Illyana Rasputin

Origin

Illyana Nikolieva Rasputin, the indomitable mutant known as Magik, was both a superhumanly powerful mutant with the mutant power of teleportation and an unbelievably powerful sorceress at the same time with a potential that has yet to be reached. In her short life she has seen and been through and experienced many things. From being kidnapped at a very young age by the evil Belasco to live in a "Hell" dimension named Limbo for 7 years and exploited for her gifts, corrupted and tainting her soul to become evil, to her death from the Legacy Virus and an eventual resurrection.

Bloodlines

Illyana

Prior to M-Day mutant births were a very common occurrence. In fact, there were so many that mutants were at one time nearly outnumbering that of base-line humans. So many were there, that some communities would consist entirely of mutants such as: the Morlocks or Mutant Town. To simply be a mutant didn't quite make you as different as it once would have. What made someone different, was the type of mutant that they were. Specifically, their power level that would show their potential or ability as a mutant. The Rasputin children, Mikhail, Piotr and Illyana, were all mutants
. Each of them would have gifts that would/could affect many, even on global level. Their futures would see them all go very different ways; their genetics ensured whichever way they chose to go, H-U-G-E things could be expected. These three mutant siblings would be no exception. From Mikhail's ability to manipulate matter on the subatomic level and his dimensional teleporting powers to Illyana's immensely powerful magical might and teleporting powers and even Piotr, who seemingly appears much weaker in comparison, but is prophesied to be the sole individual responsible for the destruction of an entire planet, Breakworld, and all of its inhabitants. On the outward appearance it may seem that it must be purely coincidental that Illyana and her two older brothers, Mikhail Rasputin and Piotr Rasputin (Colossus), would all have massively powerful mutant powers and all be born to one family. But, not all is as it seems. These three siblings were born to a family that had been manipulated to ensure these outcomes. A bloodline refined to create power. Not only just Illyana, Mikhail and Piotr would have these substantial gifts, but all children born within the Rasputin bloodline would. Each would have the same genetics, share the same bloodline and lineage, each with the possibility to wield powerful mutant gifts. This was not a coincidence at all. This is all due to the manipulation, on a grand scale, by one of the foremost masters in genetics by the name of Nathaniel Essex better known as Mr. Sinister.

Sinister Beginning’s

More than 100 years ago, the patriarch of the Rasputin bloodline, the legendary Grigory Rasputin, would be the first to meet Sinister. The two would make unlikely allies. After their encounter, the Rasputin family would never be the same. When Grigory was younger, around the time of the emergence of his own mutant powers, Sinister would give him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Sinister or the "Pale Man" as Grigory referred to him as, would offer Grigory the chance to create a bloodline from his DNA that would lead a race of super humans. Grigory's importance to Sinister was quite simple. He was a mutant, and based on the time one of the few firsts. Not only was he a mutant, but a powerful one. Grigory was aware of his gifts or the "miraculous occurrences" that surrounded him. He enjoyed them and used them regularly. Though unrevealed, it’s assumed that Grigory may have had matter manipulating abilities. These powers seemed similar to that of his future descendant, Mikhail. Powerful or not, Sinister's offer appealed to him and he accepted promptly after. Sinister would go to work immediately.

He would seek out females similar to Grigory, mutants with special powers. Sinister would find around 15-20 women and impregnate them all by crossing their genes with that of Grigory's. Sinister would experiment on the unborn babies with many dying in the process. There was one woman though that was a prefect match for Grigory, a woman by the name of Elena. Once Sinister found that the two could produce the outcome that he wished for he would put introduce the two. Shortly after meeting, two would marry each other. Elena would be his soon-to-be wife and bearer of his future army of super powered children. This would collimate with Grigory taking part in a mystical ceremony, led by Sinister, transferring his essence into his pregnant wife’s womb. His last words were that he promised to return to the world when the world was ready for him. With Elena giving birth to her baby months later it would be the beginning of the powerful mutant bloodline that would lead to the eventual birth of one Illyana Nikolievna Rasputin the future mutant, teleporting Sorceress Supreme of Limbo, known as Magik.

