The cold winds of Latveria caressed your skin as you moved through the snowy landscape, where stone and wood prevailed

In your hands was a box with tools your mentor had asked you to retrieve. It was a simple journey. At this point, people already knew you as Keleman's apprentice, and not...as a mutant

You hummed to yourself to make the journey back more enjoyable, but a dry groan in the distance caught your attention. Quickly pinpointing the source, you hid behind a try and spotted a man

Latveria's residents were hardly at their best when it came to appearance, but this man was beyond disheveled as he dragged his feet across the snow, his skin had lost color, and some of his clothes were tattered

It was a sight unlike anything you had ever seen, but it wouldn't come close to what happened next

A branch crunched under your step, and that drew his attention. Slowly, the man turned around and looked at you. The moment your eyes met, your heart stopped

There was nothing behind his eyes. They had lost any shine or color, any sort of emotion, any life. It made you wonder if he was even alive

When he saw you, he only grunted and went about his day but you, you stood there with wide eyes

This same shock carried over when you reached Keleman's home, and it was something the man himself took notice of when he opened the door

-Translated from Hungarian-

Keleman: <You look like you have seen a ghost>

While he joked, his amusement ceased when you looked up at him and spoke with a shaky voice

You: <I-I...I think I m-might have>

He raised a brow

Keleman: <What are you talking about?>

You quickly set the box of tools down and went back outside, this time, dragging him along

Thinking it was the vivid imagination of a child at play, he allowed it. That would have been so much better

Much to your dread, it didn't take long to find the ghoulish person again

You: <Over there!>

Quickly, you pointed at it, and as soon as he realized who it was, Keleman's smile left him

Without saying another word, he dragged you back inside and closed the door

You: <What was that?!>

A sigh left Keleman's lips as the back of his head gently hit the door

Keleman: <That is...was, István Almási>

You witnessed as a wave of sadness washed over the old man's very soul, as if the mention of the name weighed heavy on him

Keleman: <Once, he was a bright soul. Not afraid to stand up to Von Doom's regime. He even rallied some people to his cause>

Fear turned into confusion as you tilted your head

You: <What happened to him?>

An ominous silence followed your question before he gave you a grim look

Keleman: <He was... reeducated>

Just the way he said it sent shivers down your spine. Keleman shut his eyes and clenched his fists as he thought back on it

Keleman: <Some say Doom had his robots lobotomize him, others that he dragged István's soul to Hell. Some even speculate Doom has a prison that goes as far as the eye can see>

With a sigh, he opened his weary eyes

Keleman: <Whatever he did, the young man was never the same>

Then, he kneeled to match your height and placed a hand on your shoulder. You could make out the fear that crept in his eyes

Keleman: <That is why we all live under one unspoken rule, boy...>

<And that is to never incite Von Doom's wrath>

...

What started as a beautiful haven for mutants quickly turned into something sinister

You blended with the crowds that roamed the city's streets at night. It wasn't until you reached a more secluded area that the air became heavy

The few interactions you had with Erik had been nothing but pleasant, but on the other hand, there was a reason why he had the X-Men on edge like that, and Dust's ominous message definitely didn't help

Why would he give you unlimited access if
he was hiding something? What was he even hiding?

Your mind raced with a myriad of questions as you reached the building Wanda had just taken you to, but this time, not as an official guest

You took cover on the corner of another building, and when peeking, you spotted the same cloud of dust enter through the gaps in the doors

So you took a deep breath and entered while the camera was looking away. Quickly, the door closed behind you, but another door opened in front of you

Dust herself stepped aside and gestured to the cells

Dust: See for yourself

Wanda had said the same thing to you, but this time, it felt more like a warning than an invitation

So you walked into the same maze of electricity gates, expecting to find the prisoners in a much worse state, but a gasp left your lips upon realizing...there was nobody here

All the cells had been emptied, as if the prisoners were never there to begin with

You: But...how?

Suddenly the ground began to shake, and then again and again. Dust and you exchanged glances. Something was coming this way, something big

The metal doors opened to reveal a single man carrying another over his much broader shoulder

???: I'm missing dinner because of you

You hid behind a cover as you watched him reach the other side of this containment facility

He placed his hand on a scanner and another set of doors opened to reveal another room, one you did not visit before

Before the door closed, Dust and you sneaked into this other room, only to come across a much larger area

Your eyes widened at the sudden change, as you now stood in a colossal stone dungeon of many floors, with hundreds of cells that used modern technology to keep each prisoner in

Not one of them was empty

"...Some even speculate Doom has a prison that goes as far as the eye can see"

The soulless gaze of István flashed into your mind and made your heart burn with anger and sadness

For those horrible statements you heard a lifetime ago, once again reigned true

Suddenly, you felt your hand being dragged by someone

Dust: We must hurry, before--

???: How disappointing...

