Skipping half of the training- some of it will still be included.
Charles and Erik walked out of the large mansion. They have been working on Erik, enhancing his mutant abilities. "You see that. Try turning it to face us?" Charles said as he pointed at a radio astronomy antenna. Erik looked at it and then back at Charles with a look that questioned his sanity. Then looked back at the antenna when he saw the serious look on Charles's face.
Erik took a deep breath and raised his hands in its direction as he concentrated on it. Trying to force it to point in their direction. He concentrated on it for a full minute. His face grew red as he tried to force the metal to do his bidding, but then he stopped, unable to continue, as he bent over and took large breaths.
"You know, I believe that true focus lies somewhere between rage and serenity- Would you mind if I..." Charles said while raising his hand up to his head, a motion he used only when he was about to use his own mutant ability.
Erik didn't reject so Charles continued focusing in Erik's mind to peaceful loving moments in his past. A moment when his mother and he were lighting candles. A very sentimental moment for Erik as Charles felt his emotions, and a tear ran down his face.
"What did you just do to me?" Erik asked, feeling a relief that he hadn't felt in a long time.
"I accessed the brightest corner of your memory system. It's a wonderful memory, Erik. Thank you." Charles replied, getting closer to Erik with tears in his eyes.
"I didn't know I still had that." Erik said, referring to the memories that were unlocked by Charles.
"There's so much more to you than you know. Not just pain, and anger. There's good, too, I felt it. And when you can access all that. You will possess a power no one can match. Not even me. So, come on. Try again." Charles said as he patted his shoulder, and they both turned back to the antenna.
Erik lifted one hand as a tear streamed down his face and concentrated on the large antenna. The antenna made a noise as it slowly turned toward them. Erik then rotated his hand, which rotated the antenna till it turned directly at them.
They both laughed with relief and amazement at what was accomplished.
"Well done." Charles said, patting his back as he laughed.
"Hey! The president is about to make his address." Moira yelled from the window.
They walked quickly inside to a large study room where a small cube TV was, and everyone was watching.
"It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile crossing the embargo line that surrounds Cuba as an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union..." The television announced.
Erik muted the television as he said, "That's where we're going to find, Shaw."
"How do you know?" Alex asked.
"Two superpowers facing off, and he wants to start World War III. He won't leave anything to chance." Charles replied, answering Alex's question.
"So much for diplomacy. I suggest you all get a good night's sleep." Erik said, looking at the young mutants.
***
In a submarine, watching TV are Shaw, Angel, and Noah. Shaw and Angel are sitting beside each other, and Noah is standing up away.
TV announcer: Tensions mount as the Soviet missile ship nears Cuba. All diplomatic efforts to avert nuclear war have thus far failed. As the American people ready themselves for the likelihood of an atomic attack, there are widespread reports of panic-buying, supermarkets cleared, as shelters unused since the Second World War are stocked for what may lie ahead. In all its history, America has never faced a greater threat.
"The world is primed for war. And there's no one to stop me." Shaw said as if they clanged glasses of wine together.
Noah rolled his eyes and walked out of the room.
Shaw, with a slight smile, said, "Teenagers are emotional beings, but when they grow up, they realize what upset them so much wasn't a big deal."
Angel agreed with Shaw on most everything besides keeping Noah here. "Why do you keep him here. He disagrees with your ideology."
Shaw kept smiling, as not much could ruin his mood. Everything was going according to plan. "He's young and inexperienced, but more than anything, he has a mutant ability that is more useful to me than any other ability. I'll give him time to see things my way, and even if he doesn't, he won't have a choice when it comes to it."
Noah went to his room which so happened was a room shared with Azazel and riptide. There wasn't much space in the submarine, and Shaw took the largest room with Angel. Riptide wasn't in the room at the moment, but Azazel was. He was on his bed, located on top of Noah's, reading a book, but noticed Noah entering. Azazel looked at him, and a smile formed on his face as he noticed Noah's frustration.
"You look like someone just killed your dog in front of you." Azazel remarked.
Noah went to his bed and sat on it, grabbing a book himself. "Not far off." Noah replied as he used his abilities on the book, making it age and then rewinding it to where it's brand new.
Azazel watched with interest but also disappointment. "That's one of the slower ways to master your abilities. Might get the hang of them in another fifty years."
Noah stopped using his abilities on the book, stood up, and threw it across the room. "Then what do you suggest?" Noah asked, tone clearly irritated.
"Hm, well, from my experience with my own abilities and seeing other mutants using their abilities. It's about picturing the outcome and using a lot of emotion- desire, will, fear, sadness, anger. A strong emotion that will push your abilities. Also, you need to use your abilities on something other than a book."
"So, what do you suggest?" Noah asked for less anger and more listening.
