**This is my first ever X-men fanfic so please bear with me!! You HAVE to review to let me know how I'm doing b/c . . . well, I'm not used to doing anything but Inu-Yasha fics so . . . I hope this is good. Please read and review!! Thanks!**
Heart of the Alone
Chapter 1
Lights swirled about, red and white, together in a soup of color and sounds echoing against the metal walls. The Professor held his eyes tightly shut, focusing all his energy upon the world, holding onto the arms of his wheelchair . . .
Focusing . . .
Trying his hardest to find . . .
There were whimpers and cries . . .
Laughing and cheering . . .
And still he searched for her . . .
Searched for something . . .
That little spirit that haunted his dreams . . .
That haunted his waking moments . . .
That little individual whom Magneto sought for in earnest . . .
He had to find her . . .
Had to . . .
Far isolated from humanity . . .
There . . .
Helpless . . .
Frigid . . .
"So, what is this thing?" Scott spoke bitterly, crossing his arms across his chest in a subconscious bit of defiance. "And why are you just telling us about this now?"
The Professor folded his hands in his lap as he faced the members of the X-men team, tired and worn from long hours in Ceribro hunting . . . he frowned. "This is not a 'thing', Scott . . . this is a mutant just like you and everyone else in this school."
Storm shifted uneasily alongside Jean as they listened. Tension hung heavy in the air as Scott paced, worried, his hand rubbing his chin, working its way to toying with his dark sunglasses. Jean frowned. "What sort of mutant are we looking for?"
Her words eased the darkness as Exavier's eyes fell upon her. "She is a very powerful morphing mutant . . ."
"Oh, like Mystique?" Scott sneered distastefully.
"No, unlike her, this mutants seems to only be able to change into animals."
"So can Mystique."
"Yes, Scott," The Professor sighed deeply as he tried to explain. "But Mystique cannot carry their language nor can she hold their strengths . . . and then some."
The room fell silent.
Wolverine leaned against the back wall in a shadow, listening with great interest to every single word uttered into the conversation. His eyes trained on the Professor, trying in agony to avoid Jean . . .
Trying . . .
"We must find her and bring her back to this school." The Professor rolled up to a large computer screen, touching his finger to an isolated part of northern Canada. "This is where Ceribro has pinpointed the mutants location." The map lit up at his touch, focusing closer into a lighted image of a coniferous forest highlighted by snow. "You will find her there. But, I do warn you, time is of the essence. I have already sensed Sabertooth is on the hunt."
Logan bristled at the mere mention of the name of his rival. "He's after the mutant too?"
Exavier nodded slowly. "I am afraid so."
"I'm goin too." Wolverine snarled, clenching his fists.
"Well, if she's so powerful then can't she take care of herself against Sabertooth?" Scott wondered, stepping in front of Wolverine, a subtle insult. "Can't she just change into, like, a bear or something and . . ."
"She has yet to find out what she is capable of." Exavier explained slowly, his eyes watching the image of the forest swirl against the high peaked mountains that shielded it from the rest of the world. "She is not a mature mutant yet, only a young child."
"A child?" Scott cocked his head with concern. "A child out there?"
"Already capable of being detected by Ceribro?" Jean gasped. "That can't be . . . she has to be at least . . ."
"A teenager. Yes, I know." The Professor nodded. "Most mutant powers are realized shortly after reaching the age of puberty . . . that is why this one is so powerful. That is why Magneto wants her so badly. Powers such as hers so young in her life can only increase substantially as she grows, just as they have. Now, she is young and vulnerable – the perfect target for Magneto."
There was stunned silence.
"Why is she so isolated?" Storm's soft voice interrupted.
The Professor sighed. "Because . . . she doesn't think that she is human. She was very difficult to find because she does not have that essentially 'human' thought pattern, but she is there." He paused, lowering his eyes back from his students to the map. "I do not even think she has had any human contact since the day she was born."
"How are we supposed to find her then if she's not human?" Scott frowned.
Wolverine grinned slyly at him, tapping his nose with his finger. "I guess I'll go too."
Scott scowled as he turned away, storming through the door of the Professors office angrily. "Fine – I'll go warm up the X-Jet."
*** deep sigh alright – what d'you all think? Please let me know!! Please review!! Please review it! OH PLEASE!!!! This idea has been stewing for quite some time and I need to know if it's good! Please! Thank you!!***