Rating: T

Chapter 4: Catching a Ghost

Professor Xavier and the others arrived at the mansion five minutes after Toad completely dominated Duncan in a after school fight. The whole time, the professor didn't make any eye contact with any of his students. Which made Todd a little nervous. 'Oh man. I'm so gone…. He's gonna kick me out, and I'll have to go back to Mystique, and….' His thoughts got more and more depressing as they got out of the car, and walked inside. Xavier and Logan took Todd into his office, leaving Scott and Jean waiting outside. All took a seat as the professor…tried to start.

"Todd, I….."

"Pease don't send me off!" Toad interrupted, in a pleading tone. "I swear, I will never ever fight again, yo. Honest, I won't. I promise I will clean the X-Jet for a whole week…a month…a YEAR! I will do all the cores it will take to stay, I swear. Please don't kick me out into the streets. I will do whatever it will take! I don't want to go back to living in…." The professor began to wave his arms frantically, getting the teen to calm down. The thought of being kicked out was so scary to Todd, he was almost reduced to tears.

"Wow, wow. I wasn't even dreaming about sending you out, Todd. I was just going to congratulate you for not using your powers."

"Y…you mean I'm not in trouble?" Todd asked.

"Heavens no." Xavier answered in a reassuring voice. "You did nothing wrong. You defended yourself. Duncan was the aggressor. If anyone is to get in trouble, it will be him. I just wanted to see if you would be alright on your one." Wolverine chuckled and gave him a strong pat on the back.

"You laid that jock strap down like he was a rug. I have to say you have serious skills, kid. And it helps when you look like a total wuss, too." Toad looked at the professor with a questionable look.

"So…what is you y'all wanted to talk to me about, yo?" The old man sighed, and placed his hands under his chin.

"I had a question to ask you. Why did you want to fight Duncan? From what Scott had told me, he was your tormentor for quite some time now. And before joining the X-Men, you didn't so much as raise a finger to him." Todd's face lightened and his eyes looked down.

"I…I don't know…. I guess it was the fact…I thought I didn't deserve to be his punching bag anymore…." The two men shot him a look that said "Continue" and so he did. "I guess that I have…I don't know. Now that I'm not so alone anymore, I just thought I could…you know…beat him."

"And that you did, most skillfully at that." Xavier agreed. "You reframed from using your powers, and proved to be the better fighter…. But I think it is obvious that Duncan won't be taking this loss in good nature. I can bet he will be waiting for you tomorrow for a rematch. And while I believe you can take him again, I feel you shouldn't be intimidated into another fight. That reason is because the more fights you get into, the more likely you will slip up and accidentally use them in a fight. I suggest only fight when it is absolutely necessary. If you are able to refuse, you should. You remember that night at the football game, right?" Toad remembered how Scott accidentally lost his glasses and struck a propane tank.

"Yeah…but that assh…I mean, that jerk deserved it, yo."

"Be that as it may, using your powers for anything but for the better good is not allowed in my institute. And I am very strict when it comes down to those rules…. But we will talk more after your SECOND try at trying to get Ms. Kitty." He emphasized second, referring to Todd's smug attitude from last time. "Jean and Scott are waiting for you outside. You should get going."

"Alright…. See you later." Todd simply replied, as he hopped outside to meet the others. Logan scratched the back of his head, and looked at Charles with one eyebrow raised.

"Did you see how Troll freaked out when he thought we were kicking him out?"

"Yes, he really doesn't want to mess this up for himself…." Xavier groaned, messaging his temples. "Maybe we three need a serious talk with him when they come back with Kitty." Logan laughed.

"Man, with all the talks we have had with that runt so far…it might just be easier if all three of us lived in the same room." The men chuckled at the thought, and went to try to find any other mutants that have been acting up in the immediate area.

