"They're not stupid, that's the mistake you keep making Mystique. It's bad enough our pupils have better ideas but they're going to be the x-men's squad soon enough, give them the credit they deserve and they won't walk all over you" Emma Frost sat on a quiet little bench in the park she had no idea why Mystique had asked for her input from what she could see, these kids were running circles round everyone at the mansion.

"I know they're bright," Mystique's voice cut bitterly through the pleasant summer sun making everything feel cold "but they're children nothing more, they only seek what they can't have" she sat upright surveying the scene before her if she hadn't had her own child she would have hated children.

"Be careful here you think these kids can be manipulated? Far from it, they have parents who have grown up in intolerance this one you're dealing with now," Emma tapped the file next to her "she's a product of two x-men for crying out loud. These kids know the score and what the world thinks of them, they won't take it and they'll get whatever they're after"

"What are you suggesting?" Mystique turned round to talk closer with Miss Frost or maybe just to intimidate her

"My dear Mystique I'm only suggesting that they know more then you think, know how to use their gifts and will either become very fine upstanding citizens or..or petty thugs. As far as anything else is concerned, I can't help you" She stood up and adjusted her sunglasses so she could look over them and smile at Mystique "Good luck with that one, they'll make good additions to the X-team one day" she walked off smiling.

'Not if I can help it' Mystique gripped the file she'd have to do some serious hunting to catch this in the act.

"No! I told you that's mine!" The halls were filled with laughter as Vixen ran out carrying a pink towel. Her friend Tressa stood in the room with a duvet wrapped round her

"Vix I'm warning you GIVE IT BACK!"

"Or what?" Vixen waved the towel playfully at her friend "Are you fast enough?" Her fiery red hair looked windswept from the running around and she breathed in and out heavily trying to catch her breath. Tressa did not find this funny she was soaking wet and class began in 15 minutes.

"You bet I am" In what could only be described as a whirlwind of chaos Tressa spun out the room, took the towel and span back in. Vixen, after catching her heart in her throat, stood watching her now fully wrapped up friend grinning across the hall. She stood with a playful look of discontent

"Fine, you win, I'll go get breakfast yeah?" Tressa laughed and found a smaller towel to rub her hair through

"Yeah, great" Vixen pointed a finger at the door

*Shut* her mind whispered to the door and it banged shut as students were walking along the corridor to lessons and study hall.

'Just another day' Vixen smiled "Hey TJ wait up!" she darted down the corridor.

"I swear to you it happened"

"No way" Mark and Taylor's conversation was cut short by Vixen's hysterical laugh they watched as she darted out of her room holding....was that a towel?!

Smiling as he went passed the dorm Mark continued

"Yes way, Brett was gonna keep it from us but I don't see how that's possible if we're all in the same prep team" Mark hated Ash Brett more then he hated his curse of fire. Maria and Felicity draped over him like two lovesick teenagers and his attitude just made him want to...

"Whoa," Taylor's deep voice brought him sharply into reality "So the Shadow ran then? I never would have thought it"

"That's what you get for killing someone I guess"

"But is that all there is to it? I mean, its a bit weird Harls doesn't run unless...no, Harls has never run. I reckon there's something else"

"Oh yeah? Like what?" Mark was interested in this, it maybe something he could use against Brett later. He ran his fingers through his messy black hair, which fell delicately back on his forehead and smiled at his inquisitive friend.

"How should I know?" Taylor shrugged his shoulders "That's girl's always been impulsive just like her dad" he laughed

"Yeah, that's true and a temper like her mother" Mark joined in the laughter until he felt a hard hand grip his shoulder

"You better watch what you say round here, people talk" He leant in to threaten Mark who shifted his grip by jolting to the side

"Ahhhhh Brett we were just talking about..."

"I know, I heard and if you're not careful you'll be the next corpse" Ash walked down towards the danger-room

"Hey Ash C'mon man he was only kiddin'" Taylor sighed watching Ash "we betta be careful bout this" he looked cautiously at Mark who wore the biggest grin in the world

"Yeah, I guess we had"