Xavier worked with Carol for as long as Carol (and he) could take making sure to, telling her everything she needed to know. When they were finally done (or just too frustrated to go on) Carol headed for her bed, hoping that when she woke up her nightmare would be over, or at least that she would be well-rested to face what was in store in the day ahead. Thanks in advance. :)
* * *
The next day proved to be full of surprises for Carol. Having to wake up so early for Danger Room sessions was not something she looked forward to doing every day. She did, however, enjoy showing the X-Men the full potential of her powers. She was not only invulnerable to any attacks, but could have taken on the whole program single-handedly, her fists as her only weapon. She could sense most attacks before they hit and was unbelievably strong. Professor Xavier tried measuring just how strong she was, but even his equipment was insufficient in measuring it.

The day proved to be surprising for the X-Men as well. Carol not only dressed differently from Rogue (she wore colors other than green and black), but she was also against makeup, calling it "a man's invention to make women feel flawed". The X-Men were amazed at this new look, as it was Rogue in a way they had never seen her before - "normal". Had Rogue been conscious at the time, she would surely have blushed at the way Scott, in particular, was looking at her. He had never looked that way at anyone before, save Jean.

After a quick breakfast, it was time for school, the moment Carol had dreaded since she awoke in Rogue's body. Carol and the X-Men went to school early as planned and the X-Men showed her around the school. She hoped she would have no problems finding her way around and she would make it through the day all right.

Carol went through Rogue's locker trying to figure out and get everything she needed for her classes, just as Rogue's friend Risty was walking down the hall towards her, calling out her name.

"Rogue! Rogue! Hey, Rogue! ROGUE!"

Carol was jumped suddenly and turned around to see Rogue's purple-haired friend in front of her, looking puzzled.

"Why didn't you answer me? Didn't you hear me calling you?"

"Oh, uh, yeah, sorry. I…Ah mean AH was just, umm…preoccupied with thoughts. I…Ah wasn't really here."

"You sound a little different, are you all right?"

"Yeah, Ah'm fine, really. Fine as ever, sugah," she said, faking a smile.

"Umm…all right if you say so. Hey, what's with your outfit? And your make-up? Don't tell me you're trying to compete with Jean or something?"

"Jean? Why would I want to compete with her?"

"You know the whole Scott thing. You do remember having an immense crush on him don't you? I mean, I know you're always denying it but-"

"Oh, uh…yeah, that. Well, you know, Ah'm trying to get over him and stuff," she said, remembering the innocence and childishness of high school. "Anyway, no, Ah'm not trying to compete with her. Ah just felt like a change. Ah was tired of wearing the same thing, the same colors, the same make-up. And besides, wearing revealing clothing and make-up is man's way of making us want to look the way they want us to. It's time we women stopped letting them control us like that."

"Uh-huh. Are you sure you're all right? I mean, just last week you were, well, not to sound mean or anything, down in the dumps. And now you're completely different. Is everything OK? I mean, I know there was something wrong before that you don't want to talk about. But did something else happen? You can talk to me, you know."

"Ah guess you could say Ah had a reawakening. Ah didn't want to be so lifeless anymore."

"Hmm, well, that's good. I'm glad to see you're feeling better. I'm still taking you home after school as usual, right?"

"Oh, yeah. Sure thing."

"All right then, see you at lunch. Bye." Risty walked away smiling, but as she walked away it faded away to reveal a scowling face. She knew something was wrong with Rogue and she was going to find out what that was, somehow.

The day went by slower for Carol than for everyone else. Being back in high school was taking some getting used to. Every class seemed to go on for hours. The only advantage was being able to show off her knowledge by answering most questions, surprising everyone in class, including the teachers. Unbeknownst to her, it was not simply her ability to answer the questions (Rogue wasn't known for excelling in her academics) but the fact that she spoke at all. Rogue was always the "weird girl that never talked". That combined with her new look, it was no surprise how shocked everyone was.

Of course, not everyone took the change the same way. Those who teased Rogue found no reason why they should stop simply because she wasn't the "Goth freak" anymore. As she was walking down to her next class one of Rogue's tormenters (apparently a jock) teased Carol, telling her she was "a freak, no matter how she dressed".

Like Rogue, Carol had a quick tongue, but she also had quick reflexes and an intolerance for insolence. Before the bully knew what hit him, he found himself pinned against the wall, feet off the ground, held up single handedly by Carol. This drew quite a crowd, including Scott and some of the other X-Men. Scott ran as quickly as he could to Carol, ordering her to put him down. She heeded his command, but only after teaching the bully a lesson about picking on others.

After the crowd dissipated, Scott took Carol aside to talk to her, not knowing that Risty had watched the whole thing in amazement and was now hiding around the corner listening to their every word.

"Are you NUTS?! What did you think you were doing?"

"Teaching him a lesson, what did it look like? What do you want me to do, just let him go ahead so he can just tease me and other again? I've compromised enough as it is, I will not compromise my dignity. I refuse to be a passive victim."

