Ok, so normally I wouldn't do this…but I did. I think the picke has been spunched. Please excuse the spelling/grammar errors. I will fix them soon.

Chapter 1.1

I'm Not Crazy…

It has been a long time since Mutants were accepted as a reality in our world. It'll be longer still until we're welcomed in this world for who we are. I wish I could say that I didn't agree with them, but I do. Mutants are horrible creatures with advantages and powers beyond most people's conception. Since I was little, I've been plagued by Mutants. Like they're drawn to me, many of them trying to kill me for one reason or another…

I'd say this is a cruel reality…but it's not. I just can't tell what's real or not anymore. Sometimes, I just want to give up, and yet I always keep running.

I've heard of Xavier's School for Gifted Youth before. A small part of me considered joining, especially when he approached me one night in New York. He said that he had the power to help me, to make me stronger and control my power. It was too good to be true. But then, powerful Mutants showed up, one by the name of Magneto, and Xavier left. I ran away in the confusion, and I never saw him again after that.

I knew it was too good to be true.

So, back in 2006, Xavier opened up a second school. I heard about it. This one was in Hartford, Connecticut. At the time, I was trying to survive in California, though, so I dismissed the prospect.

It wasn't until early 2008 that I was offered help. By that time, I had drifted back to the east coast. I'm pretty sure I was in Georgia. Through pure chance, I had been reminded of the school in Connecticut, which didn't seem so far off anymore. I was desperate and hungry, I hadn't had what I could determine as real human contact in years. I didn't know who was real anymore.

I walked most of the way. I caught the occasional ride in the back of a pickup truck, or a bus, but for the most part, I had trekked most of the United States on my own two feet. Sometimes, it felt like walking was the only thing that kept me sane. At least the road beneath me was real.

So this is where I stood. Outside of the red brick wall and wrought iron gate of Xavier's second school.

Ezno stood beside me. He always did, he was my eldest and dearest companion. He was light skinned, with black hair and wire glasses, a bit of stubble and a serious face. Despite his almost cold demeanor, he always managed to comfort me without trying…

"I shouldn't." I finally said.

"Then don't." he answered.

"I won't."

"You can't."

"I know."

"We're on the same page."

"We are."

"But…"

"Ugh, what now old man?"

"I'm not the one talking to myself here."

I turned to look up at him, but he was gone. I sighed to myself, and slouched against the wall. Real or not, Ezno was right. What if someone here could help me? But, a part of me was afraid that if I touched reality again, I would lose some of the comforts of my insanity. But ugh, all this thinking just made my brain hurt!

I remained standing there for a long moment, uncertain and contemplating. The grounds behind the wall sounded quiet, and it was in that silence that I found my discomfort…

With my pack slung over my shoulder, I made for the gates. They opened as I approached, but as I looked across the front lawn, decorated with well trimmed trees and oddly perfect grass, I felt myself shudder. "This is a bad idea," I muttered to myself as the stone walkway gave into a gravel driveway. Then, I looked up at the mansion, and my jaw just…dropped.

Four stories tall in an elegant Victorian style, with long arched windows and double French doors leading in. Steeple style roofing and elegant pillars. I swallowed hard, and turned on my heels.

"Uh, s'cuse me miss?" I whirled back around. One of the double doors has opened, and a man was standing at the stop of the steps. Smiling, he continued, "Is…there anythin' I can help ya with?" I recognized his accent, very thick Boston. I would know, I stayed in Boston for a little while a few years ago.

I grinned, probably a real horrible sight on this premises. My blonde hair was greasy and dirty, hanging over into my face and eyes. My clothes were in tatters, about five sizes too big for my tiny little frame. I sighed and shook my head, "Nah," I turned again and went back towards the gate, "I don't think I belong here anyway."

"Y'sure?" asked the man, I heard his footsteps coming down the steps towards me, "Y'look like you can use a good rest there Girlie. Maybe a warm meal…how 'bout you come on in? We ain't gonna harm you."

I turned to face him. He stood only a few feet away now, smiling at me with big blue eyes and soft brown hair. Hands in his jean pockets, he waited for a response.

I shook my head again, "I don't belong here."

"You're a mutant, aren't you?" he asked suddenly, I was taken by surprise, "We're pretty good to mutants here, like a family, y'know?"

Ez appeared at my side, "Don't worry, Chrissy," he said, "I'm here to protect you if you need it. Just…hear them out."

