Thank you to Everyone who stayed with this story! School is finally out and I got a chance to sit down and get some ideas.
Because it took so long, this will be a good long chapter. Hopefully with drama, jokes, and plot development!
Enough about me, time for the story!
Ch9. Elementelle's Test
Crystal's Flashback
Gambit stood across an abandoned warehouse from Crystal. While Crystal stood with her fists raised and feet spread apart, like he had taught her, Gambit stood casually. "Just remember, belle." He advised her. "Both eyes on the target. You tell that fire to come loose, an' the card will right outta mah hand." Remy held up an ace of diamonds over his head. Crystal was still learning to control her wind powers, but according to Remy she was learning exceptionally fast.
Crystal knew that in this exercise she was supposed to send a blast of air, strong enough yet small enough, to make Gambit let go of one of his precious cards. The teenage girl was so focused on what she wanted. She wanted justice, she wanted her friend back, and she wanted to control this force inside of her. Gambit had been understanding of that. She was too focused on training to be mad about anything other than what had happened before she got her powers. That drive was what kept her improving so quickly.
Crystal took a second to focus her eyes at the distant target. Make that the distant, small target in the distance. She didn't care. Crystal knew she would do this all day if it would help further her powers. Like Remy had told her, Crystal breathed in deeply. Fluidly, she pulled the right side of her body back like she was winding up for a punch. Then she took a fast step and released a concentrated gust of air from her extended fist!
It flew across the room! But it only made the card in Gambit's hand quiver. Crystal groaned in frustration. "Hmm," Gambit looked quizzically at the card and then back at his 'student'. "In a real battle you don't get retries, belle."
He was teasing her. They had only been working together a day and Crystal knew he liked to tease. However she was in no mood for it.
"Or excuses." She countered as she sent pulled back for another hit. This time, Crystal kept the stream of wind constant! The ace was flew right out of Remy's hand, landing flat on the back wall.
Gambit smiled his charming smile. "Huh, touché. Take a break, belle. Gambit be right back."
Crystal took a seat on the nearby boxes. Gambit had tested her earlier on her fight prowess. Crystal had never had much need or use for it, but her dad was military, and more than one of her uncles knew how to street fight. Gambit had beat her for sure, just by blocking her punches and jumping over her leg sweeps. He obviously was a lot better than her. His testing was enough to make Crystal a bit tired.
"Ha..." Crystal let out a tired sigh.
Right at that moment, Gambit appeared with two bottles of water. "Eh, now. No need for that." He said, handing the girl a water. "You's learnin' fast, but don't go burnin' yourself out with that fire."
As he took a seat on another crate, Crystal said to Gambit. "I want to do this fast as I can. Why would get my powers right after I was betrayed if not to get back on the guy who betrayed me?"
"Betray mah belle?" Gambit asked, amused. "Well, ya know what day say 'bout a beautiful woman scorned!"
The bottle made a crunch in Crystal's hands. "It wasn't scorn, it was selfish egotism because he wasn't the world's center of attention!"
When Crystal realized what she had said. What she had done. She gasped. For the first time, Remy say the child look up at him with an apologizing expression. "I am so sorry! Gah, Gambit it really isn't all about that for me! I really do want to learn to use my powers for a purpose. A greater purpose! I know you're putting time into this, and Magneto even invited me after he saved my life and-"
"Whoa, there belle!" Gambit stopped before she could go any farther. "There ain't no explosion that can scare, Gambit. An' ah already know all dis. You's a good girl. Ya got a perre back home want proud, you had good schoolin', and you had all thought you wanted. What Gambit don't know is: if it ain't scorn, why don't you say what it is? Ya started anyway."
If Crystal was going to get anywhere right now she needed someone she could trust. Trust once broken is hard to give again, but Crystal was vulnerable. Remy was charming, and by Magneto's orders he was supposed to keep her safe. He might just find out anyway. Still Crystal would keep some details to herself for now.
After taking a drink to calm herself down, Crystal told the story. "My boyfriend sent my best friend to jail just because he could. He framed my friend for a crime. The three of us... friends for most of our lives and... I just didn't know he was that dark."
Gambit's eyes narrowed. For him, he blamed for a crime was one thing, if you got away with it. A crime done just for the sake of placing the blame on a close friend? Nuh-uh. His little belle was rightfully vengeful. One of her own got a mark on his back that wasn't his to take. She had loyalty, and moral. Traits Gambit wouldn't normally give much praise to, but the commitment he had seen from this girl was most definitely in the right place. No wonder she was giving it her all.
