A/N: Hello to anyone reading this. I decided to try writing a new X-men Evolution story, since I'm having writers block on my first one. This takes place about a month or so after they defeated Apocalypse. I'll be introducing a few other OC's into the story. I know this chapter is short, but it is a prologue. I apologize for any typos, but I'm writing this after midnight. Please Review!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but Ben. Everything else belongs to the owners who really should have made another season of the show.

Ben took his last bag out from the trunk of the taxi. Paying the driver, who was quite anxious to leave, he turned to gaze at his new home. The Xavier Institute loomed in front of him, huge, fancy, and utterly foreign. Not for the first time, he wished his parents hadn't decided 5to send him here. He knew they were just trying to protect him, having mutant abilities wasn't exactly safe right now. Even after the Apocalypse incident, mutants were hated and feared by most of the population. Deciding he was just woolgathering, he shouldered his luggage and walked up to the main door.

When he was a few feet from the door, it suddenly swung open. The figures approached him. One was an older man in a wheelchair, who Ben knew was Professor Charles Xavier. The second was a tall, mocha-skinned woman with white hair. Storm, he thought, remembering her name. The third was a short, scruffy man with a disapproving look on his face. And that must be Wolverine, Ben though with a metal sigh. He already doesn't like me. Great.

"Benjamin Ralech?" Professor Xavier asked. At Ben's nod he smiled. "Welcome to the Xavier Institute."

"Thanks," Ben replied, a bit warily. "It's just Ben though. Only my Mother calls me Benjamin, and she only does that when I'm in trouble."

"Very well," the Professor responded. "Ororo can show you to your room so you can get unpacked. Then please come downstairs to meet the other students."

Ben wasn't sure he wanted to meet any of the others, even if they were all mutants like him. However, he just nodded and followed Storm, or Ororo as Professor Xavier as called her. She led him up a set of stairs to a long hallway. Ben was impressed. The Mansion was huge, and seemed to scream, "Rich!" Soon enough, Storm stopped in front of a door in a hall of several just like it. "This will be your room," she said with a smile. "Do you need any help unpacking?"

"No thanks," Ben replied. With a nod at her, he opened the door to the room. He nearly gasped audibly. As it was, he was impressed. The room was at least twice as big as his room at home! Deciding to admire it later, he quickly unpacked his clothes. Remembering he was going to meet the other students soon, he took a minute to examine himself in the mirror. He wasn't vain, not by any means, but he wanted to make a good first impression. His black hair was short with a slight wave to it, but it was neat enough. He examined his clothes with his light gray eyes. He was wearing a plain short-sleeve green shirt and black jeans. They weren't expensive, but both storm and the Professor had been dressed in normal clothes. The other man, Wolverine, was in leather. Of c course, Wolverine was also short and muscular. Ben was of average height and weight for his age of 16. He had muscles, mostly from constant martial arts practice, but nothing close to Wolverine's. Realizing he was stalling, he steeled himself and headed back downstairs.

As he got to the top of the stairs, he suddenly found himself the focus of multiple eyes. There were quite a range of students, from multiple nationalities. There was even one who looked like a blue fuzzy...something. "Ah, Ben, come meet the others." As Ben walked downstairs, the Professor began the introductions. Ben tried in vain to keep up with the storm of names. He did learn that the blue mutants name was Kurt. A gothic looking girl was Rouge, and a chipper brunette's name was Kitty. There was a tall redhead named Jean, and a man with sunglasses standing next to her, named Scott. As soon as the Professor finished taking, a barrage of questions assaulted him.

"Where are you from?"

"How old are you?"

"Do you know any other mutants?"

"What are your abilities?"

The last question was asked the most, so Ben decided to start there. "I can absorb kinetic energy. This makes me hard to injure. I can then use that energy to give myself super-strength and stamina. It only lasts until the energy runs out though."

"Very cool," Kurt said, suddenly appearing behind him. It took all of Ben's will not to jump. "I can teleport," Kurt told him, a bit belatedly in Ben's opinion. "My sister Rouge, she can absorb powers and memories with a touch."

"I'm your adopted sister fuzzball," the gothic girl replied, but with a smile.

Ben nodded at her. "I was adopted too."

Rouge cocked her head at him. "Was the person who adopted you a shape-changing liar who leads a team of evil mutants?"

"Um, no?" Ben replied, wondering if she was kidding or not. Suddenly, the fatigue from the trip and all the new faces hit him. "If you don't mind, I'm going to go up to my room."

"I'll send someone up to get you for dinner," the Professor said, the left with Jean and Scott following.

"I want to see you in the Danger Room after dinner, bub," Wolverine yelled after Ben as he began to make his way up the stairs. Ben froze for a moment. Danger Room? What have I gotten myself into?