2023

A RED MIST-LIKE energy circled the vicinity of the monastery, searching for any sign of a threat. Eleanor's eyes turned scarlet red as she swiped her hand to the right and closed her palm. The Sentinels haven't found them yet, but it would only be a matter of time before they did. They were developed perfectly, so perfect that the only way to stop them was to rewrite history.

Eleanor let out a shaky breath. Just an hour ago, Logan accidentally injured Kitty when he started to slip between past and future. His memories were triggered when he saw Stryker's younger self.

The woman wondered what her younger self was now doing. How was she even coping up with everything? Was she giving everyone a hard time? She chuckled to herself. That was mostly what she would've done. She wrung her hands together and created another psionic sphere.

In the middle of her pondering, her son approached her with a concerned look in his face. "Mom, I heard Kitty scream. What happened?"

"Logan had a minor slip and he... went out of control." explained Eleanor, shaking her head. "He accidentally sliced Kitty's side."

"Jesus," uttered her son, pinching the bridge of his nose. "So, now what? Can she still go on?"

Eleanor sighed, feeling another wave of headache. She had been having them for the past hour. She was nervous, but she never ceased to believe that all will go to plan. "We're trying to look for another -- "

She then paused, feeling a tug inside her mind. "Mom, what is it?" Nathan asked, touching her arm.

The older woman inclined her head towards the door, her eye twitching. "Someone else is here."

"What? Who?"

Closing her eyes, she searched for the intruder, ready to attack if necessary. Her lips then quivered and she almost cried when she recognized the presence of her husband's younger self. "Someone not from this time."

Giving her son a pat on his back, she ventured back inside the monastery where she was suddenly brought inside Charles' mind.

"Grandma!" Atlas greeted beside her, holding her hand and giddily pointed to the two men not too far from them. "Look, look, there are two grandpas! But, why is the other one crying?"

Eleanor watched the two Charles interact with one another, her heart breaking at the sight. "It's the greatest gift we have, to bear their pain without breaking, and it's born from the most human power: Hope." Her husband convinced his younger self. "Please. Charles, we need you to hope again."

"I can't do it. I lost my purpose. I'm all alone."

At that moment, she picked up her grandson and sauntered over to the two. "You're not alone. You never were. Hank was with you for years. The man never lost faith in you. He stayed with you through it all. You should thank him, you know."

"Eleanor?" Charles' younger self asked, puzzled. "Is that you?"

"Hello, Charles... and Charles." She grinned and tilted her head to the side as she observed Charles' slightly stunned expression. "Why are you looking at me like that?" She winced. "I gave you a hard time, didn't I?"

"Kind of. You're just... different from who you are right now."

She shook her head, chortling. She knew how intense she was in her younger years. "I'm assuming you have met this little guy here." She turned her head to Atlas who was giving everyone a toothy grin.

"Yes, he, uh, greeted me earlier quite enthusiastically."

Eleanor smiled, kindly. She pinched her grandson's nose and the boy hid his face on the side of her neck, bashful. The woman then focused once again on the young man in front of her. "Charles, you just have to trust yourself again. Believe that you can help them, us." She gestured to everyone around. "That purpose has always been inside your heart. You wanted to open the school because you wanted to give these children hope. You wanted to give them a place where they are able to receive an education without persecution from the outside world. You want the school to become their home, their safe haven."

Charles looked down, wiping the tear that escaped his eye. "I... I just --"

Atlas jumped down from Eleanor's grasp and gripped his hand. "We need you, grandpa. Lots of people out there need you and grandma. You just need to accept first your gift. There's no need for you to be afraid, grandpa. We're all here for you. I'll see you soon again!"

The younger Charles stared down at the boy with renewed hope. "You are such a wise young boy." he commented, the corners of his lips curling. into a smile.

Eleanor patted her grandson's back softly after reading Charles, catching a peek of herself. "Come on, Atlas. Let's give grandpa time to talk with himself." She said and led him to the side, but not before uttering, "Look, I know I may be reacting badly to all of this in your time, but rest assured that I will be with you every step of the way, Charles." The woman then took Atlas to the corner where they talked about the designs of the windows.

"That child admired us greatly, Charles. He believed in our vision. We gave him that hope. You can also give that to other children as well." Eleanor heard them talk to one another as she distracted Atlas with her powers. The child stared at her energy in awe, trying to touch it.