"Sometimes, de light hide de darkness." Gambit offered her advice. "Stay too fixed-e-ated on one, and you overlook the other. I find lookin' from the shadows to be the best perspective. What you know 'bout sneakin, belle?"
At that, Crystal gave her mentor a mischievous grin. "Oh, I've done a tiny bit of eavesdropping here and there."
Present.
"Whatcha thinkin' about?" Pietro's voice snapped Crystal out of her thoughts. She slammed her locker closed and proceeded to walk away from the annoying speedster. Remy had been on her mind more than once this week. Not only had he trained Crystal in her powers, he had also taken the time to teach her a few things about being a spy. That was probably why Magneto had sent him for her in the first place.
Pietro came up at normal speed, walking next to Crystal. "Look, I get it, you're mad." Just how mad? Pietro should have been really running! "You know what? I knew you would be, so I didn't tell you."
"Shouldn't have done it in the first place." Crystal flat out said. She immediately regretted it as hope seemed to show on Pietro's face. Now he would just keep talking...
"Yeah... You're probably right about that. In fact, I'd go so far to say for the millionth time you are right!"
Was a smiling pulling at Crystal's lips? Yes, but she held that uninterested frown tight as she walked. I've started this myself, might as well finish it. "Try 31,023rd time."
"What, you keep a diary of my mistakes?" Pietro joked, but Crystal was stone-faced.
"No, that one filled up forever ago. So now I throw away the old notebook every December 31st and begin a new one on New Year's."
Around them a few students snickered or held in a laugh as they walked past. Pietro shot a glare over his shoulder at a group of boys who particularly didn't try to hide their laughter. The Brotherhood. He turned his attention back to Crystal. "Now that is a low blow, Crystal."
Crystal shrugged. "Considering we've officially stopped being friends, you are actually behind on your track record. Should I give the book to one of your housemates?"
"Speaking of which." Pietro said, "How's Rouge?"
How was Rouge? Crystal wasn't sure how to answer that or even if she should. She hadn't had the chance to speak to her. Then again, if Crystal did talk to her what would she say? Did Magneto think she couldn't handle them mission on her own? What if Rouge was another spy? That would mean Crystal had really flubbed on her report! Rouge could jeopardize her staying at the mansion. Then again... Rouge had pretty much stayed in her room with Kitty.
Crystal decided to answer. "She's fine."
"Fine?" Pietro echoed. "Hey, she left a note we found in the kitchen saying she's living with you now. What did you guys do?"
"Dunno. I was at school." Crystal wanted to get back to ignoring him if all Pietro was going to do was question her. She began looking past him with an expressionless face as she went to class.
"Chrys!" Pietro called after her.
Ignoring him, Crystal made her way to class. Getting angry, Pietro called out, "Chys, get back here!"
"Go away." She simply said.
Once Crystal was gone, Pietro was left alone in the hallway. Well, not entirely alone. The Brotherhood boys, not really caring about classes, walked up from their place by the lockers. "Yeow-za!" Toad, hopped up. "That girl's got some serious fire!"
Blob laughed saying, "Dude, she got you good! Even I don't get dumped that hard."
"Third times the charm." Lance/Avalanche commented. "But that was like the thirty-third time, wasn't it?"
In less than a second, all two boys were clutching their stomach's like they had been punched, and Blob 'slipped' and fell hard on his face! Pietro had done it.
"Ow! Dude, take a joke!" Blob said from the floor.
Pietro glared at all of them. "I'm not taking any cracks from three losers who have barely talked to a girl, or really any at all."
Lance, being the next to recover, coughed, "That girl totally hates you, man. And, no offense, but it's safe to say the other guy's pretty much won."
"What are you talking about?" Pietro demanded.
Lance counted off on his fingers for Pietro. "She said she hates you, she said she likes him, she beat you up with him, and now she lives with him. Pietro, face it: Evan won."
That made Pietro really want to punch Lance again. Then not just punch him, but slam his whole body through the wall! He was better than that though. He was better than Lance, better than Evan, and better at mind games than Crystal! For once, Pietro actually smiled. "Nah, couples just fight. Guys, I knew Crystal from the start, she's not into that guy! She just kept him around to be her little yes-man and make me jealous."
Did the Brotherhood think Pietro was deluded? Even with all their schemes the answer was a big yes. They could have just rolled their eyes and gone off to class right then, but Toad had to have his say in this conversation. "Then how comes I saw the two of them out on a date the other night?"
Record scratch.
Rewind.
What did the Toad say?!
"What...?" Pietro's tone became so dark it could have rivaled Magneto's.
