Mystique had spent her life following orders, adapting, and surviving, but this was the first time she had to choose between duty and the one person she cared about.
Rogue was supposed to be a mission, nothing more. A pawn in Magneto's grand plan. But somewhere along the way, between the stolen glances, the quiet moments, and the way Rogue trusted her completely as Crystal Frost, something had changed.
And Mystique hated it.
Because now, even as she prepared to follow through on Magneto's orders, she knew one thing for certain—
She would never let anything happen to Rogue. Even if it meant destroying Magneto's plan from the inside.
Deep within Magneto's lair, the air hummed with power. Senator Robert Kelly, once a smug, arrogant politician, now stood at the edge of mutation itself.
The machine whined and crackled, energy rippling around his form. His screams of terror and pain filled the room as his body began to morph and twist, his skin stretching unnaturally.
And then, it happened.
His entire body began liquefying, his flesh warping into a water-like state. His hands clawed at the metal floor, slipping through the cracks, his features melting into a horrifying new form.
From the shadows, Mystique—back in her true form—watched with emotionless detachment as Kelly convulsed on the ground.
Magneto, standing beside her, simply smirked.
"You see, my dear Raven," Magneto murmured, eyes fixed on Kelly's transformation, "This is evolution. The weak perish, and the strong survive."
Mystique said nothing.
Because for the first time in a long time, she was starting to doubt Magneto's words.
Kelly gasped and writhed, then suddenly, as if sensing his own doom, he burst into liquid and slipped through the grates beneath him.
He was gone.
Mystique exhaled slowly. That could have been Rogue.
And suddenly, she knew she couldn't let that happen.
At Xavier's School, tension filled the war room.
Senator Kelly, barely clinging to his sanity, had escaped from Magneto and was now making his way to the X-Men, seeking help.
Xavier, Jean, Storm, Wanda, and the others stood around the holographic table, watching the security footage of Kelly's mutation.
"He's coming here," Xavier said grimly.
Jean, arms crossed, shook her head. "Why? After everything he's done, why come to us now?"
Storm exhaled. "Because he's terrified."
Wanda leaned forward, tapping a manicured finger against the table. "Because he's finally realizing he's not in control."
Xavier gave her a sharp look. "You sound almost pleased."
Wanda smirked, but there was no humor in her gaze. "Oh, Charles. I find no joy in watching a man reap the consequences of his own bigotry. But I won't shed tears for him either."
Jean shifted uncomfortably. "He was against us, but… does that mean we just let him die?"
Wanda tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "Would he have done the same for you?" she asked, letting the question hang in the air.
She crossed her arms, glancing toward the unstable machine at the heart of the problem. "Besides, what can we even do for him? That machine—it's far from stable. Even I can see that. Magneto must be a fool if he truly believes his plan will make things better for anyone."
The room fell silent.
Storm, standing beside Jean, watched Wanda carefully. And for the first time, she found herself wondering—is she right?
Minutes later, the gates of the mansion creaked open, and a grotesque water-like figure stumbled forward, barely holding its shape.
Jean gasped, stepping back. "Oh my god…"
Kelly collapsed onto the ground, his liquid form shuddering, barely stable. He reached toward Xavier with what remained of his humanity, his voice gargled and broken.
"P… P-please…" he whispered, his eyes wide with terror.
Xavier placed a hand on Kelly's shoulder, his expression pained. "Robert… I'm so sorry."
But there was nothing they could do.
Kelly shuddered once more… and then his body melted away completely, dissolving into a puddle of lifeless water.
The room remained deathly silent.
Storm's jaw clenched. Jean looked sick to her stomach. Gwen, Natasha, and Talia exchanged tense glances.
Wanda, standing in the back, simply said, "And that, darlings, is the fate of those who think they can play god."
Jean turned to her, shaken. "You make it sound like he deserved this."
Wanda's red eyes burned. "Tell me, Jean. Would he have fought for you?"
Jean couldn't answer.
Storm inhaled sharply. "That makes a lot of sense!"
And Wanda knew—she had won both Jean and Storm would soon be hers.
That night, Mystique stood outside Rogue's bedroom, her heart pounding.
She had no choice. She had to take her.
But no matter what happened next—she would never let Magneto hurt her.
Rogue would be safe. Mystique would make sure of it. Even if it meant betraying Magneto himself.
Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door, masking her conflict behind Crystal Frost's usual calm demeanor.
"Rogue, darling?" she called softly.
There was a rustling inside before Rogue cracked the door open, her hair tousled from sleep. "Huh? Crystal?"
Mystique—no, Crystal—smiled gently. "Come with me. There's something I need to show you."
Rogue blinked sleepily, then nodded, trusting her completely.
And just like that, Mystique sealed her fate.
Tomorrow, Magneto's plan would begin.
But Mystique was no longer his loyal soldier.
Tomorrow, she would make sure Rogue survived—no matter the cost even if she has to say goodbye to Rogue for now.
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