the information, for which Kurt was grateful.

By now the meeting had come to it`s end and everybody stood up to go into the aula for the grand meeting, teacher,parents and students alike. But before Logan left he told Mystique in an undertone that it`d be a great chance to speak with Marie and Kurt, which is what he told them too.

After everybody had left and the three were alone, Mystique spoke up first. „Look, I know this converstion will not be easy, but I beg you, please listen till the end until you condenm me. As you know my Name is Raven Darkholme and I am your biological mother. You two have different fathers, meaning you are half- brother and half- sister. Nonetheless I did care for you, and still do.The reasons I gave the two of you away are complex, yet I will try and explain them to you, hoping you willl not judge me as being too harsh. Marie you are the older child, which means I`ll start with you. When I was 16 I had a boyfriend, like many other girls. And like many other girls I had sex with him, yet when I became pregnant with you and with my troubles that now arose, because of a „problem“, which not only caused my own parents to kick me out but my boyfriend to leave me too. I just didn`t have the strength to keep you, feed you and clothe you and above all try and keep me alive. I just..., the decision wasn`t easy Marie, you must believe me. But I thought, I `d give you the chance for better life, by giving you up for adoption. Can you try and understand?“, Mystique asked. „You`re hiding something aren`t you , mother? Oh yes, I can accept he fact that you`re my mother, but I´ve still got problems with the choice you made because you haven`t told us everything, have you?“ Marie angrily exclaimed. „No, I have not. But I will. Just continue listening.“ Mystique answered. Then she continued. „Now about you Kurt. I told you two before, that I had been kicked out of my parents` house because of a „problem“. This „problem“ is also the cause of your birth Kurt. You see my „problem“ caused a lot of negative feelings, as I was unable to properly control it. These antagonistic feelings towards me culminated one day when I was cornered by a band of teens, me being only 17, as it was shortly after Marie`s birth you see. Anyway this gang cornered me and raped me, thereby making me pregnant a second time. Now listen, I know none of this is your fault Kurt, yet I still gave you away. Why? The situation for me had gotten even worse than before Marie`s birth. The Police actually tried to frame me for my own rape! I escaped and hid away from the world before I was found again. This time by someone who understood the plight I was in, and who helped me. Yet even so, I care for both of you the same, as you are both my children, OK?“ , with this Mystique ended. „Look mom, I can understand why you didn`t want to have me, yet I`m still curios about this problem of yurs. It must have been severe to have such a huge influence in both you life as well as ours. Could you please tell us, Marie and me what it was. It`d be a sign of trust towards us and it concers us too, it shaped our lives. Please tell us.“, Kurt said, to which Mystique answered, „No, I will not tell you, I will show you.“ before morphing in front of the two and showing her „real“ form, the form of a woman covered in blue scales with yellow eyes, so snakelike yet still enchanting and beautiful.
„Mystique what does this mean? Is it some sort of trick?“, Marie asked , already starting to take off her protecing gloves.
„NO, no, you`ve got it completly wrong. You see, what I told you before was the truth. I really am your mother, you see when I ws talking to Logan, do you think he didn`t guess who I was? Of course he did, but I mangaged to convince him, that I was telling the truth. He knew who I was, and still he let me be alone with you two, because he trusted me. Can`t you please do so too?. Look, I just morphed to firstly show you who I am, but also to show the problem I mentioned before. The problem that was the cause for everything. Please believe me. Can you finally understand my plight? Can you understad why I gve you away?“, Mystique asked. „Yes, I believe you and I can understand and forgive you....mom:“With this Marie broke down and started to sob quietly, before flinging her arms, now fully covered again, around Mystique, her mother she had finally found, for Marie had found more than Kurt. Kurt`s adoptive parents still thought of him as their son and loved him, even though he was a mutant. Marie on the other hand had fled her „family“ because of the affair when she had kissed her boyfriend into a 3- week coma. Other than Logan who was as aforementioned as a father to her, she had no family, even the X- Men only being substitutes, in fact, Marie was in somewhat the same situation as her mother, which explained why she understood her so well and why she instantly felt a bond of relationship forming between them, why she took to her so fast. Although many of the above mentioned causes did not apply to Kurt, he was by nature more compassinate and understanding than Marie who was so fiery in her temprament. This made him also take to his mother and he too went over and started hugging her.
With her arms around both her children and Marie having cried on her shoulder, Mystique felt as contented about her life as she had never felt before, and it was like that how Logan found them when he entered the room, apparently in great stress.

