For Better or For Worse

Chapter 12

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Raven continued running toward the Pyramid. She had a feeling of hope rising in her chest. 'Everything is going to be fine,' she told herself, 'now that Erik is on our side and now that Moira is here with the jet and Remy and Emma...'

She shortly arrived at the entrance to the Pyramid.

Hank was nowhere in sight.

She looked around her, and to her horror, she saw a cluster of unconscious bodies heaped up against the far wall... Kurt was amongst them.

In her panic, she ran over to them and kneeled beside Kurt.

She knew of their relationship. After all, how could a mother not recognize her own child?

She reached her hand out and gently pressed her fingers against the artery in his neck.

Relief flooded her body.

He was not dead, but simply unconscious.

Equally, she checked the two other bodies. Even though they were her enemies, she knew it was the right thing to do. And, just like Kurt, Angel and Psylocke were deeply uncurious.

She then stopped to think about what her next move should be. She couldn't just leave them here... Especially not poor Kurt.

She decided the best thing for her to do would be to carry the trio, one by one of course, out of the pyramid and to the safety of Moira's jet. Then, she could come back to the temple and find out what had happened with the others.

She chose to take Kurt first - Naturally.

She gently lifted him up into her arms and then she began to run, as quickly as she could, out of the Pyramid and toward Moira's jet.

She ran past Apocalypse, with Kurt held carefully in her arms. He was still sitting patiently on the rock, seeming to have not moved at all.

She would have continued running had she not heard what Apocalypse muttered,

"He doesn't know, does he?"

Raven stopped in her tracks and looked at Apocalypse.

"What?" she said.

Apocalypse made a slight nodding gesture towards Kurt's limp figure.

"And why would he" Raven said sadly.

"You know, dear child, if you were to join me, I would be able to keep you and your son safe, he would know who you are to him and he would love you.... With me, you two could live forever, together and in happiness..." said the god seductively.

"Lies!" Raven yelled, clutching Kurt a little tighter, "No one can live forever and you know that, and forget that bit about harmony and happiness, all you do you create havoc and destroy people's lives. I mean, look at your supposed horsemen" she said mockingly, "all you have done was destroy whatever chance they had at having a somewhat normal life... you brainwashed them and lied to them. Besides... It is probably better that Kurt never know who I really am..."

"Well, no one can say that I didn't try..." said the god with a sneer, "you X-men think you are good, but I know of your self-serving nature... All of you, mutants and humans alike fail to see the real truth, that you need a ruler, a governor, someone like me to tame the masses and create a system that works... Look at yourselves, you are a warrior Mystique, but you would never have had to have been one if this world was rid of the people who cause petty wars. Just imagine, no more conflict between humans and mutants - well, because the humans would be gone of course, and no more conflicts between mutants," he looked over toward Erik, who was still ripping metal out of the earth - Raven assumed that he was trying to keep secret, temporarily, of his conversion to the good side, "Like him," Apocalypse nodded toward Erik, "I have seen that you care about him and he about you, but there is a divide between you, a difference of opinion... When I rise to my rightful place, all will be the same, think the same and follow the same guidelines".