Little Snowflake's Innocent Beginnings

Mikhail

Professor X & the X-Men

Mikhail wouldn't be the only of his sibling to have mutant powers. Piotr would also have his powers emerge. Though he would attempt to keep his mutant gifts hidden, he would be forced to reveal them in a much unexpected way. Illyana was playing near nearby an unmanned tractor came barreling in her direction. No one was near or had the ability to help her, save Piotr. Piotr reacts instinctively, running to her aid and activating his mutant powers. In a bright flash of light his entire body turned into that of a silver, shinny, armored giant. Standing in the way of the tractor, it would hit him and go no further as it would be destroyed upon impact. Like a night in shinning armor he was able to save his "Little Snowflake," as he referred to her. Relieved that he was able to protect his sister, he never noticed that a visitor had arrived and watched the entire event happen. A man that would change not only Piotr's life, but that of his little sister, Illyana's as well. This man was Professor Charles Xavier and he had arrived wanting to speak with Piotr. He wanted to recruit him as one of his new X-Men. After much conversation Piotr would accept and begrudgingly leave his family to start a new one in the United States. While apart of the team he took the codename Colossus and became one of the vaunted X-Men. As a member of the X-Men he would save the world many times over. But for Piotr it was a rough transition. He missed his family. Very homesick he tended to say alone and draw. While on missions though he was all business hiding his feelings. Hiding them as he might, nothing could prepare him for the following events.

Abduction

Piotr

The X-Men would do battle with many a foe, but one of the most odd was the eccentric, murderous Arcade. An assassin for hire and creator of Murderworld he was one of the best at what he did, but would bite off too much when Doctor Doom was involved. Arcade became involved in dealings that went bad with Dr. Doom. As a result he was held captive with no means of freedom. An associate of Arcade's,Miss Locke, would devise a plan that would have the X-Men do all the hard work and free Arcade for her. Of course they would never do this willingly, she would have to force them somehow. Miss Locke decided that she would blackmail them by kidnapping numerous members of each of the X-Men's family, this would include Piotr's little sister Illyana, and force them to assist. And they did. The X-Men sent in two units, sending the larger of their forces in to get Arcade and the few remaining to free their captive loved ones. The X-Men would find themselves to be successful and would return home. Colossus though would make a decision that would change his little sister life permanently. He decided that Illyana should stay with them and not return to Russia. He felt that it would be safer for her as he and the X-Men could protect her better, so that another incident like her being abducted could never happen again. Professor X agreed with the decision. He even telepathically taught all of his X-Men how to speak the Russian language so that Illyana would feel more comfortable in her new environment. He, too, wanted to test Illyana to see if she had the mutant gene, like her brothers feeling that there was a strong chance that she would be one. A discussion would follow but it would be decided to not test her. Feeling that she had many more years before her potential mutant powers if any at all, would emerge being that she was only 6 years old.

Illyana's stay would be granted by a special student visa. She would attend tutored classes by Professor X while at the x-mansion. While there she brought a happiness to Colossus, one that he hadn't felt in a long time. Since he left his home, long ago. Illyana would get close to all the X-Men, but especially Kitty Pryde. Kitty would read her bedtime stories and interact with her a lot. This would be the start of a bond that would only grow over time. In fact, Illyana would be close to all the X-Men.

Abducted.......again

Illyana in the clutches of Belasco

Illyana stayed with the X-Men all the time, save battles. This included when they were in need of a new temporary headquarters. Due to a recent battle it had sustained major damage and Xavier's Institute had been destroyed. The X-Men with no other choice would be forced to take up base elsewhere. This would find and inhabit an island that Magneto once used as a base. It was a strange alien city on an island in the Bermuda Triangle. Coming to this island would be the event that would lead to Illyana's destiny and future self.