(Meanwhile, at Kitty's School)

"Hey!! Like, let me out you jerks!" The poor teenage girl shouted, as she banged her fists against the locker door. Some girls who didn't like her had snuck up behind her and pushed her into her locker. Then one of the redialed the combination. "Come on guys! Like, get me out of here! Please!" Down the hall, Lance Alvers walked out of the boys bathroom. Lance was the school punk. He was always getting into trouble. He now was planning on a little more…color…would make the school a lot better. After shaking a can of red spray paint, he walked down the hall, whistling. And while whistling, he was spraying the lockers as he walked. As he passed by Kitty's locker, however, he found himself being tackled by a girl that literally came out of nowhere. He then saw Kitty, who was trying to figure what had happened.

"Wow. Did you just see what you just did?" Lance asked, sounding impressed by what the girl beside him just did.

"Wh…what are you talking about? I just, like, fell out." Kitty stammered, not wanting the boy to know about her secret.

"Yeah. You fell THROUGH the door. That is so cool." Lance said, smiling at Kitty. Though Kitty was smiling at the fact that Lance had a big streak of red paint going across his face. But she still denied.

"No I didn't. you're, like, crazy." She began to panic, and tried to run away. But Lance reached out, and grabbed her arm, holding tight. "Let go of me, you cre…"

"N…no. You don't need to be afraid. I also have a gift, man. Watch." Lance reassured, as his eyes rolled to the back of his head. Then, all of a sudden, the ground began to shake. The lockers began to shake, the posters on the walls began to fall of the walls, and even windows were breaking. His body then relaxed, and the shaking died down. "You see? I'm just like you."

"No you're not!" Kitty shouted. "You are just another freak!" Then she ran off, leaving Lance alone.

'Just wait…' He thought to himself, with a evil smile on his face. 'I get you sooner or later. Just you wait.'

(With Scott, Jean and Todd)

Scott was driving, Jean was sitting next to him and Todd sat in the back seat. "O.K, this time, let me and Jean talk to her. You tend to go off the handle, Toad." Scott said, as he turned down the street.

"I got it, yo. No talky talky for Toad." Said mutant sighed. "I know I mouthed off last time, but you don't need to keep reminding me, Summers." His stomach then began to rumble. "Yo Summers. You think we can celebrate my win with a little food? I'm hungry, yo."

"That reminds me…" Scott began, looking at the redhead across from him. "How much money did you win us, Jean?" The girl smiled mischievously.

"$200 and 50 cents." She giggled, waving the stack of bills in front of the boys' faces.

"AWESOME!" Todd shouted, as he began to do a victory dance in the back seat. "I saw we have a party diner at McDonalds, yo!" He continued to dance until they hit a bump, almost causing him to fall out of the car. The three laughed, and continued to the high school.

(At Kitty's High School)

Kitty was running in the running field, trying to keep up with the other girls. The couch marked her late for the period, since the two girls locked her inside her own locker. But Kitty made up a half true excuse. She said she was having trouble with her locker, and the couch allowed it to pass. Meanwhile, watching the girls work out, Lance and two of his punk friends were trying to get into the office from the ruff. There were some exams coming up, and the three figured they could cheat by sneaking in, and stealing the answers. "What are we going to do?" One asked.

"Don't worry, dude…" Lance sighed, laying on the ruff lazily. "I have a plan, trust me. By this time tomorrow, we will be all set with all the answers." He reassured. The other two looked at one another, and sighed.

"Whatever you say, dude…."

(Back with Kitty)

"Pryde!" The couch shouted, getting the mutant's attention. "You have visitors in the front office! Dress out and get going!" With a confused look, Kitty ran off to get dress into her regular clothes.

'Who would want to talk to me?' She thought to herself, as she walked down the halls. As she neared the office, she saw Scott, Jean and Todd waiting for her. "What do you freaks want with me now?! I told you to leave me alone!" She shouted. Jean waved her hand in defense.

"Calm down, Kitty. We just want to talk, that's all we want. Is that O.K with you?" She asked. Kitty looked at the other two, and sighed.