Toad tried to jump and hide behind Blob, but Pietro snatched him by the collar in mid-air! Frantic, Toad tried to answer, "I-I wasn't invited to Mathew's big bash, man! So-So I went dumpster-diving for a bite. Yeah, this one place got high-end stuff, ya know? Downtown flies got their own flavor, but this place-"
"What happened!" Pietro slammed Toad against the lockers.
"Augh! Th-They had dinner, then-then went to bowlin' and then they got a ride back home! I didn't hear a thing they said man, I just saw!"
Pietro let Toad drop to the floor and scamper away. The Brotherhood boys were textbook bullies, but there was still some honor among thieves. Or rather, Lance wasn't putting up with a speedster's rotten attitude. Beating up one of their own was not cool. Not over something like this. "Alright, Pietro! You need to cool off or I'll-"
"Or you'll what?" He got challenged right back. "Tell Mystique? Trap me underground? Go for it Lance, I'm not moving."
Lance wanted to. He wanted to crush this rotten brat so bad he already felt the ground shaking. But Mystique had laid out the rules. There was no fighting between them, and no revealing their powers to regular people. If they did, the punishment she promised would be severe. None of these boys had anywhere else to go, so they had no choice but to listen to her. That, and they wanted payback on those X-men.
The only thing Lance could do was walk away in a huff. Blob and Toad quietly went after him. "Geez," Toad said to the other two. "I'm startin' to see why she dumped him."
"Shut it, Toad." Lance told him.
Pietro smirked in victory at his retreating 'friends'. Yep, he knew how to play mind games. He knew Lance wouldn't risk using his powers on him or causing a fight in the halls, deserted or not. "Point, Quicksilver."
Then he turned his head down the hallway Crystal had walked down. Pietro's face became more solemn, almost sad. In the back of his mind he knew the guys had been right. If Crystal was just mad that would be one thing, but if she was mad and dating Evan Daniels. THAT was a declaration of war. A malevolent grin spread onto Quicksilver's face. "Princess, you sure do know how to give me a challenge."
Meanwhile, Crystal was fuming mad! "What did I ever see in that guy?" she said under her breath. There were so many decent guys that she knew! Evan was decent. Maybe not the smartest guy, but decent. Remy... he was older, had a shady background, but at least he had common sense! Sure, I have a past with Pietro. I know what he's been through. But NOW he's being a colossal jerk! "You'd think he'd learn..." And you'd think I would learn.
Crystal was an ace back at her old school. When her grades transferred over she was immediately placed in the more challenging classes. While that would mean she should be paying attention, the teacher was currently going over a science lesson Crystal already knew: predicting the outcomes of genetic possibilities. "If 'B' represents the genetic trait of brown eyes and 'b' is blue eyes, then following our chart..."
Crystal's mind was back on her mission as she stared forward. Magneto wants intel on the Professor and the X-men. Well, the place to start would be their powers. Crystal knew about some of what her housemates could do, but if she read Magneto right, that wouldn't be enough. Maybe I can find out how they use their powers? Yeah, like I'm an expert! I barely know what's going on with my own body. He clearly doesn't trust the Professor, and the Professor is really keeping a lot... from...?
Another wave of realization washed over Crystal's mind. Professor X knew about Mystique. He knew she was in the school and who she was. What if... What if the Professor knew who she was working for?!
Magneto had told her he knew Charles Xavier from long ago. Crystal figured that those two must hate each other so much! Mystique had tried to kill Scott yesterday. There's no way Magneto ordered that. But if Professor X ever read Mystique's mind, the mind of an enemy who was not in his protection, Crystal would find herself very much in the lion's den! A whole lot of angry mutants would turn on her. With no other word other than the Professor's even Evan and his Aunt would turn against her!
"Miss Philips!" The teacher's voice snapped her back to reality. "You seem to be in deep thought back there. Care to share?"
Crystal answered. "Actually... I was wondering about the odds of genetics. Is it possible for a person to be born with son many submissive traits that they don't resemble their birth parents at all?"
By the look on his pondering face, the teacher bought it. "Hmm, yes that kind of question does require some deep thought. Well, if you calculate every chance of a genetic, it is highly unlikely, but here you see just..."
She skated by on that one. Right after this class, Crystal decided she would make a trip to the Principal's office.
Careful to avoid any classmates or former friends, Crystal went to Principal Darkholmes' office. The lady at the desk asked if she had an appointment, Crystal just said that she was a new transfer student and had some questions for the principal. Neither part of that was really a lie. Before the lady could say anything to Crystal, the door to the office opened!