I frowned and turned to glare at my Guardian, "You sure did change your tone fast, old man." I shot.

"Um…who are you talking to?"

I jumped and Ez vanished at my side. "Oh! Um, nobody. I, uh, think aloud sometimes." I stuffed my hands into one of my hugely oversized jeans and shrugged, "I'm a bit ratty for a place like this, don't you think?"

He smiled and turned, "C'mon, I'll take you to meet the professor."

I adjusted my pack, and remained where I was, thinking about it for a long moment. The man turned, and watched, until I finally started moving my feet towards him. He paused, then held out a hand, "Sorry, I never introduced myself. I'm Zachary Parsidia." He chuckled, "But, most people just call me Stopwatch."

I reached out, took the tips of his fingers in a handshake and quickly retreated back. I had learned not to trust people, real or imaginary. "Uhm, Chrissy Matthews."

Zach smiled. "Chrissy then," he said, then turned and walked back up the steps with my following at a safe distance behind him, "So, Chrissy, what's your ability?"

I remained silent.

We stepped into the foyer, a nicely tiled area with two arched doorways to the left and right, leading into the kitchen and a large living area. To the front, were stairs lined in red and gold carpet, an elegant wooden rail that had been crushed near the middle. There were doors to either side of the stairs.

"It's so big." I muttered.

Zach chuckled, "Trust me, we need the space." He caught me staring at the destroyed rail, and folded his arms over his chest, "One of our students got a little ahead of 'imself and crash landed." He perked up, then started moving to the left, into the living area.

This place was wide and spacious, with light flowing in through the wide windows, three large TV's, couches and cushions. Zach moved through the room quickly, to a door on the far side.

He opened this, to reveal a rather small room in comparison to the rest of the mansion. Circular, with a desk on the far side. Chairs were set up like pews before the desk, with people filling many of the seats. Zach moved to sit in the back, offering me a seat beside him. Many of the people turned to look at me, and my heart started racing. I turned my head, prepared to bolt, then the bald man behind the desk cleared his throat.

"That's it for today's meeting." His voice was deep and quiet. Zach's hand pulled me aside as the people got up and out of their seats, walking to the door. Most of them paused to look at me as I willed myself to hide behind something…anything. The space suddenly went dark as a large box surrounded me. There were a few surprised gasps, and a couple of giggles.

I remained there for a long moment as the people filtered out. Finally, I heard Xavier's voice speak up again, "It's alright Chrissy, they're all gone."

The box remained a moment longer, then simply faded away back to nothingness. Zach's face was amused, and he leaned back against the wall as he watched me slowly get up and move towards Xavier's desk. "I…" I couldn't find any words. I didn't know what to say. "I don't belong here." I finally muttered.

"From what I understand, Chrissy, you possess some very unique talents." He paused and folded his hands atop the desk, "I would like to…apologize, about the incident back in New York. I hope you don't think that we abandoned you, but it's difficult to track your mind alone, and since you keep moving, Cerebro can't predict where you're going, or where you'll be."

I just watched the desk, praying for this to be over. He made me nervous. This whole place made me nervous, so closed in and cavernous. "I don't…know what to do anymore, professor." I whispered, "I don't know what's real anymore, I just…"

Suddenly the room changed. No, there had never been a room. I wasn't in the institute anymore, I never had been… I had dreamt it all up. I was surrounded by buildings and people, back in California. I let out a choked sob and stepped back, hitting a solid brick wall as I clutched my head.

The people around me paid no attention. Xavier was gone, Zach was gone. They hadn't existed, I had dreamed them up…

Slowly I collapsed to my knees, crying. Distantly, I could hear voices. I screamed, and started running when hands grabbed me, holding me against them. I panicked. A faceless man had grabbed me, held a knife to my throat. He spoke to me, but I couldn't understand. I flailed against him and screamed again, pushing and struggling.

Chrissy, Xavier's voice was suddenly very real, very close. I fought it, I tried to close my mind against it, against all the voices, all the people. I wouldn't die. I couldn't die. Chrissy, please. You have to calm down.

The man holding me was gone, everything faded to black for a moment, before I jerked upright, panting, gasping. Trembling as I was, I couldn't take a full breath. I was back in the institute, but no, the institute didn't exist. None of this did. I turned and bolted for the door, the scene changing again for a split second before familiar arms took hold of me.