"I like, guess we could talk…. But then you need to promise to leave me alone forever, deal?"

"Alright Kitty…. But when we talk, you need to give a lot of consideration to what we have to say." Scott then led the others outside and behind the school. When the coast was clear, he began in a sincere voice. "My name is Scott Summers…and we three are mutants, just like you." Kitty was about to deny, but Scott continued. "We know about ghost like powers, Kitty. You don't need to get all defensive on us. We just want to help you…"

"Help ME?! How can you help me when I'm a freak?! No one can help me with my powers! No one can take them away, so I could be normal like everyone else. So unless you can do that, you can't help me." The girl said with much anger in her voice.

"But we can help you so you can LIVE the life of someone normal…" Jean offered. "We can help you learn how to control your powers, so no one will ever notice that you are different." But Kitty wasn't convinced.

"You can't help me! All I want is to live my life as a normal girl! You have no idea what it is like to be me!" This was all Todd could take.

"You have it EASY, yo!" He shouted, sounding bitter. Scott and Jean turned to stop him, but he didn't listen. "Look at me, and look at you! You have the option of living a normal life! But not me! I have grayish green skin, fucked up teeth, and 20 foot tongue! I have to go through life being pegged as a freak…. But YOU! You look completely normal, you're having trouble controlling you little powers. BOOHOO! You are being offered the chance to change your life for the better, and you are turning it down? Why the hell would you do a retarded move like that, yo?! Tell me now! Because I used to be a punk, until I met the X-Men. I changed for only better…. So what the hell are you complaining about?!" Jean and Scott buried their faces in their hands, already knowing where this was leading to. Kitty glared at the amphibian like teen.

"Go jump in a lake, frog lips! I can handle my own life, thank you very much…. Now leave me the hell alone!" And just like last time, the young mutant ran off in the other direction. In a huff, Todd buried his hands in his pockets, and walked back to the car.

"Don't even start…" He growled. "I'm not in the mood." Scott was about to scold the newbie, but Jean grabbed him by the arm.

"Scott, just don't start anything. He seems like he wants to be alone right now." Without saying a word, the last two got into the car, and began to drive back to the X-mansion.

(Back with Kitty)

"Hey Kitty! Wait up!" Lance shouted, as he ran up to catch up with Kitty. It was after school, and Kitty was walking home by herself. She turned and frowned at the boy who were nearing her.

"Why can't everybody, like, leave me alone?!" She then tried to walk away. But Lance wanted to keep her around.

"You feel sick inside, right? Like no matter how much you want to be normal, you feel like you are nothing more then a freak, right. You feel terrible of what everybody else would think if they ever found out about your gifts, right?" Lance's words stopped Kitty dead in her tracks. She then turned with a surprised look on her face. "I know what you are going through…. My names Lance." He then extended his hand. Hesitantly, Kitty reached out and shuck his hand.

"H…hi. I'm Kitty…."

"I know. Like you, I possess a gift that no one else possesses…. But it doesn't make us freaks, it makes us BETTER then the rest. We have the power to change anything we want. And that's all I want, is for you to help me."

"Help you with what?" She asked, not even putting up a defense against the taller boy. He smiled.

"As you know, the exams are nearing. And inside one of the offices are the answers to all the test question. What I want you to do in phase me through the door, so we don't set off the alarms. Then, we make off with all of the answers, to help us in the future." Kitty looked down, unsure if she should be doing this.

"I, like, don't know, Lance. W…what if we get caught?"

"Don't worry, Kitty…" Lance reassured. "If that happens, then I'll act as if I MADE you come with me. So then only I will take the fall." With that said, Lance sent down a caring smile at the younger mutant. She scratched the back of her head, and shrugged.

"Fine…. I'll help you do it." Lance smiled brightly.

"Thanks, babe…" He then grabbed her hand, and dragged her to the office they were going to break in to.

(Outside the Office)

The two ran up behind the office building. And Kitty was having doubts about the whole thing. "Umm…. Lance? I'm, like, beginning to have second thoughts about this…" Lance turned.