„Marie, Kurt and you too Raven, I`m sorry to intrude into your family joy, but you should come and join the discussion in the aula. It is as we feared, they are talking about mutants, and what is even worse, the current discussion is about whether they should allow mutant children to continue going to school here, theyre talking about throwing them out! And what is worse, it seems as though the crowd are agreeing with this plan. You should come as fast as you can, for you shouldn`t miss this.“, Logan explained. „Logan, you called me Raven. Why that ?“, Mystique asked in wondernment.
„I`m sorry if I used the wrong name. If you prefer, I´ll continue calling you Mystique if you insist“, Logan apologized. „No, it`s alright, I just haven`t been called by that name for so many years now, not since I gave Kurt away and followed Erik. Thank you Logan.“ With these words Mystique stood up and left the room, pausing only to stop by Logan, and before he could react she had given him a light peck on his right cheek making Logan blush, much to his own surprise and to Kurt and Marie`s too, who burst out laughing. „It looks as though my mom has some feelings for you, and it also looks as though you wouldn`t mind either Logan“ , Marie joked, before whispering in his ear. „I`m glad you like her Logan, it will make life much easier for us. Thank you!“, before giving him a quick peck on his cheek, thereby causing the well known tingling sensation, Marie`s pecks caused because of her mutation. Finally all four entered the aula where a heated discussion was taking place.

What they saw and heard shocked them. One of the parents had stood up and was talking about the dangers of mutation to the raucous cheers of the crowd. „Do we want people to have powers that may be uncontrollable and whith which they can devaste and hurt? Do we want these people to be near our kids, where they can endanger them? I think not! Down with mutants! Drive them out of the school!“, to which the crowd went wild and started chanting „Mutants! Mutants! Mutants! Out! Out! Out!“, when suddenly Mystique stood up and asked to speak, and although her wish was granted, it took some time to calm the crowd down, and Mystique could speak. She waited till the aula was completly quiet, before starting to speak.