Fear crawled into her very soul at the echoing voice. You turned to face a metal platform floating into view, and in it, were Magneto and Mystique

The former gave you a sinister smile

Magneto: And Wanda so liked you, Mr. L/N

But his smile, however, only turned your shock into anger. Dust noticed your hand clenching into a fist

You: Erik, what is going on here?

Dust: So this is your paradise? You've imprisoned your own people!

The two stepped into the stone bridge where Dust and you stood

Magneto: Imprisoned is such a harsh word, Mr. L/N, they're being...

He then glanced at the cells. The electricity in the fake prison was nothing compared to the solid energy bars and barrier that kept everyone in

Magneto: ...detained

He then gestured towards the Blob and another guard, who were carrying a prisoner in another bridge

Magneto: Reeducated until they understand what Genosha really is

"He was... reeducated"

You felt one of your eyes twitched. That word

That damned word

You: How can they understand when all you show them is a cold cell underground?

The sudden display of anger caught everyone off guard, but after seeing the effects of this "reeducation" before, you struggled to keep your calm demeanor, and Erik's strange behavior was not easing things up

You: I come from a cold land ruled by fear, where reeducation means death of the mind, death of the soul

Mystique's eyes widened upon hearing this, as if she remembered something, but your fierce gaze remained fixed on Magneto himself

You: Is this the fate that awaits anyone that you deem unfit of your paradise?

The chains that dangled from the ceiling tensed and threatened to free themselves from the stones that held them in place as Erik's gaze narrowed

You: You wanted my thoughts about this place. I will never support a city that cherishes its people during the day, and punishes them at night

Magneto: Trust me when I say there is nothing I will not do to protect my people, and I offer that protection to you, as well

He said that last part reaching out to Dust, who rather than take his hand, scowled at him

Dust: If we need your protection, we will ask for it

With a grim look, Erik lowered his hand and placed both behind his back

Magneto: It would appear you would also need reorientation

There was something off about him, a sudden lack of communication and quickness to conflict, unlike how he was when you met him

But there was hardly any time to think on it, as he gave Mystique a nod, indirectly telling you that the time to talk had ended

Mystique: You don't want to do this

But as she stepped closer, you did as well to protect Dust, and scowled at her with a new resolve

You: Don't

That told her everything, and with a heavy heart, she sighed

Mystique: So be it

With that, she threw a kick that you blocked with your forearm before pushing her off out of instinct

From the shadows, a large figure leaped into the scene. Sabretooth towered over Dust as he flanked you with a grin

Sabretooth: And here I thought the night would be boring

He swung at Dust, but his claws went right through her as her body transformed

Suddenly, a sandstorm began to rage at the stone bridge and forced everyone to shield their eyes

It lasted for only a moment, but once it was gone, so were you

Magneto's eyes widened at this disappearance and snapped at the other two

Magneto: Hunt them down. Bring them back, and make sure they don't taste the light of day ever again

There were mixed reactions to this. Mystique was surprised by the sudden cruelty, while Sabretooth reveled in this command

Both rushed off to accomplish their mission

___________

Thanks to Dust's intervention, you were able to get a headstart, but it was only a matter of time before they found you, especially if Sabretooth was anything like Wolverine

Dust: We must get to the security tower!

She pointed at a nearby building. The streets had gone silent, for you were reaching for an area that was supposed to be off-limits to normal citizens

All the more reason to stay vigilant

You: What? Why?

Without stopping, you gave her an odd look

Dust: There is a functional communicator there!

You: I thought Genosha was incapable of communicating with the outside

Dust: Only its citizens

A small grunt left your lips upon hearing that. Yet another lie from Genosha's finest

The sound of growling caught your attention. Sabretooth leaped from above and prepared to deliver a powerful strike

Acting out of instinct, you raised your hand and a pillar made of the metal on the ground quickly rose and hurled your attacker flying away

???: Neat trick. My turn

Suddenly, the ground beneath you began to shake violently, and easily shattered. A pair of giant hands emerged to quickly get you out of the hole

You jumped out before the construct was easily shattered as well. You got up and looked at your other attacker

Without thinking twice, Dust shifted into her incorporeal form and unleashed a sandstorm around the man

???: Hey, quit that!

