I pulled my hand away immediately and flinched. There was a deafening crash as Gwen froze the metal that I had just heated, and it shattered. She was free. We repeated the process with Yours Truly, but not Randy. One of Xavier's students had shot some sort of lasers out of his eyes and blasted him free.

I'm not sure exactly what made us think of it, but Gwen and I, completely oblivious to all that was happening around us, walked toward each other and joined hands. There was a huge swirl of wind around us and we heard Magneto yell out in surprise as he became entangled in tree branches. That was Mom and Dad's way of letting us know that they were there with us. We closed our eyes and focused on Magneto. His yelling grew louder and louder until it became screams of pain and rage. It became harder and harder to concentrate. However, Gwen and I, through the connection, managed to keep each other going. I heard myself grunt in the effort, and started feeling a little pain in my head. I tried to tough it out, but when Gwen's added to it, it became too much. Magneto's screaming was suddenly silenced as we slumped to the ground, exhausted. The last thing I remember before loosing consciousness was the silence.

When I woke up, I was in a room with Jean, Kurt, Kitty, and Randy all leaning over me.

"Vow!" exclaimed Kurt, "How did you two do zat? I mean, zat vas awesome ze vay you guys froze 'im like zat! And ze ice vas on fire an' everysing! Very dramtic! Zere gut!"

"What?" I asked. Then I suddenly remembered everything that had happened and sat up like a bolt. "Where is he? Where's Gwen?"

"Right there, Rina. It's good to see you awake again." I knew that voice by now. Professor Xavier. Everyone cleared a path for him as he approached me in his wheelchair. I looked beside me and saw Gwen on the bed next to mine with her eyes closed and not moving.

"Is she.?"

"No, Rina. She's fine. She's just exhausted, like you were. It's just taking her a bit longer to recover. How are you feeling?"

I didn't answer. "Where's Magneto?"

He frowned and shook his head. "I wish I could be sure. The brotherhood called a retreat after you fainted, and carried him off somewhere. Although the flaming ice was a very impressive maneuver, it won't hold him for long. He's still out there somewhere, which is why I recommend that you and Gwen stay here at 'Xavier's Institute for Gifted Youngsters.' I'm not saying you can't leave, but here you will be among friends. Fellow mutants with secrets much like your own. Here, you will be well protected."

I knew I shouldn't have taken offense at that, and I really didn't, but since I have always been the tough girl, I pretended to. "Protection? I don't need any protection!" I could tell he didn't believe me.

"Indeed. Well, be that as it may, Rina, there's another thing that we can offer you if you stay here. Your pyrokenetic abilities are very powerful, and when you get angry, they become destructive because you have not yet learned to control them. Here, we can teach you to harness your powers and use them for the good of humanity, and fight for the same type of peace that your parents fought for, and I can help you learn to control your temper. I've also noticed by asking around that you have been having reoccurring nightmares. I can help you with that as well."

I wanted to accept. I really did, but I had to put on a stubborn act. I couldn't let him think I was that easy to convince. It wasn't that I didn't trust him. I trusted him more than I ever trusted anyone in my life, save Gwen. I guess it was just habitual. I couldn't let anybody think that I trusted people, because I had learned that trust made me vulnerable. Trust makes it easy to deceive. And when a person is easy to deceive, it makes it incredibly easy to hurt that person.

"I can handle it. Believe me. I."

"Why do you think like that, Rina? Do you want the same sort of peace that your parents fought and died for?"

"Well.I.Yeah, I do."

"Well, trust is the key ingredient for that kind of peace. And where better to start trusting than here, among people like yourself? Let us help you, Rina. Think of all we have to offer you. A home. Protection. Friends, and the one thing you've been searching for all your life, but have never been able to find: Understanding. Think of all you can learn from us! And possibly, us from you! Give us a chance. Let us try."

I was a little annoyed, but sort of glad that he had gone into my mind without permission. At least that way I didn't have to try and hide it anymore. But I gave my response in a skeptical tone, so that the others didn't think I was.you know.

"Okay.I'll give it a shot, but if I change my mind, I'm outta here. Deal?"

The professor sort of smiled as he shook my hand. "Deal. Welcome to the X- Men, Rina McGrath."