„Teachers, parents and you kids I´d like to speak to you on behalf of the mutants,“ which caused many boos and Mystique had to wait until people had calmed down again so she was able to continue. „Many of you speak of mutants as if they weren`t some kind of humans. But they are, and although there a doubtless many mutants to whom their mutation is a gift, and helps them in their lives, to many it is also a curse. How do you think somebody feels, whose mutation is so extreme, that they are unable to touch another person, for it would severely harm them, hm? How should such a person manage in life and especially in love? Not being able to touch the person you love, no holding hands, no passionate embraces, no kisses, no nothing. A mutation isn`t generally good or evil, it`s what we make of the mutation, what we use it for, whether for good or for evil, is the mutants choice, and reflects upon their character. Because of this it`d be extremely unwise to throw mutant children out. Firstly because this would be discrimination, and it clearly says in our constitution that everybody is to be treated equal, no matter what or who they are. Secondly you`d forfeit any possibility of shaping the mutants character. The problem mutants face is not whether their power is used for good or for evil but whether they let their power control them, instead of controlling it. In that aspect they have the same problems as everybody else, who is in a position of power. They have to learn to use their powers wisely, to take up responsibility, you cannot teach them these vitues if you kick them out. No, in the long run it is even extremely unwise, as mutants get the feeling that they are not wanted, that they are outsiders who need to be avoided, and such behaviour only encourages those who want to use their powe for evil deeds, making ist easier for them to sway young people, so that they join their cause. I cannot believe that this is what you want. Anyway how do you want to determine how many mutants there are?. First of all, although a mutant has his mutation since the moment he or she is conceived, it normally first shows itself during puberty somewhat between 13 and 16 years of age, although some manifest themselves even earlier or later. Normally they first start showing themselves in moments of great emotional stress, such as seeing a beloved person die, the first kiss with the person one loves, the reasons are legion. During this phase the kids have to learn to control their powers and to use them wisely and accordingly to the situation. Mutant children can be easily influenced in this phase, pointing the way they will take as adults. It is therefore of utmost importance that mutant children who are on the brink of adulthood receive a proper education, and are not barred from it, yet this is what you are proposing to do, you are trying to segregate again. Have you learned nothing from history? Be warned. One day just as the blacks rose up under Martin Luther King, mutants will rise up under a leader and if this person manages to unite the mutants and is prepared to use violence, what do you think will happen? People will die, humans and mutants alike. This cannot be what you want, do you? And then there`s the fact that you cannot know whether you have a mutant in your family or not, if you`ve got young children, and be warned mutants are not at all so uncommon, that you could say, it`s extremely unlikely to concern me, in fact, chances are not at all bad, that it does concern you. Would you stand by your kids, or would you kick them out? Then there are many mutants, and this is the majority of them who still have to to declare themselves to the world, as already mutants face discrimination in life. What would you do if you found out your children were part of this group , and you had voted for them to be thrown from school barring them from higher education, forcing them to endure discrimination. And do not tell me you know your children. Teenage children? They are always keeping facts and figures to themselves, omitting details in reports. It is part of the process of growing up, and of creating an independent life. So please, I beg you to reconsider what you`re going to do and which decision you will make. Thank you for listening.“

After this speech Mystique sat down again to the thunderous applause of the X-Men, and many others, who had been impressed by the passion and obvious intelligence of this strange woman.
Marie, who had listened avidly jumped to the side of her mother and hugged her as thightly as she could, while whispering „I`m so proud of you, mom. Thank you for this great speech.“
„Yeah, I must say, very nicely put.“, Logan said, when Mystique answered „You get to learn a lot when you`re staying with Erik, and whatever he is now, he has always fought for mutant rights“, which caused quite a bit of uneasiness whithin the ranks of the X-Men.

Yet even so, even after Mystique`s speech the discussion swayed to and fro, until finally when the vote was cast a majority, slim yet still existent, voted for the expulsion of mutant children, and the teachers announced, they were forwarding their decision to the school governor, who`d make the final decision. In the meantime the school would try and ascertain the number, identities and powers of mutant children at their school.

After the meeting the X-Men and Mystique were gathering to leave, yet they were all downtrodden and despondent because of the results of the meeting.

„Well, I`ve got to go back to the brotherhood`s house. Marie, Kurt keep your spirits up. I don`t know when I`ll see you again, so Logan keep an eye on them, will you please?“ With that Mystique turned and started to run off into the dark..

„I wonder when I`ll see her again?“ Marie mused
„Come on kid, time to go home.“
„Sure Logan.“

And darkness swallowed the little group of X-Men.

Mystique on the other hand was running as fast as she could, realising how late it had got. And though happiness is generally speaking something extremely useful, it is not very helpful if you have to be as quiet as possible. And Mystique was as happy as one could get. She had found her family and then there was Logan..., Mystique didn`t really know what to make of him, but her affection for him had even grown, and was slowly but surely turning to love, yet Mystique still had to realise and accept this. And so with happiness radiating from her she entered the house of the brotherhood until a voice stopped her cold.
„Well, well, well. Look who`s returning late at night.“
It was Pyro and he was advancing upon her. And around his lips a cruel, evil, twisted smile played...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, this is it. My first story. Although I have already outlined how it should continue, suggestions are always welcome. I will consider them, whether to imply them at one point or the other. Criticism is also welcome, but please remember to be honest and polite, if you want an answer.
Send your posts to chrisreppin@web.de and I will try to answer them.