Illyana was a child, only 7 years old, when the X-Men came to the island. Only on the island for a couple of days the X-Men had already settled themselves in. They were still very high stress though. Storm, the field leader, decided to release some stress she would have the X-Men participate in a training exercise, Illyana would play alone a short distance away as to not get hurt. At this same time, when no one was paying attention, the young Illyana began to walk away. As if she was guided, unable to control herself she would continue until she reached a temple. She continued to keep walking. All the while Kitty had noticed her missing and began to follow with the X-Men not too far behind. Illyana would reach her destination in the back of the dimly lit tunnel inside of the dilapidated Temple. She stood in the middle of a circular shape with glowing yellow and white lights and disappeared. The X-Men would follow and also get teleported to another dimension, one of the many splintered realms of Hell. This one was called Limbo.

Limbo

As soon as Illyana arrived she was whisked away to the side of Balesco. He tempted her with many wonderful things including a glorious future. All the while the X-Men made their way to Limbo as well. Through a string of events they were informed, by a second set of X-Men, that they had to leave in order for their Illyana to survive. That the second set of X-Men, those stuck in Limbo, attempting to rescue their Illyana and were successful but but were, themselves, stuck in Limbo. Immediately after the X-Men were spirited away back to Earth and left Illyana to fend for herself. Meanwhile back with Illyana, Belasco had brought her to an alter and began a spell to withdraw the first of 5 pieces of Illyana's soul. Effectively taking the first piece of her soul it was transformed into a "Bloodstone" and he placed it into what he called the Beatrice Amulet. The Amulet once opened had a 5-pointed star with open holes. The first Bloodstone filled the spot of one of those points. Belasco's intentions for Illyana was to slow, through time, take all 5 portions of her soul and turning them into bloodstone to complete the Beatrice Medallion. He needed time to further corrupt her soul, all the while step by step consecrating her to evil and making her the instrument of Balesco's masters the Elder Gods. He would also use her to free him from Limbo and allow him to roam Earth once again, where he would take over and rule supreme. He would leave immediately after the Bloodstone was removed and allowed time to take place.

Girl Interrupted

Still on the alter Illyana would be saved and taken with an elder Storm and her alternate X-Men's Kitty Pryde, now calling herself Cat. Both were very different, Cat actually had been transformed in to a cat/human hybrid by Balesco and as a result she hated magic. Ororo attempted to break free Illyana of the link she had with Balesco immediately after saving her. After a trip to the astral plane she finds that a part of Illyana was now and forever belonging to the side of evil, specifically to Balesco. When in Illyana's mind the "evil" part of Illyana would attack and try to kill the elderly Ororo, but Ororo luckily would survive. Once back Ororo would devise a plan to help the young Illyana. Wanting to equip Illyana for her future, the Ororo decided to teach Illyana all the white magic she knew by making Illyana her magical apprentice. The goal was to teach Illyana so that she would be enabled to keep her dark side at bay with white magic. All of her lessons would take place in Ororo's magic garden, from there they would proceed administer the classes on the astral plane. Storm was trained, learned and became quite adept at white magic, tapping into her ancestral magical lineage. Differing from her mainstream counterpart, winds no longer listened to the elderly Storm, she could not control the weather anymore instead she focused purely on magic. Storm felt it necessary to teach Illyana so that she was prepared for her next confrontation with Balesco. What Illyana didn't know, was the Balesco had once attempted to use both Storm and Cat to draw Bloodstone from but was unsuccessful. Storm knowing this would only further her want to protect the young child. Cat disagreed partially because she despised magic, but also because she felt that Storm would be doing Balesco’s dirty work for him. She felt that Storm was making a huge mistake. Regardless, Storm began teaching Illyana white magic. While there she taught Illyana about life, white magic and the creation of life itself. Their Illyana stayed for an entire year and learned everything that Storm could teach. Illyana learned fast but was quite angered by the fact that, try as she might, each and every spell she would cast would always be tainted by darkness. Where Ororo would magically have the ability to create life such as plants (or her entire garden), Illyana's attempts always seemingly failed. Though her spells were done properly and she had the magical aptitude to make them work they would always turn out in a negative way.

