Mystique x Destiny

Mystique x Destiny is the femslash ship between Mystique and Destiny from the Marvel fandom.

Canon
Destiny and Mystique were both born in the late 19th century, ahead of the massive mutant population explosion that would follow in the 20th. While trying to foster the development of favorable timelines, Destiny met Mystique, who was working as consulting detective Raven Darkhölme, in the early 20th century. The relationship between the two evolved into romance and eventually marriage. Despite the intensity of their relationship, Raven and Irene eventually wandered out of each other’s lives as their respective destinies led them elsewhere. While Destiny worked in early mutant research at the Black Womb Project, Mystique had the children who would grow up to become the X-Men’s Nightcrawler and the anti-mutant firebrand Graydon Creed.

Eventually, Mystique and Destiny reunited and took in a young Rogue, who was known only as Anna Marie at the time. After raising Rogue together in an isolated part of Mississippi, Destiny and Mystique formed a new incarnation of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Embittered by Mystique and Destiny’s influence, Rogue joined their Brotherhood and semi-permanently absorbed the mind and powers of Carol Danvers. After a short stint with the Brotherhood, Rogue eventually left her adoptive parents for the X-Men as the lingering influence of Danvers’ mind and powers tortured her. Destiny foresaw this as a necessary step for Rogue, but it became the heart of a bitter rivalry between a reluctant Mystique and Xavier.

As the Brotherhood battled foes like Dazzler, the X-Men, and Avengers, Mystique and Destiny’s relationship remained the quiet backbone of the team. After a deal between Mystique and government operative Val Cooper, this incarnation of the Brotherhood evolved into the legally sanctioned team Freedom Force. With their teammates Avalanche, Blob, and Pyro, Destiny and Mystique had their criminal records wiped clean and began working for the government. Most of Freedom Force’s missions revolved around their attempts to capture mutants or otherwise enforce the Mutant Registration Act, still guided by Mystique’s leadership and Destiny’s visions.

After the apparent deaths of the X-Men, Freedom Force was ordered to help Forge defend Muir Island from the cybernetic Reavers. That mission turned deadly for Destiny. As Freedom Force took on the Reavers, Destiny was murdered by Legion, Charles Xavier’s powerful son who was under the control of the malevolent Shadow King. Thanks to her powers, Destiny predicted her death to the moment and allowed it to happen as part of her larger schemes, which included saving Mystique from a similar fate. As she drifted closer towards and away from the X-Men in the following years, a devastated Mystique eventually fulfilled one of Destiny’s visions by romancing Forge, her teammate on the government-sanctioned X-Factor team. Years after Irene’s death, Destiny’s visions remained a guiding force for both Mystique and the X-Men, with 2001’s X-treme X-Men following a team formed to recover all of Destiny’s Diaries.

Destiny left Mystique with explicit instructions to resurrect her after Krakoa was established and to burn the nation down if she couldn’t be revived. As Xavier and Magneto took steps to build Krakoa, they brought Mystique into their plan with the promise of Destiny’s resurrection. After using her skills to spy on the development of Mother Mold and Nimrod Sentinels, Mystique was chosen as a member of the Quiet Council, Krakoa’s official 12-member ruling body. Despite their promises, Xavier and Magneto refused to revive Destiny. So Mystique took matters into her own hands and covertly orchestrated the resurrection of Destiny herself.

Although Destiny returned in a younger body, she was struck by an onslaught of prophetic visions upon her resurrection. After nursing her wife back to health, Mystique set Destiny up to be elected to fill a vacant seat on the Quiet Council, much to the chagrin of Xavier and Magneto. With help from Emma Frost, Mystique and Destiny exposed Moira’s actions to the rest of the Council and attacked her, which resulted in Moira losing her powers and being exiled from Krakoa.

Now, Mystique and Destiny have been reunited and are currently playing an active role in building the future of all mutants as Quiet Council members.

Children
Rogue (Anna Marie) Mystique and Destiny adopted a young Rogue, who was known only as Anna Marie at the time. The two of them raised Rogue together in an isolated part of Mississippi. Rogue does eventually leave their home after Mystique urges her to attack Carol Danvers and Rogue absorbs much of her persona and her powerset, leaving Carol in a coma. This damages Rogue, who joined the X-Men in hopes that Xavier could help her learn to control her power, which caused an unbreachable chasm between her and Mystique. In her own strange way, Mystique continued to try to protect Rogue from afar, though her attempts would become increasingly erratic over time. After Destiny’s death, Mystique attempted to restart her relationship with Rogue on multiple occasions, going to self-destructive lengths. Now, the two maintain a distant understanding with one another.

Fanon
Destiny and Mystique are considered one of Marvel’s most influential power couples. In 1989, their relationship had to face an editorial ban on queer relationships which kept writer Chris Claremont only hinting at Mystique and Destiny’s relationship rather than clearly stating it. It wasn't until recently that Mystique and Destiny’s lesbian relationship could be openly shown and celebrated as the "gay mutant power couple" they are considered to be.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

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