"Ah, Miss Crystal Philips!" There she stood in the guise of a, what Crystal would say, haughty, strict principal. Who would guess that she's really a blue-skinned murderer? "I was wondering when you would come to my office."
Figuring it was in everyone's best interest to follow with the act, Crystal said, "Well, yeah. Yesterday was my first day and-"
"Scheduling conflicts, I know. We've had so many sudden transfers, the paper just keeps piling up! Please come in." So, Crystal followed the woman into her office. The door was closed behind them, and both women sat on opposite sides of the Principal's desk.
Crystal did nothing to hide the displeased look on her face. Mystique/ Darkholme, however, effortlessly carried an air of smugness with her. "And what brings an X-man to my office? Professor passing along a threat?"
Crystal narrowed her eyes at the reminder of what she did to Scott. "Professor Xavier doesn't know I'm here. I came to talk to you on my own."
"Hm," Darkholme morphed back into Mystique. This must be a safe place if she's dropping her disguise, Crystal figured. "Then is this a message from Magneto? Don't answer. He would have spoken directly to me if he had a message of any kind."
So that's where the smugness came from. Mystique answers only to Magneto, in fact she gets all of her orders right from him! The woman was flaunting her power in front of someone she saw as just a pawn. But Crystal's face remained stone. She knew this woman would have no real respect for her.
"Same with me." Crystal crossed her arms. "Magneto told me to go to the mansion, and told me what to do there. I reported to him just the other day." Mystique's cold visage slipped for just a moment. Then she recovered. Crystal continued nonetheless. "This, right here, is directly from me to you: What's going on?"
Mystique answered, "You'll have to be more specific." Both of them spoke with a demanding tone. Neither of them were yielding.
"My mission is to observe the X-men. Who is strong, who is weak, who is intelligent, and who is the most unique." Crystal said. "Magneto made it clear to me, and I know to you, that he doesn't want them harmed let alone killed. What were you going to do if Scott died?"
Mystique scoffed. "I don't need to explain my actions to a mere child!"
Crystal rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that's model principal behavior."
"Watch your tongue, child."
"And you watch your back!" Crystal barked. "What you do with the Brotherhood House is your business, Mystique. But me? I got the mansion, and I got a job that I'm going to complete." Crystal took a calming breath, she didn't want her anger getting out of control. "But if we both want to pull this off with both our hides intact, I want to suggest a little cooperation."
The older woman looked intrigued. "Cooperation? Such as?"
Crystal looked down at the chair in front of her. After a moment's pause, she took a seat. "Am I expected to work with Rouge while she's there?"
This time a flash of anger went across Mystiques pupil-less eyes. "Rouge left us of her own accord. She knows little of our true plans. But I'm sure once she does, she'll see reason and be back."
Small wonder after you really tried to murder someone. Instead Crystal replied. "Then I'll keep quiet. And I'll be sure to keep her safe until that time." Unsure of why she said that, Crystal waited for Mystique's response. Oddly, Mystique looked quite relieved at Crystal's promise. "As long as there are no more murder attempts on the mutants."
"Smart girl." Mystique grinned. So snake-like. "Is there anything else?"
"As a matter of fact: Yes." Crystal leaned forward. What she said next would determine how things ran between them in the future.
Riding in Scott's car with the others, Crystal looked off to the side in thought. Things had gone well, considerably. Mystique was a sly woman so she was lucky for what she got with so few boundaries. Thankfully, the terms of their agreement wouldn't likely come to the surface for a good long time. Still, Crystal thought it was good to have some insurance. Basically, the Professor would not be finding out about her dealings with Magneto, not from Mystique or anyone else living under her roof. Mystique also confirmed that Rogue knows nothing about Magneto. Now Crystal felt she could relax more knowing she was a bit more secured.
As soon as she got home, Storm told Crystal to go up to her room. Her new uniform for training was ready! Excited, Crystal ran up the stairs. Behind her, Evan walked up to his Aunt. "Hey, Auntie O?" he asked her, his bag slung over his shoulder. "Any chance I can watch Crystal's Danger Room trial?"
"I was about to tell you to go get your own uniform." Storm happily informed him. "Everyone needs to go to the com room with the Professor. He wants some of you to be part of the exercise."
"Really?" Kitty asked, coming up behind Evan. "Why does he want us too? Did he change his mind about her going in solo?"
Storm replied. "I don't know, Kitty. He just asked me to get all of you down there before we get started. Scott, please inform Jean when she arrives too."
"Will do, Storm." Scott replied.