He lifted his hands and generated powerful vibrations that dispersed the storm in front of him, only to reveal a metal serpent lunging at him

He screamed and raised his arms to block the construct's bite. That's when he was met with a powerful punch from your metal-coated fist, then another strike from Dust, and yet another from you

???: ENOUGH

He blasted Dust away and then focused on you. A shock blast forced you to stop your assault as the ground began to shake. He took the chance to punch you but was immediately constricted by the giant snake

???: I've had it with your games, kid!

Using his powers, the man destroyed the snake with ease but was met with another metal pillar to the jaw, and an enhanced punch, quickly knocking him out

Once he was taken care of, you rushed over to Dust, who was slowly getting up

You: Are you okay?

The young woman nodded and allowed you to help her to her feet

Dust: The tower is right ahead, let's go

Together, you continued your way into the building

___________

Together, you snuck your way up the barely lit building. No guards were in sight, and it was something you quickly took notice of

You: You'd think the security tower would be, well, secure

Dust: The guards must be on patrol, we must remain vigilant

She gestured for you to follow her into a hall

You: You seem to know a lot about Genosha's dark side

Dust: My time here has been nothing but investigating what they are so desperate to hide. It took merely a day to discover the darkness hidden here

She infiltrated a door and opened it from the other side to let you in

Dust: But I couldn't strike alone

You walked into the room to stumble into a large area with a console in the center. Quickly, you made your way over and began to work on it

You: I'll take us to the Institute. You'll be safe there and then we'll plan a way to free everyone in those prisons

She gave you a nod as she stood guard. You couldn't see it, but this initiative earned a smile from her

You began to set the coordinates when the whole console began to glow an ominous red and get crushed into an unrecognizable mess

???: Doesn't have to be like this, Y/N

Quickly, you looked at the source of the voice to find a sad Wanda standing by the door, which was now open. Her eyes were full of sadness and hesitation, but by her feet, lied an unconscious Dust

You: What did you do?!

Wanda: I made her sleep. I wanted to talk to you

The sight alone made you subtly conjure the metal from the floor to coat your legs. Her fists glowed with magic as she stepped closer

Wanda: What my father is doing is for the good of all mutants

However, your gaze remained the same, if anything, it hurt to see her like this

You: If it was, he wouldn't need a fake prison, I wouldn't be hunted like a fugitive

Her gaze softened upon hearing that

You: The truth is, I've seen this before. It is not reeducation, it is a death sentence, and I can't let that happen

The red glow slowly disappeared as she stood face-to-face with you. Both postures fought in her very heart and threatened to tear her apart

Wanda: Neither will I because it is paradise, not a death trap

You looked at her with sadness in your eyes

You: Wanda, you already allowed it to happen...

You gestured to the still unconscious Dust and then witnessed as a couple tears fell to the ground when the brunette looked away. She had finally reached a conclusion

Wanda: I'm sorry

Slowly, she lifted her hand towards you, and the energy around it quickly reignited as she gave you one last look. Her gaze now cold and determined

Wanda: I wish you understood. I really do...

Your body was coated with the metal from the floor in an attempt to shield yourself from the energy blast, an attack that never came

Instead, Wanda was hit by something in the back of the head and fell to the ground. You caught her before she reached the ground, and now found yourself in the presence of Mystique

Rather than feeling relieved, you tensed up

You: What are you doing?

She stepped outside, but you did not follow

Mystique: Saving your ass. Come with me

Gently, you set Wanda down and looked at her

You: Why would I?

Mystique: Because if you don't, the horror you saw in those prisons will be your fate

Then, she pointed at Dust

Mystique: And hers too. Now move

Without waiting for you, she left the room. You looked at her, and then at Dust

___________

Under Mystique's guidance, you flawlessly avoided those hunting you. You carried Dust as you reluctantly followed her

She led you to a secret dock, where a small boat waited for you. It was barely big enough for four people, but it was more than enough

Mystique: Set her over there

You placed Dust in the back as she rested, ensuring her well-being while Mystique set something on the controls

Mystique: The coordinates are set. All you have to do is let it sail

Her generosity was nothing short of baffling, especially after the way you had been treated tonight. It was unreal, and your mind would not be quiet about it

So you turned to her and finally asked

You: Why are you doing this?