Ezno held onto me, clutching me tightly. My knees weakened and I dropped to the ground, holding him as tight as I possibly could. He never said anything about it, "Calm down, don't worry. Relax, this is real, Chrissy. You can get help. I got you, so just…calm down. There's a girl."

Slowly I was relaxing against Ezno's frame. The room's appearance rippled again, but only partially. It was like the California city was a ghost, now.

"What's going on? What was that, Professor?" Zach's voice was worried. But I didn't look up as Ezno wrapped himself around me.

Xavier was silent for a moment longer, then sighed again. "I've been very concerned about this one. She has the ability to alternate reality, to create and distort the things around her. Her mind though, is hard to penetrate. Too many voices, too much chaos. Cerebro can't get a lock on her, she often times scrambled the system when I tried to concentrate on her, when she creates scenes like this."

"Incredible." He breathed.

"Indeed, but also very damaging. The smallest fears can get her mixed up, and her mind will panic." He paused, "How is she?"

"Frightened." Ezno's voice startled me a little. He rarely talked to outsiders. "But, she's calmed down for now." He stood, and urged me up with him.

Slowly I turned. Ezno kept his hands firmly on my shoulder, and I looked at the floor, a soft red carpet like the one on the staircase, "I'm so sorry." I breathed, "I really don't belong here, Professor. I have…"

"Please try not to worry about it, Chrissy. This is exactly where you belong. This institution helps people like you take control of their powers, instead of letting their powers take control." Xavier moved back, then pushed his chair around his desk, "You possess an incredible gift, but it appears that it is difficult to handle. I would like you to stay here, Chrissy. I can try and help you put a rein on your abilities."

I swallowed hard and took a deep breath. Behind me, Ezno nodded reassuringly, "You need this, Chrissy."

Chapter 1.2

Life's Little Surprises

"What do you see?" Strife's quiet voice reverberated through the hollowed room.

Sitting in the center of the circular space was a woman. The fluorescent lights above her filtered through the space, the rough beige carpet, the white wash walls… The woman appeared young, with layered grey hair and ghastly white skin.

"I see the same thing I always do, Strife." She said, then smiled softly with pale, pale lips, "I see change."

Strife frowned, "You say the same thing every time I come to you." The man stated, folding his arms over his chest. The man was dressed entirely in black, his hair wild and oddly out of order. His dark eyes held annoyance, and his pursed lips were held in a solid frown.

"What is it you are looking for?"

Strife paused and a snarl touched his lips, "Change." He turned and grasped the door.

"I see something though," she said, making the man pause a moment, "I see something beyond the swirls of change. There is something, that makes it all come together. A force beyond your control." She smiled, "A force that will make all of our lives end, as we know them."

Strife felt a shudder down his spine. "All this hell," he growled, "Only to die a bitter end." He opened the door, and vanished, leaving the woman to sit alone. Smiling into the silence.

Chapter 1 End

Author's Note:

Ok, so I know I said that I would only do the FFX fanfic, but I'm a woman. I'm allowed to be indecisive. Nobody reads my stuff anyway (except one loyal reader, thanks!). So, a few days ago, I sat down and meticulously started watching the X-Men Evolution series, so that's where this began. Needless to say, I loved it. But, of course, my hatred for just taking something and using it for my own wouldn't let me tamper with the main story line too much. Thus is why this one takes place a few years after the main story line has ended, it involves new character (and a few old ones you'll recognize), new powers, and an overall darker setting.

This, my friends, is my ONLY warning to you. If you're a young reader, DO NOT read this story. I realize it's rated T+, but only barely. I may change it to M at any time if I feel things are getting too out of hand, but this early on, I don't know where things are going to go. This is going to be a darker story line, with actual character growth, character deaths, and graphic scenes. If you're easily offended or squeamish, read at your own risk.

Ok, so now all the formalities are out of the way. None of my AN's after this should be nearly this long. Sorry about the short chapter, I just threw it together to see how it would feel, and I like it. This will probably be a bit of a wild story line, but I'm pretty good at keeping things unpredictable. If you read this, and like it, please, PLEASE review. If you read it and you didn't like it, tell me why. I love feedback.

So I hope some of you will stick around for chapter 2, because I have NO idea what's going to happen. No, really, I don't. Ok, so maybe I do. Talk to you all later!