Once the year was complete, in the middle of the night Cat would wake Illyana up and convince her to come with her leaving Ororo's garden. Cat was attempting to return Illyana to her home. During that night Illyana and Cat would get into a heated argument and during this time, Illyana's mutant powers first manifested. She accidentally created a stepping disc and fell through it. When she arrived she was still in Limbo but here is when she first meets her future servant and enemy, S'ym. He taunts her and begins to attack her. She luckily is saved by Cat and together they escape from S'ym. While seeking a way to send Illyana home they came upon a desert and were informed that at the end of the desert would be the wall of Limbo. Where if Cat used her phasing powers she could take Illyana through and free her from Limbo. Their trek through the desert would take 2 long years. Through that time Cat would teach Illyana how to fight, use a sword and survival skills. At the end of the 2 years they would finally reach their destination only to find that they were misled by one of Balesco's illusions. Balesco would first transform Cat even further into a cat-like being and took the young Illyana with him as his pupil. It would be during this time that Balesco would create his second Bloodstone out of Illyana's soul, effectively tainting the essence of the child even further making her even more evil. Illyana followed Balesco to his palace, worried but accepting her situation. She fully understood that Cat would no longer be able to provide help to her. Balesco's spell halted Cat's ability to think for herself and she was now bound to Balesco doing his every bidding.

She immediately teleports away using her mutant powers and reappears in Russia on the farm she grew up on directly in front of the house of her parents. Overcome with happiness when she realized that she could use her power to leave Limbo, she ran to her parent’s door and knocked. Her happiness would soon end when she sees her parents and tells them who she was. They, of course, did not recognize her and turned her away, under the assumption that their daughter was safe with their son Colossus in America and was a 6 year old little girl. Giving up she turned around and saw the corpses of the Limbo X-Men animated their to take her back to Limbo. When she gets back to Limbo, Balesco would quickly draw a 3rd Bloodstone from Illyana, even further tainting her should and making it more demonic, and would exile her to the garden that the elderly Ororo taught her her many years ago. He would bind her powers disabling her use of her magics and mutant powers. Timing could not have been worse it was the beginning of a harsh winter one that Illyana, likely, would not survive.

While in the garden Illyana used the skills taught to her by, the now deceased, Cat, managing to thrive in the unbearable cold. She also continued to practice the magic that the elderly Ororo taught her, attempting to find a way to free her self of the garden. Time and time again she was unable to produce magic that allowed creation, always coming out tainted as her soul was. She then had an epiphany, she was not able to produce magic like Ororo because they had differing motives. Ororo was attempting to help Illyana, Illyana's motive was quite simply, REVENGE. She reconfigured the spell and used a small portion of her untainted, pure soul and a bright light grew directly in front of her. When she reached in she pulled out her SoulSword. Shortly after she headed to Balesco and with the use of her newly created weapon she battled and defeated Balesco. Just prior to her killing stroke she stopped not wanting to become anymore dark, any more like Balesco. She then exiled him from Limbo. Due to this defeat, Illyana was now the unquestioned ruler of Limbo. And due to the 6 years of teaching she received while there, she had the ability to fight for her title if need be. Finally gaining confidence she would create a "stepping disc" and would return herself to home. When she arrives it would only be seconds from when they originally lost the younger Illyana. After a small conversation they believed her and took her to Professor X for further examination. He found that he was unable to probe her very much but did see, for the most part, that what she claims happened, did. She would stay at the mansion with the rest of the X-Men uneventfully for a short while. She would be roomed with Kitty Pryde. They became quick friends and would lay the foundation for a relationship as best friends that would be unending. But even to Kitty she revealed nothing. She made sure not to tell anyone one of her magical or mutant powers, wanting to keep them a secret. Illyana was attempting to try and cope with all the events and changes she went through while in Limbo. It was quite the task trying to hide 6 years of your life. Try as she might, Illyana could not hide forever and her secrets would be revealed.....well one of them at least. An unexpected arrival of Belasco would force her to use her mutant powers to teleport the New Mutants(mutant students who attend the Xavier Institute) to Limbo for their safety. Coincidently, this would be what she saw when she was stuck in Limbo many years ago. When all was said and done the New Mutants would be returned to Earth unharmed. Illyana would use a forgetting spell ensuring the New Mutants would not remember any of what occurred except for the fact that Illyana was a mutant. Once Professor X was informed of Illyana's mutant nature, she would be granted to ability to study with and join the New Mutants, which she gladly did.