Up in her room, Crystal tried on the uniform she found laid out on the foot of her bed. It was a flexible jump suit that fit her just perfectly! It was black with a large yellow stripe that connected to her collar and went right down to her wait level. With it came matching yellow gloves and black boots. Crystal smiled and posed in the mirror, admiring her new look. Man! Who came up with this outfit? It rocks! It even had her favorite color!
A knocking sounded on her door. "It's open, come in!" Crystal called. The door was opened by Evan. "Ready, Chrys?" he asked. The second his eyes fell on Crystal wearing her X-man uniform, Evan froze. Crystal grinned slyly. She placed her hands on her hips and leaned slightly to the side. "See something you like, Evan?"
"I-duh- uh..." Evan stuttered. "You... You look great, Crystal!"
"Thanks, Evan!" She laughed back. "I like it too! I feel powerful in it. Did you tell anyone yellow's my favorite color?"
"No. I- I guess we just got lucky there." Evan was nervous. He thought Crystal looked really good in what she was wearing. Crystal somewhat knew what she was doing to Evan.
She asked him as she casually walked up. "I don't look too much like a Queen Bee?"
To that Evan was able to evenly say. "Nah, just enough."
He was anticipating a punch to the arm as usual, but instead Crystal hooked her arm around his and said, "Than care to walk me down to the Danger Room like a queen?"
Evan laughed before saying, "Sure."
Crystal was down in the training room while everyone else was in the operating center to watch her. The Professor voice came over the intercom. "Crystal since this is your first day in the Danger Room we will be starting you on the basic level, like we have the others."
Crystal sent him a thumbs up. "Sounds good to me, Professor!"
"In addition," he continued. "We would like for you to choose a partner to go through this with you."
A partner? Well, given what happened the other day over the ocean, it was probably a good safety precaution. This could also work out for Crystal's mission: deep intel. Crystal looked up at the others to decide who to pick.
Immediately, she thought of Evan. He always had her back, and she was still the closest to him. Then again, given today she had spoken to Mystique and promised she would protect Rouge. But Rouge was even newer than Crystal! Plus, powers that can learn everything about a person? Not the best strategic option in her case. Scott and Jean had both been trying to reach out to her. Kitty had tried for a while, but both she and Kurt were keeping at a distance from her. She also needed allies, so maybe this would be a good way to open up to them?
Crystal always looked at all the angles before making a decision.
Then a new, somewhat annoyed, voice came over the intercom. "Hey, Chrissy!" Rouge? "How 'bout ah volunteer an' get this over with?"
Rouge's sudden volunteer shocked everyone. Up in the room, Storm turned to her, "Rouge, that is very..." she searched for an appropriate word, "considerate of you to volunteer. But this will be first time for both you and Elementelle to be in there. Perhaps someone with a bit more experience-"
"All the more reason for me to be down there an' get it over with." Rouge said, her finger was still on the button
Storm looked to the Professor for some back up. The man in the wheelchair said, "If Crystal has no argument."
Realizing that she was part of the conversation, Crystal stuttered back, "Um, uh, n-no argument! I'd be glad to have you Rouge."
With that Rouge left to go join Crystal down in the Danger Room.
Once the doors locked behind Rouge, she stood across from Crystal with an uninterested look. In return, Crystal looked a little nervous of the other girl. She had to admit, she like Rouge a little because she reminded Crystal of her first teacher, Gambit. Maybe it was just the accent yet... Crystal didn't dwell long on it attempted to say hello.
"You ready?" Crystal immediately regretted what she just said. That was what she always said to Gambit before they started training.
Rouge just scowled. "Don't act tough, Sunshine. Yer as much a greenhorn as me."
Ouch.
A siren went off twice, the test had begun. The panel of the floor Rouge was standing over shot right up into the air. "Ah!" The girl screamed. The panel stopped about fifty feet in the air. Rouge looked over the edge to see Crystal staring up at her in surprise. "Get me down!" Rouge called back.
Crystal remarked, "Didn't see that coming." Guess this is the part where I use my powers. Rouge said she wants down, so I guess I'll her her down. Remembering how she called her powers on cliff, Crystal set her arms at her sides and moved them in small circles to stir up the wind. Soon she felt two small twisters at her hands and used them to propel herself up to where Rouge was. "Need a lift?" Crystal laughed.
Rouge didn't have the chance to retort at the bad joke. The flying panel flew away to the opposite side of the room, forcing Rouge to fall down and cling to the ledge in the process. "What the?" Crystal watched as it carried Rouge away. "Well, I guess it would have been too easy." Still in, mid-air, Crystal chased after the panel with Rouge.