"Grandma, what else can you do other than move objects and read minds?"

Eleanor smirked. "It's kind of complicated, dear. But, I'll show you later."

"The pieces that I am, she gathered them together and gave them all back to me in the right order. She's the reason why I reopened the school. She forcibly urged me." told her husband behind her.

"She is a passionate woman."

Eleanor shook her head as the two men continued to converse with one another. She led Atlas outside the room and instantly, they left Charles' mind. Nathan and Claire were outside, standing side by side. They looked disheartened about something. She assumed it was because of their future.

"Mom! Dad!"

Claire's eyes lit up as he heard his son. "Hey, little buddy! You should be staying inside." She picked him up and placed him on her hip.

"Grandma brought me here."

"Yes, I did. How are you both?"

Claire sighed. "Honestly, I don't want to let this all go. If I only could, I'll continue this life with my son and Nathan."

Eleanor sympathized with her former student. She knew what she felt. They were mothers and losing what they had was a great deal. It was a sacrifice, but they knew it was for the greater good. 

She approached Claire, feeling sad when she remembered that she was never going to be her daughter-in-law. That was taken away by this war too. She placed her hands on both her son and his girlfriend's shoulders. "We're all going to be okay. The sun will shine on us again."

And it indeed will.

━━━━━━━━

"She's lost too much blood. She can't keep going like this." informed Bobby about Kitty's status. Eleanor glanced at the struggling girl across her. She was exhausted and with her gushing wound, it would only be time before her body gives up.

"We have no choice, Bobby."

"We can wake him up." The young man started to march back to them until he was stopped by Charles.

"No." he interjected. "They need more time. I had a glimpse into the past. If we wake Logan now, we may set our fate into an even darker course."

"Like this can get any worse." Valerie grumbled.

"They need more time."

"He's right, Bobby. As much as I want to let Kitty rest already," Eleanor sighed. "We don't much choice in here."

"There's someone else."

Charles shook his head. "No. No one else has Kitty's powers."

"Someone that could take her power. Take her place." clarified Bobby then turned his gaze to Erik. "She took yours once."

"Rogue."

Eleanor's eyes widened in surprise. Upon Logan's request, she and Charles tried to search for her, but they couldn't reach her mind. They assumed she was dead.

"I'm sorry, Bobby. She might be dead. Ellie and I haven't been able to make a connection with her for years." Charles said.

"That's because they're keeping her in the one place both of your minds can't reach from the outside. She's in Cerebro." Bobby told them. "She's in your house, professor. They're experimenting on her. Trying to tap into her powers so they can take ours. Take all of ours."

Eleanor took a step back, aggravated by what she heard. Rogue was one of her favorite students and hearing that she was experimented by those scientists bent on annihilating their kind frustrated her.

"If it's true, why didn't you come after her?" Erik asked, uncertain if this was all a good plan. Eleanor was now getting a grasp at what Bobby wants them to do: rescue Rogue so she may take Kitty's place.

"We tried. It's too heavily guarded."

Charles nodded, finally coming to a decision. "I may know a few things about that house they don't." He smirked and wheeled outside of the monastery. They informed their companions about the quick rescue mission they were about to do. As Eleanor expected, Nathan didn't like the idea of them going inside the Sentinel guarded mansion, but he understood.

"Just come back safe and I'm good." Nathan consented.

"We'll see you soon, son." Eleanor hugged her son and they all entered the jet. She didn't know what she was feeling if she was going to be honest. Seeing her home for many years again will surely bring back memories, both happy and painful. Valerie and Charles took over the piloting and directed their course to the X-Mansion.

They landed just a mile away from the mansion, enough not to be detected by the Sentinels. Eleanor got up from her seat and readied her gear along with the others. "You ready?" Valerie asked, smirking. Her sleek batons were inserted in the holsters on her back and she was grinning.

"Am I always not?"

At this, Charles approached her, a frown visible on his lips. Eleanor knew then what he was thinking. "Ellie, you're staying here."

Eleanor rolled her eyes and glared at him, not liking where he was going with this. "No, I'm coming with them." asserted she. "I know that house better than those three."

"But -- "

"We have no time to argue about this, Charles. I'm coming with them and that's final."

Charles sighed and nodded. He knew there was no changing her mind especially when she already decided. "Be careful."