The woman paused to look at you over her shoulder

Mystique: Because you are too important to rot away in a cell...

Then, she fully turned to you

Mystique: Some people depend on what you do, good people...

She rubbed her arm at that part, as if her mind were thinking of someone in particular, but she was quick to return her attention to you

Mystique: And you can't help them if you are locked here

You raised a brow at this

You: What do you--

But she placed a hand over your lips

Mystique: You have to leave now. Be a good man

With that, she hopped out of the boat and spared you one last glance

Mystique: And... be good to your students

The boat's engine started, and it took you away from the scene, away from Genosha

The woman watched as you left, but she was not alone however, as another figure joined her shortly after

???: Why didn't you tell him?

Mystique: It didn't feel right. Not with all of this happening

The other woman nodded and spoke again

???: You did what is right. He is the key to Rogue's future. To all of them

This got a sigh from Mystique, who smiled at her lover

Mystique: That alone is worth facing Magneto's wrath

She took her hand, which the other woman squeezed gently

???: We have more than enough time to figure out what is wrong with him. We will make Genosha the paradise it is meant to be

Voices were heard in the distance, agitated guards running around in search of you, but they could not find you, and they never would

You watched as the metal landscape became smaller and smaller. It almost looked peaceful

With a sigh, you leaned back and closed your eyes

What started as a welcoming beacon of hope and progress, had quickly turned into an object of oppression and lies

It was with a broken heart and a heavy soul that you left it behind

But that didn't mean it was done with you, however

You caught a glimpse of a faint crimson veil on the horizon when suddenly, there was a flash of light, followed by an overwhelming psychic blast that forced a scream out of both of you

You held your head as you fell to the floor, it was as if your mind was pried open by something, so brutal and uncaring

It was an attack so powerful, it was felt all the way to Salem. Emma screamed as she sat up on her bed

The psychic shield she had placed in your mind all those years ago, shattered

She felt your pain, your anguish, your fear. Everything at once poured into the psychic rapport you shared

But more so than that, she could sense you again

Quickly, Forge opened the door

Forge: Emma, what happened? Are you alright?!

With shaky breath and wide eyes, the blonde looked at him

Emma: G-Get the... plane ready... I know where he is

...

The boat continued to navigate on its own, the stars had become its only company as it crossed the oceans, for both Dust and you lied unconscious on the floor

Where once stood Genosha, now there was nothing

You had crossed the barrier and paid the price for it

And this peaceful place only made the Blackbird's engines all the more noticeable

The winds surrounded the boat and made it come to a stop as the Blackbird closed in on the vehicle

Its ramp lowered to show Ororo and Emma quickly descending onto the boat. The latter rushed to get you and wrapped you tightly in her arms as she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding

She grabbed onto you as if you would disappear the moment she let go

Ororo: How is he?

The woman's voice made Emma look down at you. She gently creased a hand on your cheek and then checked your pulse

Emma: He's alive, but he was overwhelmed by something. We need to get out of here, now

Storm nodded and grabbed Dust before using the winds to levitate everyone back into the Blackbird

Ororo: Forge, get us out of here

Your mind struggled to maintain itself in the present, and all you got was a glimpse of blonde hair and the smell of Dior. Your lips whispered a single name before you slipped out of consciousness for good

"Emma"

___________

Magneto stood before the window in his personal quarters. The moon was the strongest source of light as it hung over his home

While the view wasn't as magnificent, it certainly held its own

With a sigh, he took off his helmet and sat down on the couch

It was in this intimacy that he was joined by another

???: Report

A distorted voice echoed through the room. Soon enough, two glowing red eyes joined it

Magneto: L/N and the girl have escaped

The man spoke calmly without looking at the source. A monstrous growl was his response, and then, the voice spoke again

???: I have no interest in their DNA anyway. What about the barrier?

Magneto: It acted as intended. None of them will remember their stay in Genosha, nor its location

The voice chuckled, a sound arguably worse than the growling

???: Splendid! We'll have to reward that daughter of yours

From the darkness, gloves hands emerged and rubbed his shoulders

???: For now, why don't you take a rest? You have certainly earned it...my lord

A red crystal flashed on Erik's forehead before he entered a comatose state

The stranger walked over to the window and grinned

How could he not?

An entire city worth of test subjects was at his disposal

And without any more interruptions, the experiment could continue