"You can't just use your powers openly like that. People will get suspicious, especially when you left a heavyweight football player inches off the ground. We have to hide our secret, remember?"

"You know what your problem is? You're way too 'by the book'. You need to loosen up. Ugh, what did Rogue ever see in you?"

"Listen, you. I don't need-. Wait, what did you say?"

"Oh, uh, nothing. Never mind. I have to go to class. Oh, and my friend Risty's driving me home. Gotta keep things the same, remember. Bye!" Carol said as she ran down the hall to her class. She knew that that excuse would convince Scott. She just didn't want to ride home with the X-Men.
* * *
"I didn't know it took this long to get back home."

"I'm taking a detour."

A few minutes later, Risty drove up to an abandoned parking lot and stopped the car, locking all the doors.

"What's going on? Why'd you stop -?"

"Where's Rogue? What have you done with her?"

"What are you talking about? Ah'm right here. It's me."

"Don't lie to me! I know you're not Rogue, Carol Danvers. My suspicion began this morning when you didn't answer me when I called you. My suspicion grew when you spoke without an accent and with your little feministic speech. Then, when you used you powers in public and after listening to your conversation with Scott, I knew my suspicions were correct.

"UH! How could Xavier have let this happen? I thought he was going to fix things. That's why we sent her back to him. How could he-?" she said to herself.

"Xavier didn't let it happen. He did it himself."

"What? You're lying. He would never. He couldn't! He wouldn't!"

"But he did. Poor little Rogue couldn't live with what she did to me, so she gave up her miserable life to give me a 'second chance', if you can call it that. Everyone thinks it's heroic or something. Personally, I think it's just pathetic. After all, she got what she deserved. She got exactly what she gave me…a death sentence."

"Oh, you have NO idea what you are saying. Rogue never meant to hurt you. She never even meant to attack you."

"Oh please. I've heard it all before."

"But you've yet to hear it from me."

"And why should that make any difference? It's the same old story with the same old ending."

"Oh, but my story has a different beginning. You see, I was there from the start. I knew the X-Men were coming to recruit you and I knew your powers. I told you exactly what I knew, twisting things just a bit, of course."

"You? What are you talking about? How-"

Before she could finish, Carol's question was answered. Right before her eyes, Risty changed into a woman with long black hair and blue eyes, a face that was familiar to Carol. It was the face of the woman who had come to her at her school and warned her of the X-Men. Carol was speechless. Her mouth was wide open in disbelief; she couldn't believe her eyes.

"You…you're that…. But how? I don't underst-."

"It's quite simple my dear," she said as she morphed into her true blue form. "But I'll simplify it more for you to understand. Rogue had told me she was going to 'meet someone' and I retrieved enough information from her to be able to find out more. When I found out about your powers from my precognitive friend, Destiny, I knew I had to get to you first. Destiny, however, warned me that you would refuse, and that you would meet the X-Men and fight them. She didn't know why then, but I know now it was because of what I would tell you. I tried to get you to join me, but just as Destiny had predicted you were not interested, too set on being a one-woman team. But if there is one thing I hate more than losing a recruit, it's losing one to Xavier and he had already taken my most precious recruit - Rogue. And so I warned you about the X-Men and well, you know the rest. So, you see my dear, Rogue was only trying to fight back in self-defense. You attacked them. The person you should blame is yourself, not Rogue."

Carol was speechless. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. All that she had thought to be true was a lie. The X-Men were telling the truth all along.

"You tricked me?! You did all this? You caused all this trouble and mayhem, just for spite and revenge?! You manipulative, conniving…"

"Don't you try placing the blame on me. Everything I told you was true - well, most of it anyway. You chose to believe it. I can't help you if you choose to believe everything a stranger tells you."

Unable to control her anger after those last words, Carol slapped Mystique as hard as she could (and with Carol's strength, it was pretty hard). Before Mystique could recover, she quickly knocked the car door with her elbow and flew off as fast as she could. She wasn't flying towards the mansion, however, but for another destination. She had had too many blows today to go back just now.
* * * * *
"Professor, I'm worried. Carol hasn't come back yet. Risty was supposed to drop her off after school. I knew I shouldn't have let her go -"

"It's all right Scott. I've been monitoring her all day. I know where she is and I believe I know where she's headed. Get Wolverine and tell him to ready the X-jet."

"Should I ready the team?"

"No, Scott. I'm sorry, but I will be going on this trip alone. Please stay here and keep things in order while I'm gone."

"OK, Professor," Scott sighed as he went to fetch Wolverine. Xavier and Wolverine soon took off and although they had had their differences with Carol, the X-Men could not help but worry (after all, she was still a part of Rogue, and if she disappeared, there would be no chance of getting Rogue back, ever). And so they sat; wondering, worrying, waiting; hoping Xavier would be able to find her and bring her back home.