Author's Note: Hey, I'm not used to writing for the X-Men TAS and found when I was writing this that it was more plot driven than character driven (as most of the X-Men TAS episodes seem to be, even when it was ones about character development). It's stereotypical characters as well, but I just had this idea and went for it. Ido end up using ideas from X-Men Evolution TV Series though, so be prepared for that. Thanks for reading. Enjoy! XD

Chapter 1

Rogue was sweating, which felt weird in contrast with the cold metal operating table beneath her.

"I just wanna be normal." Rogue had said in response to the doctor's words, but really, she was telling herself that feeling all her hair stand on ends as large machines were moved around her.

"Believe me. This will change you for the better." Said the doctor. "Are you ready?" He asked.

Rogue paused for a moment as she thought of everything she would be giving up. She could just see the X-Men's disappointment in her, especially Wolverine. But then she also saw those who would be sweet and understanding like Storm and Jean. Gambit was in her mind too, but it was just a memory of his smiling at her. What she was thinking though as a memory of Gambit came to her mind though was that, when she did go back, he may not care for her in the same way he did before. When her powers were gone, the Cajun might not see her as a challenge and just let her go. It was a scary thought. One of the most powerful that made her want to reject the cure, but then, that hope, that craving, that need, of touching another human being was driving her so much.

"I'm ready." Rogue said, closing her eyes with the hopes that after this, her life will be different for the better.

Seconds passed and when Rogue felt nothing happening she opened her eyes to see the doctor stood near her head over the machines, looking distressed.

"What is it doc?" Rogue asked, worried that the doctor had found something wrong with her. That the cure wouldn't work on her.

"Rogue-" The doctor tried to say, but his words were stopped as extra straps wrapped themselves around Rogue's body of their own free will, securing her to the table even more.

"Hey, what's going on?" Rogue questioned, feeling a threat and trying to break free in reaction. But there was something about these new metal cables that were holding her down that was different.

"Stop stalling Mystique and do it." Came a voice from the shadows.

Rogue froze in what she was doing and turned her head towards the voice. Coming out of the shadows was Apocalypse with that wide evil smirk on his face. "Mystique?" Rogue questioned aloud, after having heard that name. Putting two and two together, Rogue looked up to the doctor, who looked away from Apocalypse and back down at her. Knowing her cover had been blown, Mystique changed back to her natural blue form and stared down at Rogue. Rogue felt her breath leave her in a panic. "You!" She squealed, then tried her best to break the chains that bound her with her super strength, but they weren't budging.

Apocalypse had gotten closer, chuckling. "Yes. It is a trap my dear. And you shall be transformed into one of my four horsemen." He said, placing his hand on Rogue's head affectionally, as if she were his daughter.

"As if!" Rogue spat. "When I get outta here I'm gonna rip you a new one for doing this to me." Rogue raged. She was panicking and turning to empty threats, but she wasn't sure what else to do. She was trapped.

Apocalypse saw through Rogue's act and chuckled at her again. "You're fighting spirit and mutant gifts will make well for my first and most important horseman, Pestilence. After your transformation, I will teach you how to master your gifts and will shall rule this world together under my command. Now Mystique, do it." Apocalypse said.

Rogue kept struggling to be set free, but watched Mystique as she went from unsure to pressing the button that started the laser gun above Rogue's head. Fire exploded throughout Rogue's body, first burning just underneath her skin, and then it spread to burning her heart and lungs and other insides. Rogue didn't even realize that screeching sound was her screams echoing around the warehouse. All of her scenes had become disorientated and nothing made sense. There was just pain. Pain that kept getting worse as Rogue felt her inside and organs seem to rip apart and put themselves back together in a different order.

Xxxxx

Scott had agreed to escort Jean to Muir Island after they learned from Gambit that Rogue had taken off to Muir Islands. The place was a dumb, he thought and in the middle of nowhere. He'd complained to Jean about it, but she didn't seem to be listening to him. Scott sighed and was just comforting Jean, who was really worried about Rogue and where she had disappeared to when they both heard it.

"What is that?" Jean questioned.

Jean and Scott could hear screams. Faint, as if they were a way off, but screams no doubt. But there was something familiar about those screams.

"It sounds like…" Scott said, trailing off to find the answer.

"Rogue." Jean and Scott both voiced. They began to run towards the screams, no questions asked.

When they arrived at the warehouse the screams where coming from, Cyclopes blasted down the doors. "What's going on?" He damaged.

As the smoke began to clear, both Jean and Scott gasped as they saw Rogue, strapped to a metal operating table, screaming and turning blue. Tears were running down her eyes from the pain she was obviously enduring from the lasers above her. Scott went to blast the machines aimed at Rogue, but was thrown a good few paces back off his feet. Jean was too.

"The process must not be disturbed." Apocalypse said as he stepped outside of the warehouse towards Cyclopes and Jean.

When the two X-Men had recovered from being knocked back and sat up in the grass they were half surprised to see Apocalypse walking towards them. "You!" Scott said.

"Yes, it is I. The great Apocalypse. And I'm afraid, X-Men, that tonight you have lost one of your own." Said Apocalypse.

Jean gasped where Scott bared his teeth and went to attack Apocalypse. Apocalypse simply held out his palm though and negated Scott's attack. He sent one of his own right back at Scott and Jean who were just starting to stand up. Apocalypse sent another attack there way which was blocked with a psychic shield by Jean, but it still knocked both her and Cyclopes back another good few feet. Apocalypse kept sending his attacks, sending Jean and Scott back further and further until Jean could no longer shield them.

"Jean." Scott said, as he swept Jean up into his arms as she fainted.

"This ends here." Apocalypse said, readying one last attack.

"No." Cyclopes snapped and took off his glasses to attack full blast at Apocalypse. It was a show down between Cyclopes and Apocalypse, each being even in their power. But, as time passed, Cyclopes tired quickly from the in tenseness and his attack soon stopped. Apocalypse's attack pushed forwards towards them. If Jean had not awoken in that same time to quickly put up a shield, both she and Scott would have died from the attack. Instead, they were shielded and sent flying over the edge of the clifftop, landing in the cold sea.

Apocalypse walked away, back towards the warehouse, believing the two X-Men had perished.

Jean and Scott surfaced from the sea, grasping hold of the rocks to keep afloat. They coughed up water. Scott pressed his communicator and spoke into it.

"X-Men, we need help. Apocalypse is on Muir Island and has Rogue as his prisoner." He said.

"Were there." Came Storm's voice through the communicator.

"What do you think Apocalypse is doing to Rogue?" Jean asked Scott, shaken and scared for her friend.

Scott reached out and took Jean's hand. "I don't know. But whatever he's done, he's going to pay for it big time."

Xxxxx

Apocalypse had come back to find Mystique fussing over Rogue and the machine she was strapped into. The machine was turned off and the screams had stopped coming from Rogue now. She had passed out from the pain.

"Mystique, what is the meaning of this?" He questioned.

Mystique spun around, startled and scared. "S-She passed out. I thought-"

"I told you not to stop the process." Apocalypse said. "Not to matter." He said, looking up to the sky, weary. "I believe we must move the machine and the girl so as to not be disturbed. Come Mystique. Ready the jet." Apocalypse said, walking past Mystique and towards the machine and Rogue. Mystique sighed, watching him go.