Eleanor smiled and gently placed a kiss on his forehead. "Of course. You're the one who should be careful. You're going to be alone here." She then removed her ring and placed it on his palm. "Take care of that while I'm gone. I'm coming back for it." She winked.

"Don't worry, Charles. I'll watch over her." Valerie assured him, patting his shoulder.

"My god! I'm not a child!"

Her husband then gave them all the go signal and they jumped down to the underground pipelines. Eleanor led the group around, checking every corridor they were going in. "The old gas and water pipes lead to the house." Charles telepathically apprised. "The walls are made of reinforced steel."

Eleanor smirked and moved out of the way, her arms gesturing to the wall in front of them. Erik snorted. "In other words, a door." He retorted before easily cracking it open. They entered in the ceiling of the sub basement.

"You're all walking over the hall now."

"Here." Eleanor pointed to the center of the hall. With a flick of his wrist, Erik created a platform for them all to descend. He turned his gaze to her, looking for some signal.

Eleanor nodded, not sensing any threat below them. They all then went down the sub basement and the former teacher was suddenly hit with a huge wave of nostalgia. Everything was still highly functional, but it was obvious humans had infiltrated it a lot.

Erik pushed the doors of Cerebro open and she gasped when she saw several scientists towering over Rogue as if she were some sort of robot they were tinkering on. Anger coursed through her veins as she caught a glimpse of her favorite student being experimented on.

"I've been on that slab." Erik seethed. "Let me show you how that feels." And suddenly, multiple sharp paraphernalias were aimed at the scientists and they all raised their hands in surrender.

They were fortunate Erik didn't end them for what they've done. Eleanor knew the scene before him reminded him of the horrors he endured in his younger years. The man beside her was a holocaust survivor and he was heavily experimented on by Shaw. It was why he believed that one day there will be a mutant holocaust. It was too late when she and Charles realized he wasn't wrong. It did happen and they were now living in it.

"Wait." Eleanor's eyes narrowed towards the panicking scientists. Not hesitating, she sent the red sphere she had conjured on them. Their eyes and temples glowed a bright red, a sign that they are now under her control. For years, she swore never to mentally manipulate people anymore, but this time it was necessary. "Can't let you call your damn Sentinels on us."

The brunette then shared a glance with Erik. He tilted his head, smirking. "What?" She snapped.

"Nothing. It's quite refreshing to see you like that."

She rolled her eyes and approached Valerie and Bobby who were trying to wake Rogue up. "Rogue! Rogue! Come on, wake up!" Bobby said. "Come on, Rogue! Wake up! Wake up, it's me!"

"She needs to absorb someone to wake her from her stasis." Valerie informed them. Bobby ripped off his glove and touched Rogue's cheek. Instantly, the woman sucked up his life force and gasped, waking up. She first caught sight of Erik and struggled against her bonds.

"Rogue, Rogue, it's okay." Eleanor calmed the young woman down, brushing her hair aside. "He's with us! We're gonna get you out of here. Bobby, Valerie, can you please help her up?"

The two nodded and placed her arms on their shoulders, half-carrying her. Rogue struggled standing up on her feet and depended on both of them for support. Suddenly, Charles warned them as they rushed out of Cerebro. "All of you! Get out of there! Now!"

Just as they elevated to the ceiling, Eleanor sensed the presence of the Sentinels. "Hurry!" She told them and ran towards the exit. A sharp, pointed arm pierced through their floor and Erik grabbed Valerie out of its way. Another appeared on their side and Eleanor used her powers to evade it. She telekinetically slammed it to the side and moved away. "Go, now!"

The third puncture almost hit Rogue and Bobby and they dropped on the floor. The two jumped as a Sentinel emerged from the hole it created. Eleanor's breath caught in her throat and she blasted it away from them. Not missing another second, she ran towards the others. As soon as she passed by Bobby, he created an ice wall to block the Sentinels from getting to them.

"No! Bobby!" Rogue screamed for him, but Erik and Valerie held her tight. Eleanor watched in horror as their enemies overwhelmed Bobby and melted him with their energy rays. "No!" She attempted to reach for him, but it was too late. He was already gone.

Eleanor reluctantly entered the tunnels and escaped with the three. They immediately moved around, scrambling to get out alive. That's when she sensed the presence of the Sentinels behind them, Eleanor paused in her tracks. "El, what are you doing? Come on, we have to go!" Valerie yelled.