the New Mutant

While apart of the New Mutants, Illyana would finally allow herself to let her guard down....a little. In a short time she became a powerful and valued member of the team. Although they knew she was a mutant, she still guarded her magical side intensely. Due to the barriers she kept up she sometimes felt misunderstood and alone but the others truly cared for her. As a team, the New Mutants would go through more than their fair share of battles. Though they had many successes, they too had many great loses. First Professor X steps down and leaves the school in the hand of the villainous Magneto. Magik and the New Mutants were none too happy about this change. Amidst the ups and downs of life Illyana finally revealed her magical side to her teammates, receiving mixed reviews. Shortly after that they would suffer yet another lose, this time the death of teammate Douglas Ramsey (Cypher). As if that wasn't enough, the New Mutants all would then have their lives snuffed out by the Beyonder during the Secret Wars. He made it as if they never existed. The Beyonder was bent on the idea of humanity and the attempt to gain one. He would have a machine created that if working properly give one life or bring one back to life. Needing a guinea pig/s he would test it on the recently departed members of the New Mutants. Though they were alive again, the experiences of their deaths and resurrections were far too traumatic for them. They all were severely mentally affected by their experiences. Magik and the New Mutants were mere husks of their former selves and showed no human emotions. Once they return to the Institute, Magneto would decide to send his students to Emma Frost the White Queen of the Hellfire Club and leader of the Hellions. Emma was to use her vast telepathic powers to help repair the the already damaged psyche's of each of the New Mutants.

While under the care of Emma Frost, she had the New Mutants enroll at her school and recruited them into her team of Hellions. This was her true plan all along. To her surprise though once Magik and the New Mutants were healed they would leave immediately back to the Xavier Institute. Never any rest for the wary, the events that Magik goes through next would be the most life changing for her. They would also bring her time with the New Mutants to an end.

The Inferno

Quest for Magik

House of M & the Quest for Magik

During the House of M storyline, the Scarlet Witch reimagined the world as we knew it and created they way she wished. Illyana came back to life and joined many of the new X-Men as students at SHIELD. She was placed in the Hellions training squad and, during their last mission, was told to take a group of mutated humans somewhere safe. She teleported just as chaos took over, and the House of M came to an end reverting back to the way it was before. In a world where Illyana was no longer alive, dead.

No one remembers ever meeting Magik because none of them remember the House of M. Later, the evil Belasco came looking for Magik, as he sense her presence that left behind during the House of M, and used his powers to take most of the students at the school prisoner. He smelled Magik on them but none of them remembered meeting her. All clues began to point to Magik being alive.

A group of free students on the run in Limbo ran into a version of Illyana in her Darkchild self. She revealed that she was recreated by Belasco, but in body and mind only. Her soul resided in her Soulsword, and that had been lost. She sought to create a new soulsword, and five new bloodstones of power, from the pure soul of Pixie. The process was only partially successful, resulting in only one bloodstone being created. Pixie ended up with a tiny soul dagger. Illyana then taught Pixie a teleportation spell, which allowed the students a full confrontation with Belasco. In the ensuing fight, Pixie stabbed Belasco with the dagger, allowing Illyana to use the bloodstone's power to presumably destroy Belasco. With Balesco’s defeat, she once again became queen of Limbo. Despite an emotional reunion with her brother, Piotr, she banished the X-Men from Limbo and sealed it off, not content to rest until she recovers her soul and becomes whole once again.

Divided We Stand

It has been revealed that Illyana will be featured in X-Men: Divided We Stand #2.

Powers

Illyana has two very distinctive powers, one being her mutant power to generate teleporation energies in the form of stepping discs, the other was magic, learned while she was in Limbo. As more and more of her soul w