"I don't know how to start with those scars on your body. You try to hide them, so you don't like them. Reverse them one at a time. Besides, from what we heard and saw you have more trouble using your rewind ability and you have trouble using your abilities on the living. Two birds with one stone kind of deal."
Azazel then laughed as he said, "I'm actually missing that bitch a bit. She would have given you better advice, and she could get in your head and know exactly what you need."
Noah was interested. "Who?" Noah asked.
"Emma Frost she's a telepath like your mutant friend. Anyways, she would have helped you much better than I can."
"Why are you helping me?" Noah asked confused.
"Because if you do join our side, you could be a big asset in the future. Your mutant abilities have a lot of potential. Which is why Shaw took you against your will." Azazel replied. Noah nodded and said a small thank you. Azazel said nothing back and Noah then tried doing what Azazel said, Noah tried healing one of his scars. The one on his hand, the one that he has not been able to hide.
Noah concentrated on it, his eyes glowing blue, but nothing happened.
Noah then thought about how he didn't just need to see the end result; he needed to put a strong emotion behind it. Noah thought about what Harry did to him and anger overwhelmed him. He never wanted to be in that situation again, and he was so angry that the man was already dead because Noah wanted to kill him himself. The frustration and anger burned through Noah, and he turned those emotions onto the scar in his hand and watched as time reverted back. From weeks to months and months to years, all the way to the point where his scar opened back up and Noah could feel the pain of being stabbed again, but he ignored the pain to see that the scar was finally gone.
Noah smiled and Azazel clapped as he said, "That's what I call improvement."
Noah nodded and, being in a better mood, said, "Thank you."
"Yeah, yeah, kid, no need for thanks." Azazel then pretended to look at his wristwatch. "Oh, would you look at the time, I have to go, kid."
Before Noah could respond, Azazel puffed out of the room. Noah then pulled up the sleeve of his shirt, getting ready to get rid of the next scar.
Azazel was still in the submarine when he teleported. He teleported into a room filled with shelves of books and a desk with a chair. Shaw was at the desk writing some notes. Shaw looked up when sensing Azazel in the room.
"Did Noah listen to your advice?" Shaw asked
"More than that I think the kid has some trust with me now as well."
Shaw nodded.
"But I must ask why you didn't teach him yourself? Wouldn't it benefit you more for him to get closer to you." Azazel said.
"The boy would never listen to me now. I'm the bad guy in his story; he doesn't trust me enough to listen to any advice I give, at least not yet. If Emma were here, it would be much easier. Hell, the kid would probably fall in love with her, and Emma would probably fall in love with him as well. Considering his charming appearance and their age range, they are not only three years apart. She would have him hypnotized without using her abilities. But you're not a bad choice either. The boy sees that you're strong, and although you follow me, he doesn't know your true motives. He would be willing to take advice from you." Shaw ended.
"Well, hopefully we can get Emma back soon. She's much better suited to babysitting than I." Azazel replied.
Shaw smiled "Oh don't act like I see you have taken somewhat of a liking to him. Do you see your younger self in him?"
Azazel scoffed said nothing more than teleported away.
***
The Mansion
Raven sat in front of a mirror in her room before she heard, "Hey!" Raven turned around and stood up to see Hank walk into her room, shutting the door behind her.
"I got a surprise for you." Hank said
Raven took the surprise from Hank to open it with a smile to see two syringes with a green liquid in both. (Some context for those who don't know or remember hank used Raven's blood to try to find a cure for mutants that can't hide their abnormal appearance.)
Raven sat down with them as Hank explained. "I isolated the right marker in your DNA sample. The serum works like an antibiotic. Attacking the cells that cause our physical mutation. It won't affect our abilities just our appearance."
Raven was quiet until Hank asked, "Do you still want to do this?"
Raven reach over as she asked, "Should we have to hide?"
Hank shook his head as he replied, "You already do. You're hiding right now. Like I have my whole life. I don't want to feel like a freak all the time. I just want to look…"
"Normal…" Raven finished with disappointment but understanding.
"Yeah." Hank said as he took one syringe and was about to inject himself, but stopped when Raven said, "Hank, don't." Hank looked at Raven, confused. "You're beautiful, Hank. Everything you are, you're perfect. Look at all of us. Look at all we've achieved this week. All we will achieve. We are different. But we shouldn't be trying to fit into society. Society should aspire to be more like us. Mutant, and proud." Rogue finished as she transformed into her blue form.
"It behooves me to tell you, but even if we save the world tomorrow. And mutants are accepted into society, my feet and your natural blue form. Will never be deemed beautiful."
Raven swapped back to her human form with hurt in her eyes.
"You look beautiful now." Hank says.