The woman looked up at her and shook her head. "They're here."

For the greater good.

And with that, Eleanor came to a decision.

"I'm sorry, Charles."

"Ellie, no!"

"Tell my family I love them." She said and just as she was about to cast a shield to block them, Valerie suddenly tackled her to the ground. The two women rolled across the floor and Eleanor's palms glowed red as she stopped Valerie's fists from reaching her.

"Tell them yourself." Valerie declared and kneed Eleanor's side, shoving her to Erik. He instantly grabbed her waist and pulled her to him tightly. "Erik, take her! Get out of here!"

"Valerie! No!"

Valerie tilted her head to the side and gave a small, kind smile. A huge electric blue forcefield then formed around her, isolating herself from them. "Valerie! Don't do this!"

This wasn't the plan Eleanor had in her head earlier. She was the one who was supposed to be left behind. She was the one who was supposed to die.

Four Sentinels instantaneously jumped out of the walls, stalking towards Valerie. They struck her shield several times before deciding to blast it with their energy rays. "I'm sorry, El. I promised Charles I'd watch over you. I intend to keep that."

"No." whispered Eleanor, her eyes brimming with tears. "No! Valerie!" She fought hard against Erik's grasp to no avail. Valerie pushed them out of the underground tunnels with her forcefield and nodded.

"Goodbye, everyone."

She watched in despair as the Sentinels finally penetrated her shield and with one final scream, Valerie released all the energy from her body, seemingly killing her and the machines. Eleanor fell on her knees, mourning for the loss of her friend.

"El, we have to go!" Erik tugged her arm and pulled her out of her daze. Eleanor followed him, but felt dead inside after witnessing the deaths of two of the most important people to her. What has the world come down to?

"Professor!" called Rogue as they all rushed inside the jet, sitting down on their seats.

"Get us out of here." urged Erik, tensed. Never did Eleanor saw him scared for his life and they all had the reason to be. They all almost died back there. Charles didn't waste any second and manually piloted the jet, raising them to the sky.

"Bobby."

"I know."

"Valerie's gone too, Charles. It should've been me, it should've been me." chanted Eleanor softly, crying. Charles took hold of her hand. "It's okay, it'll be all okay."

They were about to fly out of their hiding spot when a burning Sentinel leapt in front of their windscreen. It quickly adapted Bobby's ice ability and extinguished the fire on its body. All four of them watched in shock and fear until Charles activated the jet's thrusters, boosting their speed. The machine remained at the jet's front, still bent on ending them. Feeling vengeful for Bobby and Valerie's deaths, Eleanor twirled her fingers and released a powerful burst of energy. Its chest was ripped open, revealing its series of circuitry inside.

"Push it, Charles!"

Her husband followed her command and further boosted the jet's speed. The Sentinel was thrown away and was left clawing at the roof to steady itself, but Charles locked the thrusters, causing the machine to fall out of the sky. Everyone sighed in relief.

Eleanor stared at her trembling hands, remembering the deaths of Bobby and Valerie. She couldn't stop the tears that flowed down freely on her cheeks. Within a couple of minutes, they arrived back at the monastery.

"Where's Bobby and Valerie?" queried Storm, walking over to them and then realized what happened. "Oh, my god." Storm uttered as she hugged Eleanor tight, comforting her. "I'm so sorry, ma'am."

"Mom! Dad!" Nathan soon came after them, his eyebrows furrowing as he scanned all four of them. "Where's aunt... no." He put his hands on his head, hissing. "Dammit!"

The brunette couldn't even bear to look at Kitty as she tiredly asked where Bobby was. She was already growing pale and seeing her grieve as she continued her work in Logan shattered Eleanor's heart.

"I'm sorry, Kitty."

Rogue sauntered over to her and absorbed her power, swiftly replacing her in her seat. "Hello, Logan." greeted the woman, wistful.

Eleanor turned around, breaking down once again. Why were they suffering all this? Why did their friends and students had to die? For what? What did the humans wanted to achieve? All of this could have been prevented if humans only widened their perspective about them. They all would've lived together in harmony, but instead they chose violence.

Was she wrong to believe that they'd all one day live in peace? Perhaps, Erik was right all along. Peace was never an option.