It seemed that every time Crystal got close, Rouge would be carried to a different height and another part of the Danger Room. It happened again. And again. And again.
"Ah'm really regrettin' this!" Rouge angrily yelled. She was starting to feel a little motion sickness from this chase.
Crystal was getting frustrated too. She could adjust her height and the force of the wind to fly her to Rouge was, but she couldn't get close enough. She kept trying to go faster and faster, figuring she could out-fly the panel and lift Rouge off. I can't fail! How do I get Rouge off that thing? Crystal tried to find a pattern in the panel's movements, but it was all random. She increased her speed but the panel just wen faster. All it earned her was a few crashes into the wall. This whole simulation is computer run, there has to be a basic command besides stay away from Crystal!
Crystal paused in her flying and stared across her enemy: the flying panel. Rouge was looking a little wind-blown and sick of the chase herself. "Hey, Rouge!" Crystal called across to her partner. "Any ideas on how to catch that thing?"
"I'm too busy figuring how to hold on to find out!"
Angry, that girl was definitely angry. Crystal figured she would be too if she was being yanked in every direction. She paused to think and give Rouge a rest. I have speed and control when I'm flying. I've proven I can do that effectively, but what am I being tested for? As she looked across at Rouge, Crystal remembered Remy again. It was then that she realized it. Crystal was playing the wrong game.
"Rouge! Grab onto the edge of the panel and hold tight!" Crystal smirked, summoning up more wind. "This'll be a rough ride!"
"I hate rides!" Rouge was barely able to say it as Crystal launched herself forward and the panel took off with equal speed to the right. Crystal hit the wall feet first and then launched herself right after Rouge. Instead of going at random, the panel began flying right at the wall of the room with Crystal right behind it. Round and round, Crystal flew after it around the room increasing her speed a little at a time.
In the observation room, everyone was turning their heads as the two girls whizzed past them. "Are they training to go into the space program?" Kitty asked, meaning for it to be a joke.
"Maybe." Kurt answered her, looking concerned.
Scott said to the Professor. "Shouldn't we stop them before someone gets hurt?"
"Not yet, Scott." He said. "You already know there are safety precautions in place, and I don't believe Crystal's test is quite over yet."
Back in the Danger Room, Rouge was just barely holding on and Crystal was just barely catching up. In fact, she couldn't believe she was able to keep her eyes open! "Rouge!" Crystal called ahead. "When I tell you to, let go of the panel!"
"You're crazy!" Rouge told her.
"It'll work! Please, I'm going to catch you!"
"An' if you don't!?"
"I will!"
Crystal knew Rouge didn't trust her. But she knew Rouge really wanted to end this and get back to solid ground. They just needed to goa little bit faster.
Finally, when the wind was really starting to sting Crystal's eyes and the only part of Rouge that wasn't flying off the panel were her hands, Crystal cried out. "On three!"
Rouge squeezed her eyes closed even harder as Crystal counted out. "One... Two...Three, Rouge!"
Crystal flew away from the wall in a curve as Rouge, free of the panel, went right towards her. Crystal held out her arms and caught Rogue around the middle when the two crashed into each other.
"She did it!" Evan cheered from the controls.
It wasn't over though, Crystal had her arms full with Rouge and couldn't use them to conjure the wind unless she dropped her partner. Still, as she fell, Crystal hooked one arm around Rogue and extended the other towards the floor. Rapidly rotating her hand she tried to make a wind strong enough to hold them both. "C'mon, c'mon!" Crystal had only every carried herself on the wind, and she was already feeling tired from that chase around the room. Worse, from inside her skull came a sudden roaring pain! "Ack! No!" Not now! Rouge might not survive the fall! Crystal kept trying, but the harder she tried the worse her symptoms got. Please! This isn't for me, it's for her! Wind, I have to hold out just a little longer.
Crystal saw the ground coming a bit slower then, it wasn't enough though. Crystal turned her back and braced for the impact. It hurt badly when she hit with Rouge on top of her. She rolled to lessen the impact, but had to let go of Rouge in the process. Is this okay...? Crystal couldn't keep her eyes open, and her head felt so heavy. As she saw Rouge lifting herself up a little, Crystal thought: Yeah, this is okay. And her world became darkness.
A strange, clean smell flooded her nose, waking Crystal up in a hospital bed. She blinked her eyes twice, bringing a hand to her throbbing head. "Urgh...!"she groaned from the pain.
"She's awake!" Kitty cried out. Her screaming wasn't any help to Crystal's headache.