"Don't worry, Kitty…" He said in a soft voice, soothing her. "The first steps are always the hardest. But don't worry, I'll be here for you every step of the way. I promised, didn't I?" Kitty smiled, and nodded her head.

"Yeah…. I guess you are right……… O.K, here I go. Give me your hand." Lance smiled triumphantly, and locked hands with Kitty. Slowly, Kitty and Lanced phased through the solid concrete wall, and came out in the other side. When they were in, Kitty began to hop up and down excitedly. "I…I did it! Did you see that Lance?! Did you see me?!"

"Yeah, Kitty. You kicked ass! Seriously!" Lanced agreed, as he began to rummage through the desks and file cabinets.

(Outside)

Jean, Scott and Toad ran up behind the office building, wearing their battle suits. The professor sent them a message saying that Kitty broke into the school office with another mutant named Lance Alvers.

(Inside)

Kitty and Lance sat behind the desk, as the boy hacked into the computers mainframe. He pressed the required buttons, and out popped a disk with all of the answers to the exam. "Ha! We have it, Kitty! Now we can ace those dumb tests those assholes throw at us." He chuckled aloud. But when Kitty began to leave, Lance began type more.

"Lance? What are you, like, doing?"

"I'm just going to modify some grades." He chuckled. But then, Scott kicked the front door down. Todd then leapt into the room and shot out his long frog tongue.

"Hey there, man. Hope you don't mind if I study a little bit, yo." Toad smirked, getting Lance mad. "Just give up man. It's three against two. You're outnumbered and out-skilled, yo! So just…"

"Shut up, you freak!" Then the earth beneath his feet began to rumble. Lance was using his powers to cause a little earthquake, and was shaking the entire office building. The windows began to break, and the structure of the building began to give. Then, the worst happened. The ruff caved in. because of his agility and good reflexes, Todd managed to leap out of the way. But the others weren't that lucky. Both Scott and Jean were struck over the heads with falling wood, knocking them out.

"SCOTT! JEAN!!" Todd shouted, as he tried to push the fallen ruff off his friends' bodies. But it was far too heavy for him. And while Lance tried to escape, Kitty looked at the others.

"Lance?! Where are you going? We need to help them!"

"Fat chance!" Was all Lance said before running out of the crumbling building, empty handed. Todd then looked at Kitty.

"Kitty! Use your powers to phase them through the wood! Before it crushes the life out of them!"

"O…O.K!" Kitty ran up frantically, and grabbed their hands. Concentrating, Kitty yanked the two out from under the massive pile of wood. She managed to get them out, and were relieved to find that they were still only unconscious, and still alive. But the building continued to crumble. Thinking quickly, Toad picked up both Scott's and Jean's bodies and went crashing through a window. Kitty followed behind him, except she phased through the wall. The four then disappeared into the nearby forest.

(In the Forest)

Scott and Jean were still unconscious when Toad and Kitty ran out of the forest, and headed towards the car. Placing both unconscious figures in the back seat, Todd hopped into the driver's seat, and glanced at the younger girl. "Well? You decided to come with us, or stay here, where you will most likely be found out by the others?"

"B…but…do you think I will, like, be allowed to join? I mean, I broke into a school office and tried to make off with test answers. Will I really be allowed?" Todd looked at her, and laughed.

"Girl, I used to steal, ditch classes, and everything in between. Believe me, you will have a chance, yo…. So? Yes or no?" Kitty looked at the him, and back to the school. With a tired sigh, she answered.

"Yeah….. I will…."

To Be Continued…..

Well, there you have it! Kitty has just joined the X-Men, and will soon be known as Shadowcat! I hope you all liked this one! And if I am correct, Blob will be introduce in the next chapter, right? Anyway, please leave lots of reviews if you like this story. And I need some advice…. Should I have Blob become a X-Man, or should I keep him as a bad guy? Tell me what you think! PEACE!!