Raven, feeling the painful words, hit her heart like daggers, and tears ran down her face.
"We need this cure." Hank said with desperation and then got up and walked out.
Raven stared at the syringe, holding it in her hands, contemplating whether she should use it.
In the mansion, in a large room with many large bookshelves filled with books. Charles and Erik sat with a chess set in front of them. (These guys play chess a lot lol.)
"Cuba, Russia, America makes no difference. Shaw declared war on mankind, on all of us. He has to be stopped." Charles said.
"I'm not going to stop Shaw; I'm going to kill him." Erik refuted.
"Do you have it in you to allow that?" Erik continued to say as he moved his chess piece.
Charles sat forward, not saying anything, but the unsaid words cut through the air.
"You've known all along why I was here, Charles. But things have changed. What started as a covert mission, tomorrow, mankind will know that mutants exist. Shaw, us… They won't differentiate. They'll fear us, and that fear will turn to hatred. You saw Noah's town, his own mutant father. What happened to Noah, and what would have happened to him if we had not stepped in?"
"Not if we stop a war. Not if we can prevent, Shaw. Not if we risk our lives doing so." Charles argued back.
"Would they do the same for us?" Erik questioned
"We have it in us to be better men." Charles replied
"We already are. We're the next stage of human evolution. You said it yourself.
"No- Enough." Charles said and then picked up his glass of wine, taking a sip from it.
"Are you really so naïve as to think they won't battle their own extinction? Or is it arrogance?"
"I'm sorry." Charles said, looking up with astonishment.
"After tomorrow, they're going to turn on us. And you're blind to it, because you believe they're all like Moira."
"And you believe they're all like, Shaw. Listen to me, very carefully, my friend. Killing Shaw will not bring you peace." Charles said.
"Peace was never an option." Erik responded.
In Hank's lab, Hank picked up the syringe and plunged it into his foot, injecting himself with the solution. Hank smiled in relief, seeing his foot slowly look normal. But then, after a moment, it reverted, and his leg and foot grew in size, growing blue fur, and then his hands, arms, and his whole body changed into that of a blue furry beast.
***
Erik walked into his room and turned to his bed to see a naked human from Raven in his bed under the blankets.
"Well, this is a surprise." Erik said with a poker face.
"The nice kind?" Raven asked.
"Get out, Raven, I want to go to bed." (This is a man of principle. He will not sleep with his best friend's nonrelated sister.)
Erik walked across to his side table. "Maybe in a few years." He said, not looking at Raven
"How about now?" Raven said as she replied in her normal voice, but her form stayed the same except for her yellow eyes.
"I prefer the real Raven." Erik replied.
Raven changed back to her normal human form, which made Erik respond. "I said the real, Raven."
Raven then changed to her normal blue form with red hair and yellow eyes.
"Perfection." Erik replied.
"Could you pass me my robe?" Raven replied, hurt in her voice.
"You don't have to hide." Erik then sat beside Raven in the bed and asked, "Have you ever looked at a tiger and thought you'd want to cover it up?"
Raven smiled and shook her head as she said, "No, but…"
Erik interrupted as he said, "You're an exquisite creature, Raven. All your life, the world has tried to tame you. It's time for you to be free." Erik then leaned in to kiss Raven, and Raven leaned forward to kiss him; both their eyes shut as Erik reached his hand to hold her cheek.
***
Later, Raven went down to the kitchen in her natural form, no clothes. Charles was getting something from the fridge, unaware that she was in the room with him.
"You know, sometimes I wonder what my life would have been like. If you hadn't found me here that night." Raven said.
Charles looked up. "Say wh- E..gah..ah. For gods' sake, Raven! Where are your clothes? Pu..put some, put some clothes on."
"That's not what you said when you first saw me. But I guess pets are always cuter when they're little, right?" Raven said as she sat down at the wooden table.
"Raven, I don't know what's got into you lately. I thought you'd be in a good mood. Hank tells me that he's found the answer to your cosmetic problem." Charles said, as if he had taken a seat across from Raven.
"You're going to tell me what's the matter? Or will I have to read your mind?" Charles threaten.
"You promised me you would never do that."
"Until recently, I never had to use my powers to know what you were thinking, Raven." Charles replied.
"You know, Charles, I used to think it was gonna be you and me against the world. But no matter how bad the world gets, you don't want to be against it, do you? You want to be a part of it." Raven said, getting up, walking away."
Long chapter, but most of it is dialogue from the movie with a little of my own added flair. I really can't wait to get back to the Noah part in this story because that's where I can freely write.
The next chapter will be the war. Please send Power Stone, but more importantly, please give reviews. I don't have one review, and I feel weird being the only one to review my story, so I'm waiting for my first review to make my own author review.
This chapter has been Grammarly corrected.