"Kitty, quiet down, stop screaming." Crystal whispered. Kitty, followed by Kurt, Evan, Scott and Jean were immediately by her bedside. "Hey," Crystal noticed the weakness in her voice, but still tried to smile at all the worried and relieved faces. "So, what're we all doing here?"
Jean answered. "You and Rouge hit the ground pretty hard, but nothing serious. You were unconscious so Wolverine carried you to the infirmary. You've been out for almost three hours."
"Is that so?" Crystal said. Then she asked. "What about Rouge? Was she hurt?"
Scott shared a look with Jean before telling Crystal. "She's fine. She went up to her room after the session was over."
She didn't stay with the others? Rouge must be really mad at Crystal right now. "I'll go apologize to her." Crystal tried to get up, her head protested. Oh yeah, you. "Deh! Maybe after some water." Kitty handed her a small glass which Crystal thanked her for. The tension on her brain seemed to lessen.
Lessen.
Lesson!
"So, um, how did I do?"
Jean knew what she was asking about. "I... think you got it! The Professor seemed impressed with how you managed to not only control your powers, you also worked up a strategy on the stop to save your partner."
That took a lot of stress of her brain. Evan spoke up in his joking tone. "You're such a nerd! You're sitting in a hospital bed and all you can think about is whether you got an A+!"
"I thought you said I was the Queen B?" Crystal smiled back.
"Well... you are! Queen Brain!"
Kitty added in, "Maybe we should call that instead of Elementelle."
The whole room laughed, even Crystal.
Hearing the sound of his students laughing, Professor X wheeled into the room. Everyone looked his way before he even spoke. "Crystal, thank goodness." He sounded so genuinely relieved. It surprised Crystal more than anything this day. He at least worries about everyone's well-being. "As good as it is that you are all getting along, the rest of you need to be ready for school in the morning and I need to have a few words with Crystal."
Evan protested, "But Professor!"
The man calmly raised a hand, telling Evan this wasn't negotiable. "I just need to confirm something about her condition. I'll have Ororo walk her back to her room when we are finished."
Everyone said good night and walked out of the infirmary. After Crystal and Professor X were alone, he wheeled himself over to the side of the bed. "How do you feel?" he asked her.
She told him. "A little sore on my back, mild migraine, and I think my pride took a good hit."
The Professor grinned at how strong she was trying to keep herself. "Why your pride?"
Crystal looked down at her hands in her lap. "Because I didn't really how or on what I would be tested on in the Danger Room, I thought that if went over what I already knew about my powers I would pass it no problem. But I made a fool of myself and didn't figure out I was supposed to save Rouge, not race a flat piece of metal." Crystal sighed. "I just wanted to make the best impression."
The Professor looked at his student for a long time before saying. "Hm, I think you're true error was a misunderstanding of the Danger room's purpose." Crystal raised her head, trying to understand. The Professor continued. "Crystal, a test does not solely mean how you apply skills you have already learned. In the Danger Room you are supposed to take what you know about you powers and learn about them during the test as well. That being said, that does bring me to my main concern about today."
Crystal got a solemn look on her face. "I actually know why that happened, Professor."
"Oh?"
"Before I came to Bayville, I did some of my own training with my powers." It wasn't the whole truth, it wasn't a whole lie either. "I found out that I can only hold my powers without a break for forty-five minutes. If I don't stop and rest I get these migraines, and sometimes can't even stay conscious."
For once, Professor X looked a little angry. "Why did you not share this with us? Crystal, you could have seriously hurt yourself!"
Crystal answered back. "Because I thought it might just be my powers settling in. I thought it would have gone away by now!"
"Obviously that is not the case." He stated.
Crystal clenched her teeth. She really didn't need this right now. This man kept all of them in the dark, and it's not like anyone even asked about this! Crystal was doing her best, she worked hard to the point of collapsing and now one of the last examples of straight honesty was scolding her like a five-year-old. If it was Pietro giving her a lecture, Crystal would have had a more violent reaction. Yet with the Professor all she was able to do was cross her arms and begrudgingly say, "I'm sorry, Professor."
Professor X saw all the signs of a stubborn, not-really-sorry teenager (which Storm had forewarned him about). On Storm's advice, he should let it slide after stating his case. "Well... Now that we know we can adjust future training accordingly. This is actually a good thing to know your powers' limitations, believe it or not."
Magneto says my powers could grow beyond my limitations. Is keeping me only so powerful a way to keep me under this guy's thumb? Remy had pushed her to her limits without causing her to black out, but Crystal had always insisted on pushing to 112%. She felt she could do more, so much more. That was what Magneto promised. Professor X only wanted to place limitations. It was a good thing she didn't show what she was truly capable of.
