Full Name: Charles Francis XavierOn their way back from the bar Charles and Erik discussed Xavier’s relationship with Gabrielle Haller. During that conversation, Xavier felt a terrible presence near Gabrielle. The two went running after her and were greeted by David Haller, Gabrielle and Charles’ son from the future, who had traveled back in time to kill Erik Lehnsherr. If dead, Erik would never become Xavier’s nemesis Magneto, allowing Xavier to raise David with Gabrielle instead. Legion and Erik battled but Erik was clearly outmatched and would have died if four X-Men (Storm, Iceman, Psylocke and Bishop), who had traveled back to the past, hadn’t interfered. A battle raged between the X-Men and Legion, one that would be televised and serve as the world’s introduction to mutants. Unfortunately this battle did not last long and the X-Men were all defeated.
With Erik at his mercy, Legion prepared to kill him with his psionic dagger and in doing so create a future where he could be with his father. Xavier saw his friend in moral peril and dove in the way of Legion’s attack. Legion’s psychic dagger pierced Charles Xavier and nothing would ever be the same again...
Holding his friend’s lifeless body in his arms, Erik Lehnsherr vowed to carry on Xavier’s dream for peace to honor his memory. The televised showing of the X-Men fighting Legion was watched by a surprised Apocalypse who now believed that mutants' evolution was much further along than originally thought. Apocalypse promptly declared his war on humanity and the Age of Apocalypse began.
Xavier’s death directly affected very few people such as his step-brother Cain Marko. His brother’s death changed Marko’s outlook on life as he abandoned his murdering ways to become a monk and vowed to never use his powers to kill.
While only few people were directly affected by the death of Charles Xavier, many others would change drastically for never meeting him. Due to Charles’ absence, Moira MacTaggart never learned to love and care for mutants and became cold, wishing to destroy them all instead. Xavier’s original five X-Men were all changed as well. His first pupil Jean Grey never had a telepathic influence and would never be able to fully control her telepathy. Young Bobby Drake would be trained much harder and fiercer under Magneto’s tutelage, giving him much more control over his powers. Hank McCoy would abandon his morals in favor of scientific curiosity and become the Beast, chief scientist to Apocalypse. Warren Worthington III (Angel) would ignore the troubles of those beneath him and instead created a safe haven for him and whoever else could afford it. Finally, his first X-Man Scott Summers (Cyclops) would instead have Sinister as a mentor and follow exactly the opposite of what Charles Xavier stood for. The man who changed the most from Xavier’s death was the one who held him as he died. Erik Lehnsherr became Magneto and dedicated himself to achieving Xavier’s dream no matter the cost. It was he who created the X-Men that relentlessly battled and eventually defeated Apocalypse.
The list goes on and on of those who changed. People who would’ve been friends became bitter enemies and friendships were forged where there would’ve only been hate. Some fell in love, many died. Yet through all the chaos, destruction and despair; one dream remained unchanged. Xavier’s dream would act as a moral compass for Magneto and his X-Men and prove to the world that mutants and humans can live together in peace.
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