"Once you know your limits, one can learn more about themselves and their powers. In time, I believe you will even expand beyond your limits, Crystal." The Professor knew this girl always worked her hardest to prove herself. For what and for whom was unknown to him, but he did admire Crystal's constant determination.
The tension in the room slowly vanished when Crystal looked up at the Professor with the smallest smile. "Thank you, Professor." She said. "I'm feeling a bit better. Can I go to my room for the night?"
He nodded once. "If you are feeling well enough. But if your headaches aren't better by morning, then you need to let either me or Storm know."
Wolverine was left off the parental care list. Crystal noticed it, and she had to agree with it. "I will, Professor. Promise!" As Crystal got up, she saw that she was still in her uniform. "By the way Professor, I noticed something about my training exercise today."
"What would that be?"
Crystal smiled down as she walked up to him. "I went in there, thinking I would only be tested on my powers, like I was with Storm. That's what I heard from Evan, Kitty and Kurt, anyway. But that turned out to be the easy part of the test." Crystal put on her sly grin. Using her powers had only been half of the test. For most of the test she had needed to plan, and alternate her approach in order to save Rogue. In the end, it was Rouge letting go of the panel that got her off with Crystal only needing to catch her. "That was a test of my strategy skills with my powers, wasn't it?"
The Professor smiled proudly. Crystal was opening up her mind, asking him for something and was close to noticing his intention. "I won't deny that was part of it. You are a very intelligent student, Crystal. You've established that you can manipulate the air in your environment. But you are more than just your powers."
What...?
"You got two out of the three components for your lesson. You used your powers, you applied your own mind to solve the problem. Now, what else happened? Think! At the very end, what helped you save Rouge?"
Crystal thought about it. The panel setting her up on a wild chase, observing its movements, talking to Rouge... Rouge! In the end it was Rouge! She let go on the panel right when Crystal told her to! If she hadn't, she might have gotten hurt or Crystal might have failed. "Rouge." Crystal finally said. "She went along with my strategy. She trusted me enough when it looked like her life was at risk. She let go of the panel in time."
The Professor clapped his hands once in approval. "And there you have it! Trust!"
"Trust?" Crystal asked. "Professor, wind, strategy and trust? I don't get that." It sounded more like a trip to Neverland.
"That is why it was the hardest part of your lesson." Professor X clarified. "Crystal, being an X-man, being a student, and I believe a mutant, is to learn how to use your powers to help others. But no one can believe we are not monsters without a certain amount of trust and understanding. You saw Rouge was in trouble and immediately put all your efforts into saving her life. Mind you though, no one's life is ever really in danger in there. You asked her to trust you and in the end you proved you were worthy of that much trust.
"I would like to see you make a practice of reaching out to others like that. As Elementelle, your teammates will rely on you in a true situation. You have a keen and creative mind that is as much an asset as your aerokinetic abilities. Give others your trust and in return... I believe it was Ernest Hemingway who said 'The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.'" With that. The Professor left the infirmary.
While going up to her room, Crystal began to ponder what the Professor had just said. What is with this guy? One minute he's a snake in the grass, the next he's the wise sage. Ugh... trying to figure out his game is just going to bring my headaches back. She had to admit, the Professor did make some points for Crystal to consider. Give other people my trust for them to trust me? Huh... maybe that's what I've been missing? Crystal hadn't gotten any closer to the other mutants. At this rate she was either going to be weaseled out or utterly fail in her mission. If I can give just the littlest bit of my trust to them, will they really trust me back? What I did in the Danger Room definitely seemed to earn me some points with all of them. People did let those they trusted close to them. The closer someone got, the more secrets they found. Crystal wanted their trust. She still didn't feel she could trust the Professor. But if she got the others to see what kind person Magneto was, maybe they would leave with her.
Crystal began trying to think up a new plan for tomorrow, when she got to her room. As she turned the knob to go in, she noticed the door across the hall was ajar. Peeking out of it was Rouge. Let's see if he was right. Crystal turned and waved, "Hi, Rouge!"
Rouge slammed the door shut.
Crystal ceased waving. Dropping her smile she said. "Guess not..."
A/N: Oh, Crystal... Twisting others words to fit your perspective! Don't blame her guys, Magneto just got to her first.
But there might still be room to question, no?
To counter the Professor's argument, Rene Descartes: "The senses deceive from time to time, and it is prudent never to trust wholly those who have deceived us even once."
What do you think about handing trust? Will Crystal start to trust the X-men?
Please review!
